Yin Recommendations?
My friend at Schmetterling Times is looking for yin guidance. I am quite unqualified to help. 
(EDIT: Specifically, she’s looking for advice on good DVDs. She can afford one & Amazon has many… Thank you!!)
Have watched Paul Grilley’s instructional/anatomy DVD & done his Yin practice but unless I’m coming off a long hot session, yin is freaky torture for me. Literally, physically, pretty agonizing. And not in a fun, happy Forrest way. 
Have started really enjoying the mellower gentle flow classes, & Lynne does some Yin each Saturday morning, but especially with tweaky back, tetchy knees, & improbably difficulties with all Hero-related poses unless well warmed up… okay, I’ll stop beating the horse. Anyone else able to help out?
http://schmetterlingyoga.blogspot.com/2009/12/yin-yum.html
In practice news, had two LOVELY classes at Back Bay today. Took Nicoline’s Vinyasa which was a Hanumanasana (splits) class & really set up well to open up hamstrings & hip flexors. Nicoline has inspired me enough to Netflix another Shiva Rea DVD to take on Christmas break (more on that soon — you’ll never guess where we’re going!! Then did Kate Greer’s noon class which was a pretty varied flow including headstand, tripod, splits again & even some uddiyana in horse. Kate also does some chanting — we did a Ganesha round together at the beginning & she closed singing it again alone. Plus, she wore cute little Princess Leia buns & a headscarf and 4 (count ‘em, FOUR) of BBY’s teachers (including yours truly) were in the class. Super fun day!
December 15th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Check in with Heather Ash for advice on Yin, she still teaches on Sunday evenings at BBY
December 15th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
For Yin geniuses:
http://lindasyoga.blogspot.com/search/label/yin%20yoga
and Charlotte on Yoga Flavored Life blog. Both are great.
Cheers!
Emma
December 15th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
To clarify, I’m looking for yin yoga DVD recommendations. I don’t need to be convinced about the greatness of yin yoga- already there!
There are 24 DVDs on Amazon.com to choose from though and since I can’t afford to buy more than one at this time I thought I’d ask for recommendations! Thanks! 
December 16th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Here’s my recommendation: I’m a big fan of Sarah Powers’ Insight Yoga Yin DVD.
Here are some reasons that I like it:
- The ‘atmosphere’ of the DVD is soothing and comfortable. The studio is beautiful and the opening of each practice creates a mood.
- The participants in the video are at different levels in their practice, demonstrating different depths to each Yin pose.
- Sarah’s voice is lovely and the stories and information she offers is interesting (The elephant story makes me all teary), but if you don’t want any background chatter in your practice, you can opt for the ‘quiet’ version, in which everything but instruction is edited out.
- There are two Yin sequences on this DVD, Yin ‘Kidney’ and Yin ‘Liver’, both about an hour in length. There is a separate Savasana sequence (and options to combine it with a Yin practice).
- A bonus! There are also some Yang sequences.
- The DVD menu offers myriad ways of combining all of these into different practices depending on what you’re focusing on.
You can read some firsthand notes about my experience with this DVD on my website – just do a search for ‘Sarah Powers’.
December 16th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Kai,
Sweet! Thanks so much for all of the info. I’ll check out the notes on your website too.
December 16th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I spoke with one of the Yin teachers out here and she also recommends anything by Sarah Powers
December 16th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Thanks other Tara