Yin Yoga “Sleep Well”

About This Class

This evening Yin Yoga class is built around a deliberate wind-down ritual intended to clear physical, mental, and emotional tension accumulated throughout the day so that the body can slip into deep, restorative sleep. The instructor opens in Child's Pose with guided breathwork—lengthening inhales and extending exhales—to activate the parasympathetic nervous system before moving through gentle standing poses (Malasana squat, wide-leg and standard forward folds, Half Sun Salutations, runner's lunges, Reverse Triangle, and Triangle) that warm and loosen the body without effort or intensity. The class then transitions fully to the floor for signature Yin long-holds: Sphinx and Seal for spinal backbending and chest opening; a supine sequence featuring Happy Baby, Half Happy Baby, and reclining twists to release hips and low back; Janu Sirsasana-style seated side-body stretches; and Dragonfly (seated straddle fold), all held for multiple breath cycles to allow deep connective-tissue release. A counting-based extended exhale Pranayama (inhale 4 counts, progressively longer exhales up to 8 counts) is woven into the standing section to further calm the nervous system. The practice closes with a generous Shavasana and a seated closing ritual with Anjali Mudra. Throughout, the instructor explicitly frames the class as an antidote to fight-or-flight stress, a tool for clearing the mental and emotional slate, and a practice that supports the body's natural capacity for homeostasis and sleep.