The release is in the mind.

People often ask yinjas, how can release occur if no heat (physically or energetically from breathwork) is used? While yinjas may display tendencies towards secrecy; we reveal everything transparently here and that makes us real yinjas becuase you can’t see us but we are there.

Pain is a compelling sensation and amplifies the connection between the mind and the body.  All experiences go through the filter of the mind and are anchored physically in the body.  A physical injury creates a stronger connection with how the mind maps that sensation.  The way we attend to these sensations can create a mental holding pattern towards overemphasizing that area and transversely how that area physically moves which affects the mind.

If a yinja is scaling the side of a building (their normal method of transportation), falls and hurts an ankle; it is the ankle that sends a signal to the central nervous system that they need more training.  In training, they realize they need to adjust their movement because of the pain and that adjustment keeps a bias towards the old injury.  This bias allows the yinja to over-associate with the ankle long after the trauma has occurred.

Anatomically, the shape gives us access to the more subtle aspects of our body via fascia.  (watch this video if you’re not sure what fascia is) As we commit to stillness in the shape, our attentional spotlight shifts towards areas of the body that have more tension or blockage.  The release in yin yoga comes from the mind’s ability to stay present with the sensations from the body and ask permission to release.   With practice the ability to shift into finer degrees of control over your attentional spotlight and the ability to feel more accurately.  As we move compassionately to dissolve or degauss this area and open up to feeling things in addition to pain and discomfort.