Yin Yoga for Stress Release
with Cathy Blatchly

Most of us lead lives that reinforce working at fast forward speed and then collapsing into

exhaustion. We have very few habits that encourage balance between these two extremes.

Yin yoga focuses on compressing and releasing fascial tissues and opening specific energy channels (meridians) in the body.  In the Taoist tradition, the internal organs are referred to Palaces of our Soul or Spirit and are treated like shrines of the divine within us. Connecting to each organ’s qualities and caring for them with visualizations are natural ways to increase their individual functions and interdependent homeostasis. According to ancient Asian wisdom, there are 5 organ

pairs each of which are connected to interconnecting highways called meridans, channels or nadis traveling through them and linking up the whole body. These invisible highways move life force (prana or chi) (Lit from Within by Sarah Powers)

Restorative Yoga, The Antidote to Stress
Taking time each day to relax and renew is essential to living well. Just five minutes a day of yoga-based movement can begin to heal the effects of chronic stress. To relax is to rest deeply. Deep rest is different from sleep. Relaxation is a state in which there is no movement, no effort and the brain is quiet. (Relax and Renew by Judith Hanson Lasater)

This class will focus on the heart and small intestine meridians with long held floor poses, and a long guided Savasana to create space in the outer and inner body and reduce tension in the mind and body.

In addition, we will use pranayama and self massage to further address opening and releasing the heart and small intestines.