How Yin Yoga Works: Part 1
Our bodies adapt to our level of activity. Suppose we are sedentary; over time, our muscles and joints will shorten, and the cells held within the connective tissue will not receive the necessary stress to keep them healthy, which causes our fascial tissue to undergo biochemical changes. In that case, this can cause collagen fibres to become meshed and knotted and cross-links to become stiff, reducing the level of elastin our body needs to keep our tissues mobile.
As collagen fibres gradually shorten, our bodies become tight and inflexible. Reversing this process requires more than a class or two of yin yoga. Regular practice is essential to experience consistent and lasting change.
In Yin Yoga, our goal is not to stretch our muscles but rather to gently stress our tissues. Although stretching is an incidental outcome of the practice, it is not the primary objective.
Fascial tissue contains less elastin than muscle tissue, making it less responsive to quick lengthening. One of our fascia functions is to provide support for the surrounding tissues, such as our organs, blood vessels, bones, nerve fibres and muscles, minimising friction and providing structural support. However, if we neglect to engage it actively, it becomes rigid, leading to issues like frozen shoulder, muscle pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. In fact, all sorts of conditions can occur due to tight and unhealthy fascia, some of which are lifestyle-related:
Repetitive movements
Limited physical activity
Surgery / Injury / Trauma
Stress and anxiety
Muscular tissue is interwoven with fascial fibres which act like bubble wrap around the muscles, which form into tendon and bone. Yes, all of these are different forms of fascial tissue. This, therefore, means when muscles contract or relax, the fascial tissue will do the same. Dynamic yoga practises elongate and strengthen muscle tissue. In contrast, yin yoga allows our muscles to relax while subjecting the fascia to passive "stress." This tension produces longitudinal stress, facilitating the lengthening of our fascia—a process known as mechanotransduction.
During mechanotransduction, cells convert mechanical stress into electrical or chemical signals, generating energy within our biomechanical environment. Consequently, our bodies adapt and transform in response to these changes.
Muscle tissue is interwoven with fascial fibres which act like bubble wrap around the muscles, eventually forming into tendon and bone.
So far, let's simplify the concept: Yin yoga enables us to apply sustained "stress" to our connective tissue. This dynamic alteration of our cellular environment triggers a response within our cells, as they are remarkably sensitive to environmental changes. Our objective in yin yoga is not to stretch our muscles but rather to "stress" the yin tissues—the ligaments, bones, and joints. With regular yin yoga practice, we can improve our range of mobility and move with more ease.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, where we will delve deeper into all things yin and its transformative potential.
Until then, I hope you enjoy embracing the magic of yin yoga.
Gem x
