Yin Yoga

Yin yoga differs from most other types of yoga in the sense that it focuses on stretching the ligaments and tendons that connect our muscles and bones, rather than the muscles themselves.  My friend had told me that yin yoga would be much less strenuous than the vinyasa yoga we had tried the week before.  Needless to say I was excited when I heard yin was much more relaxing and did not require pretzel type positions that I would have to put my body through.  For the majority of the class we were sitting or lying down on the mat working on the ankles, knees, and hips.  Sounds easy but I am about as flexible as an ironing board and while balancing for the tree pose in vinyasa was tough, it didn't require much flexibility.  And the entire session involved me fidgeting around so that my ankles weren't going numb or my quads weren't ripping in two.  There were however brief moments of relaxation, but they were mostly when the instructor told us to change positions or I remembered to find my breath.  I'm going to try to stretch more so next time in class instead of listening to the eerie hindu chanting music I'll be able to focus my energy and hear T.I.'s "Rubber Band Man"  

Yin yoga, check.