Welcome to your yin yoga for late summer practice! Or a practice to turn to whenever the transition between seasons becomes more visible in your body or energy. Late summer is the season of balance, nourishment, and transition.
It arrives in that quiet space between the fire of summer and the letting go of autumn. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this time of year is linked to the Earth element, which represents stability, nourishment, and the ability to digest both food and life’s experiences.
The Earth element is connected to the stomach and spleen meridians. When in balance, they give us a sense of centre, clarity, and support—physically and emotionally. This yin sequence offers grounding shapes to settle the body, release tension, and encourage digestion of both energy and thought.
Take your time. Hold each pose for around 5 minutes with rest in between.
Reclined Butterfly
Bring the soles of your feet together and let your knees drop open to the sides. Place props under your thighs if you’d like to soften. Recline back over a bolster to open the front of your body. Rest your arms wherever feels natural.
Side Stretch
Come onto your side, bending your upper knee and resting it on a prop. Place a bolster along your waist and drape over it, letting your head rest on a pillow. Extend your top arm overhead for a side body stretch. Take your time coming out, then switch sides.
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Half Saddle
Sit with both legs forward. Bend one knee and place your heel beside your hip while the other leg stays extended. Recline back onto your hands or a bolster. You can also try bending the other leg if your lower back needs more support. Notice the stretch across the front of your thigh and belly. Switch sides after resting.
Child’s Pose
Sit back on your heels, fold forward, and rest your forehead on the mat or a bolster. Let your arms extend forward or soften alongside your body. Breathe into your back body and release.
Sphinx
Lie on your belly with forearms on the mat, elbows under shoulders. Lift gently through your chest without forcing. Notice the compression in your lower back. Keep your belly soft and let the breath move slowly. Props can bring extra support.
Savasana
Make yourself comfortable in your favourite version of savasana, using props if you’d like. Rest here and allow your practice to digest.
If you’re a teacher who feels drawn to share Yin yoga, the 50-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training is a way to grow in your own teaching journey. You’ll learn how to guide yin classes in a way that feels authentic to you, deepen your knowledge and skills, and connect with a group of like-minded teachers. Along the way, you’ll also strengthen your own relationship to the practice, so that teaching comes from a place of experience and joy.
If you’d like to bring Yin into your teaching, this training gives you the tools and support to do so.