{"id":26166,"date":"2021-05-28T13:22:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T03:22:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yoga-king.com\/blog\/?p=26166"},"modified":"2021-06-25T15:59:57","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T05:59:57","slug":"yin-yoga-and-restorative-yoga-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yoga-king.com\/blog\/yin-yoga-and-restorative-yoga-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Yin Yoga and restorative yoga: What\u2019s the difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you\u2019re new to yin yoga and restorative yoga, you\u2019ll be forgiven for asking yourself, what exactly is the difference between these two practices? Let\u2019s be honest, you might even ask this question like a seasoned yogi! Yin yoga and restorative yoga are both practiced on the floor. With more of a focus on rest, relaxation, and stretching, you won\u2019t be working up a sweat or mistaking these classes for vinyasa. Leave your downward-facing dog for another yoga practice, because yin and restorative are all about deep rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Developed by different gurus, upon closer inspection, yin and restorative classes are actually quite different \u2013 both physically and philosophically. However, you may just find that both paths lead to the same destination.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_62 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yoga-king.com\/blog\/yin-yoga-and-restorative-yoga-whats-the-difference\/#The_physical_differences_between_yin_yoga_and_restorative_yoga\" title=\"The physical differences between yin yoga and restorative yoga\">The physical differences between yin yoga and restorative yoga<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yoga-king.com\/blog\/yin-yoga-and-restorative-yoga-whats-the-difference\/#The_philosophy\" title=\"The philosophy\">The philosophy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yoga-king.com\/blog\/yin-yoga-and-restorative-yoga-whats-the-difference\/#Props_for_your_practice\" title=\"Props for your practice\">Props for your practice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yoga-king.com\/blog\/yin-yoga-and-restorative-yoga-whats-the-difference\/#What_is_right_for_you_Restorative_or_yin_yoga\" title=\"What is right for you? Restorative or yin yoga?\">What is right for you? Restorative or yin yoga?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_physical_differences_between_yin_yoga_and_restorative_yoga\"><\/span>The physical differences between yin yoga and restorative yoga<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Yes \u2013 you have probably seen your local yoga studio advertising a yin\/restorative class. And this isn\u2019t wrong. Yin and restorative practices are physically similar and complimentary, so teaching a hybrid of the two makes sense. After a strong, stretchy yin pose, your body will delight in a restful, restorative asana. Both of these practices are restorative and yin-like in nature \u2013 they\u2019re slow, on the floor and invite you to rest, relax and spend time with your Self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main physical difference between the two practices is that in a restorative yoga class your body should be completely comfortable \u2013 like you could fall asleep. You\u2019ll use props to support your body in a way that leaves you undistracted by physical sensation and completely at ease. Conversely, in a yin yoga practice you can dance around the edges of your comfort. Come again?! In yin yoga you\u2019re asked to explore your edge and allow your body to feel some sensation. It shouldn\u2019t be painful or too strong \u2013 but you\u2019re not going to have a nap. In yin, your body\u2019s deeper connective tissue (fascia) is being explored and released, and so a sensation of stretching is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_philosophy\"><\/span>The philosophy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Based on the teachings of the late B.K.S Iyengar, restorative yoga is essentially a practice of passive healing. It is perfect for students with trauma or injury as you use props to completely support each asana, inviting you to surrender to deep relaxation. Restorative yoga may be viewed as more of a meditation than an asana practice, as the sensation experienced is very minimal. You won\u2019t want to go to a restorative yoga class if you\u2019re feeling like a workout and your mind is racing \u2013 but it might be exactly what you need!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yin yoga, on the other hand, was introduced in the late eighties by Paul Grilley. It is inspired by the ancient Taoist philosophies of yin and yang \u2013 opposite but complimentary principles in nature. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, yin yoga invites \u2018chi\u2019 or \u2018Qi\u2019 to move through your body\u2019s meridians (energy highways). When you practice yin yoga you will sometimes experience strong sensations \u2013 which can make yin more physically and mentally challenging than restorative yoga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both practices have been created to impact your emotional body as much as your physical one, and both promise to bring deeper awareness and a level of healing.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Props_for_your_practice\"><\/span>Props for your practice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>If you can use just a single prop for your yin or restorative yoga practice \u2013 let it be the mighty bolster! A bolster can be used in so many ways \u2013 to invite deeper stretching in heart openers, to support your hips, and to allow ultimate relaxation in Savasana. Blocks, straps, and an eye pillow will also come in handy if you want the full experience.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_right_for_you_Restorative_or_yin_yoga\"><\/span>What is right for you? Restorative or yin yoga?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Both yin and restorative practices are perfect for busy bodies and minds. You will be asked to find comfort both physically and emotionally, and as the body begins to relax and unwind, the mind can experience a sense of peace and deep rest. If you like to feel like you\u2019re \u2018doing something\u2019, yin might be a good place to start. You\u2019ll experience a tangible shift in your body which can be quite powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are working with an injury or feel intimidated by the thought of attending a yoga class, start with restorative. It will allow you to explore your body in a gentle and restful way \u2013 without comparing yourself to your neighbour (you won\u2019t be able to see them through closed eyes and props!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Either way \u2013 leave your yang mind at the door and prepare to feel deliciously rested, restored and released.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re new to yin yoga and restorative yoga, you\u2019ll be forgiven for asking yourself, what exactly is the difference between these two practices? Let\u2019s be honest, you might even ask this question like a seasoned yogi! Yin yoga and&#8230;..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26167,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[49,143,19,46],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.9.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Yin Yoga and restorative yoga: What\u2019s the difference? - Yoga King Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"yin yoga and restorative yoga, you\u2019ll be forgiven for asking yourself, what exactly is the difference between these two practices?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yoga-king.com\/blog\/yin-yoga-and-restorative-yoga-whats-the-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Yin Yoga and restorative yoga: What\u2019s the difference? 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