What Will You Learn in a Yin YTT?
By; Isabella Kopef, Yoga Therapist, Clinical Herbalist, Holistic Nutritionist, Ayurvedic Practitioner, 500-Hour Yoga Teacher, Health Coach
What Will You Learn in a Yin YTT?
What Will You Learn in a Yin YTT?
The decision to join a yin yoga teacher training or yin YTT is the first step on an exciting new journey into the depth and breadth of yoga. As you dive deeper into a yin YTT, you will not only learn more about how to practice and teach yin yoga, but you will also learn more about yourself and how you live in this world. Every yoga teacher training layers upon the next, helping you deepen into a connection with your true Self.
A yin YTT gives you the foundations to understand how to teach and share the wisdom of yin yoga with others. But what exactly will you learn in a yin YTT? And what are the benefits of an online yin YTT? We will explore these questions in greater depth in this article today. Now, let’s begin!
14 Lessons I Learned in a Yin YTT
1. What is Yin Yoga?
Perhaps the most important question to learn in a yin YTT is: what exactly is yin yoga? Yin yoga is a slow yoga style, but that doesn’t mean it is easy! Each pose in a yin yoga class is held for 2 minutes or longer to allow the body to sink into the position and facilitate shifts in the fascial system that runs throughout the entire body. Yin yoga is a gentle but stimulating practice that improves flexibility and calms your mind at the same time.
2. Yin Yoga Poses
Yin yoga poses are often very similar to the poses taught in other yoga styles, but they are generally only seated postures. Additionally, yin yoga poses have entirely different names than those used in other yoga styles, and you will rarely see Sanskrit being used in a yin yoga class. That is because yin yoga poses are approached a bit differently, and the point is to focus on the sensation rather than achieving a particular shape.
3. Yin Yoga Class Themes
Adding a theme to a yin yoga class can help deepen the experience for your students and provide a more well-rounded experience. As a yin yoga teacher, you can help guide your students beyond the poses to understand themselves, teach specific components of traditional Chinese medicine, or explore meditative techniques.
4. Yin Yoga Playlists
A common issue for new yoga teachers is figuring out how to create the right yoga music playlist to pair with their yoga sequences. By cultivating a calming yin yoga playlist, you can guide your students deeper into their practice and help facilitate the inner meditative experience that yin yoga provides. But learning the art of pairing music with yin yoga classes takes time and consideration!
5. Sequencing Yin Yoga Classes
Sequencing yin yoga classes is often thought of as an easier task because most classes only incorporate a few poses that are held for more extended periods of time. However, yin yoga class sequences are not randomly put together – you can sequence based on a specific theme, body part, meridian line, or energetic focus to help achieve a particular goal in the yin yoga class you are teaching.
6. Yin Yoga and Meditation
Yin yoga is also so much more than just a physical practice. Yin yoga itself is deeply meditative and relaxing, providing students with a soothing experience that helps them quiet their minds. By learning how to bring meditation into a yin yoga class in a yin yoga YTT, you can better support your students and facilitate a holistic experience on the mat.
7. Functional Anatomy in Yin Yoga
One of the most extraordinary developments that came out of yin yoga YTT is the focus on functional anatomy. Yin yoga teacher training takes a unique approach to alignment that emphasizes the uniqueness of every individual. Yin yoga is not a one-size-fits-all approach – teaching yin yoga is about helping each individual student to find the proper alignment for their unique body type and needs. The goal is to feel something, not to look a certain way!
8. The Role of Fascia in Yin Yoga
Fascia is a layer of tissue that runs throughout the entire body around your muscles and joints, forming a thin layer. Over time, knots or tension can build in the fascia system, resulting in restriction in your movement and other health issues. Through yin yoga, you can tap deeper into this fascial system and help gently stretch this tissue to allow greater flexibility and range of motion. This unique element of yin yoga is what provides the incredible flexibility resulting from regular yin yoga practice.
Benefits of becoming a yin yoga teacher
9. What is Yin and Yang?
As you might have guessed, a significant component of yin yoga teacher training is understanding the difference between yin and yang. Yin and yang are two primary Taoist teachings influencing our philosophical understanding of yin yoga practice. Yin is the soft, subtle, cool side of life, whereas yang is the hot, active, and energizing side. We need both yin and yang to be balanced. Still, many people lack the yin energetics in their lives, particularly with the rise in popularity of vinyasa, power, and hot yoga classes.
10.The 3 Principles of Yin Yoga
A core component of yin yoga is the 3 principles. The 3 principles of yin yoga are that you first must come into the yin yoga pose at the appropriate depth for your body, then you resolve to remain still, and finally, you hold the posture for an extended period of time to allow the benefits to sink deeper into the fascial system. These 3 principles form the core of how to teach yin yoga to all levels.
11.The History of Yin Yoga
Yin yoga has ancient roots, but it is actually quite a new yoga style that developed out of the teachings of Paulie Zink and Paul Grilley in the 1980s. Understanding the origins of yin yoga in traditional Chinese medicine and yoga practice but with the modern approach of functional anatomy is essential to ground your work in where it came from originally.
12.How to Modify Yin Yoga Poses
The functional approach in yin yoga reminds us that each individual person is unique, and this is where modifications come in. Modifying yin yoga poses helps make these teachings accessible to more people, regardless of any physical limitations. We can practice yin yoga in many different ways, opening up this practice to anyone who is interested.
13.The Difference Between Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga
One of the most common issues that new yoga teachers run into is differentiating yin yoga and restorative yoga from each other. Yin yoga and restorative yoga share many similarities, but they are also distinct yoga styles. Restorative yoga is also slow and meditative, but it tends to be passive, with little to no sensation. Whereas yin yoga poses do gently stress the joints, stimulate the fascia, and promote flexibility, providing a more well-rounded experience for the body, mind, and soul.
14.Principles of Teaching and Demonstration in Yin Yoga
One of the main reasons that people pursue a yin YTT is to learn how to teach yin yoga. Of course, some people join yoga teacher training just to deepen their own personal yoga practice as well. But in a yin YTT, a major component is learning how to teach and demonstrate the poses in a yin yoga class to guide your students safely through a yin yoga class.
What are the Benefits of an Online Yin YTT?
Taking an online yin YTT allows you to learn the principles of yin yoga from the comfort of your own home. The convenience of an online yoga teacher training will enable you to complete the course on your own time, at your own pace, and at a much lower price.
Additionally, you will still learn everything you need to know from an online YTT to teach both in person and online. There is really no limit to what you can do after completing your online yin YTT. Yin yoga teacher training can be easily added on after you complete your foundational 200-hour yoga teacher training course to add a new skill to your toolset and grow your abilities as a yoga teacher.
Yin yoga sequence for heart chakra
Become a Yin Yoga Teacher in Our Online Yin YTT
In a yin YTT, you will learn so much more than just yin yoga poses. A yin YTT is a journey into yourself to understand your body and ultimately help others connect to the wisdom that yin yoga can provide. As a yin yoga teacher, you will have an extraordinary opportunity to connect with students on a deeper level and tap into the softer yin side of life.
In our online yin yoga teacher training course, we give you all the tools you need to safely guide your students through yin yoga classes both online and in person. From the convenience of your home, you can become a yin yoga teacher in no time! If you are ready to take the next step and become a yin yoga teacher today, then reach out to us for more information to join our online yin YTT.