A guest article by Andrea Huson
A glance at nature reveals a sacred darkness and a nourishing stillness spreading throughout. The darkness as a constant companion and the gray that occasionally steals the sun's space may awaken the desire to make your own four walls, and even your physical home, a little more comfortable.
If you imagine the yin-yang symbol, this small bright point should never be missing during this deepest period of yin. For in this symbol of light and dark, the opposite always carries a part of the polarities within itself. And so, allow yourself to encounter the fire of your heart, your inner summer, this winter as well.
I've put together a short Yin Yoga session for you to discover your own inner summer, the light in the darkness. I invite you to try it out, be curious, or deepen your practice. I'll briefly introduce the poses and then launch you into your practice with a Yin Yoga sequence.
Yin Yoga is a declaration of love to yourself
For me, Yin Yoga, combined with practices from meditation, pranayama, Jin Shin Jyutsu, journaling, and the like, is an essential companion when I cast my inner anchor. Not just during my own winters, but throughout all cycles of the year.
Yin Yoga is a declaration of love to yourself. Absolute self-care for yourself and the moment. Unconditional surrender, an opening of yourself, full trust in the process into which you can let yourself fall. Through long-held positions without muscle strength and with some support from equipment, the world of your feelings opens up to you. It's as if you were diving into the depths of your soul, looking and sensing what might be experienced. This certainly requires some courage to look at yourself, at all facets and aspects of your being.
Why is it worth taking this step? Perhaps because you're worth it. Because you desire mental, physical, and emotional balance within yourself, an opportunity to meet the waves of life with a wide and open heart? Perhaps because of a calling from your soul or for a completely different reason.
This is what you need
The sequence requires some material to be able to stay for 3 minutes or longer without muscle strength and pain:
• 1 mat
• 2 blocks
• 1 blanket
• 1 large pillow/yoga bolster
are good supporters and friends by your side. It's not without reason that Yin is also affectionately called "furniture yoga." If you're still missing something, take a look at the yoga mats and yoga accessories sections. You can choose what's right for you from a wide range of options.
The phases of Yin Yoga
From pose to pose, you'll experience that you can take the time to settle in. Assume the form and feel how and whether you can stay there comfortably, comfortably, and easily. When a resonant YES comes to you, a YES, I may be here: Allow yourself—physically, mentally, emotionally—to enter the pose. Let yourself fall into yourself. Take the time to go through the different phases of Yin Yoga:
1. Getting into a position
2. Feeling the position
3. Stay and hold
4. Dissolve the position
5. Trace
After the integration, immerse yourself further or return to your everyday life and thank yourself from the bottom of your heart for this gift to yourself. For meeting your inner summer, which is by your side at all times.
These positions await you
Open wing
Start in a prone position and extend your right arm, palm facing down. From here, support yourself with your left hand and carefully turn onto your right side. You can keep your knees bent.
You can also place your left foot behind your buttocks to intensify the position.
caterpillar
Your legs are relaxed. From here, you move into a relaxed forward bend. Don't pull, but let yourself slide gently into the position. You can support yourself with a pillow or rolled-up blanket under your knees and build a tower of blocks or pillows to rest your forehead on.
I wish you lots of fun trying things out on your path to Yin and thank you from the bottom of my heart for starting out and taking these steps towards yourself.
May your fearless heart guide you, lead the way, and pave your way. Even in times when your steps are hesitant.
May your fearless heart remind you of your deepest courage, which does not need to roar loudly, but is a loving support to you.
May your fearless heart center you. Nurture your trust and anchor your inner core.
May your fearless heart embrace you in all and throughout all time.
May it accompany you on your journey.
Photos: Miriam Dierks / Liebäugeln - Photography. https://www.liebaeugeln.com 
ANDREA HUSON
Andrea is a consultant, coach, author, and yoga teacher. Yoga is her companion, her compass, continually showing her a path to discovering herself and her very own core being. She combines her profound themes with a blend of humor, pragmatism, down-to-earthness, and mischief. She knows how to trigger and reconsider, enabling a shift in perspective to take a new step on one's own path.
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