Claire Black teaches our Tuesday evening Yin Yoga class and our Weekend Yin Yoga Pop Ups here at MCY.

Claire’s passion for yoga flourished as a teenager when she attended a yoga class at her local gym.

Never considering that yoga could be a career path, Claire trained as a scientist and holds a Masters Degree in Neuroscience! Even so, her interest in yoga continued to grow and develop. It has been the one constant in her life over the years.

In the video below, Claire tells us what got her started with yoga and how it helped her with stress. Give it a watch!

We also had a little chat with Claire about Yin Yoga and asked her a few questions about her class. Here’s what she had to say…

Who is Yin Yoga for?

“Yin Yoga is genuinely a practice for everybody and is an antidote to our often busy lifestyle. It’s for anyone who wants to press pause, find some space and take time out for themselves. It’s also a great balance to more yang styles of yoga such as Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Hot Yoga.

Yin Yoga recognises the uniqueness of every single person and that the same pose looks and feels different to everyone.

The practice is highly adaptable. In class we don’t get too hung up on how a pose looks but focus more on how it feels. Allowing everyone to explore and find their own unique version of the pose.

In Yin Yoga we look at the person and not the pose and encourage students to realise that they don’t have to attain the “textbook” pose to have a fulfilling practice.”

What postures do you do in a Yin Yoga class?

“In Yin Yoga most poses are done sitting or lying down and are held for longer periods (between 3-5 minutes).

Many Yin poses will be familiar to most students who have practiced other forms of yoga, however the poses may have different names. For example, we have swan pose instead of pigeon pose or shoelace pose instead of cow face pose.

While the poses may look similar, the major difference is the way in which we approach the poses. In traditional (yang) styles of yoga the intention is to work the muscles, in Yin Yoga the intention is to work on the connective tissues, especially the fascia.

Even though Yin postures appear simple and passive they can be deceptively powerful!”

What are the three most important things for beginners to Yin Yoga?

“1. Be prepared to slow down – the pace of a Yin Yoga class is slow, simple and quiet.

2. Be prepared to become still – try not to fidget, don’t try to change or fix the pose.

3. Be prepared to wait –  the poses are held for up to 5 minutes.”

What are the benefits of coming to a Yin Yoga class?

“I know there are some wild claims about what Yin Yoga can do, but they make me a bit nervous. There are loads of suggested benefits that I’m totally comfortable with though, even if science hasn’t quite caught up yet…

It has been suggested that maintaining healthy connective tissues including fascia, bones and joints is essential for flexibility, mobility and can ease pain in the body.

As a counterpart to more yang practices and other physical activities, Yin Yoga can maintain flexibility and reduce injuries.

Yin Yoga is purposely slow. We make time to be still, to relax deeply, and focus on the breath. It can be experienced as a form of meditation and mindfulness, positively impacting your life on and off off the mat.

New and regular students often mention how well they sleep after class too.

I’ve also had a number of students with mobility issues such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, cerebral palsy and in particular fibromyalgia mention how accessible the class is for them and how good the practice feels.”

What’s the vibe of your Tuesday evening Yin Yoga class? 

“I like my classes to be quiet and slow, to encourage students to fully relax.

I try to create a non-judgement space that allow students to connect with their body and mind and practice in a way that serves them. Let them become their own teacher and find their own wisdom.

I encourage every student to realise that they are not broken or need to be fixed and find self acceptance – no more feeling like a square peg in a round hole.”

Try Yin Yoga with Claire Online On Demand

If you’d like to give Yin Yoga a try and experience this relaxing slow-paced practice, you can join Claire every Tuesday at 6pm.

Visit our timetable to book your place.

Claire’s also teaching a special ONLINE Yin Yoga POP UP Class on Sunday 14 June 2020. You’ll find all the details and how to book your place [here].

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