THE POWER OF YIN
What is Yin
Yin is a term that comes from the classical Chinese concept of opposite yet complementary forces, Yin and Yang. Yin is described as the “shadow side of the mountain” in relation to the sunny side, which is Yang. Yin is dark, cool and quiet, and so we often neglect the importance of Yin in favour of the hot, bright and loud Yang elements in life.
It’s an elegantly simple concept, yet Yin Yang can describe mind-bending complexities of the mechanisms of the universe. Its essence is encapsulated in the Yin Yang symbol. No matter how you try to dissect this circle, every slice will contain both Yin and Yang.
You can use this symbol to understand the relationship of Yin to Yang and vice versa. It’s impossible to separate Yin from Yang. They don’t exist without each other because they:
define each other
transform into each other
create balance and harmony together
are completely interdependent.
Neither is superior or inferior. They are both respected for their unique and necessary qualities as indeed, without one, the other would not exist.
Characteristics of Yin
Yin can be described as the quality of slowing towards stillness. It’s the withdrawing, the receptive. It’s what nourishes, what holds, what contracts, what is degenerating. It’s an entropic force.
In the body, Yin is the substances and states that nourish, and the matter that catalysts act upon to transform. Yet, so often today, in relationship to the ebb and flow of our lives, we don’t value our Yin. We don’t protect it, nourish it, cultivate it. The body obeys natural law, but we live in an environment that doesn’t.
In our ceaseless activity we overwork, we over-schedule, we consume too many stimulants, we leave ourselves time-poor for the tasks we need to complete. We are glued to technology, rapidly processing volumes of information without a break. We rarely experience silence and we don’t rest when we are sick. We have the most unrealistic expectations of our bodies. Yin states are restful states:
Relaxation
Meditation
Rest
Napping
Daydreaming
Sleep
Meditative art and music
Slow sex
Receptivity
Quietude
The realms of sensation
Space.
In our rushed and overloaded culture, embracing these Yin qualities often feels indulgent and triggers guilt. We can feel like we are weak, lazy, unproductive or vulnerable. We feel guilt or shame about having bodily needs. Through all this we have misunderstood the power of Yin. We have all sorts of judgements about dropping into deep restful Yin states, what are yours?
The good news is:
Great sleep produces optimal performance.
Slowing down enables better concentration.
Allowing space to digest information allows processing and integration of information. Boosts brain power.
The body can go into growth, repair, re-balancing and healing during rest periods.
Slowing down allows you to access your non-work Self.
Without periodic and ample restoration, you consume all your resources without replenishment. If you push yourself beyond your capacity, you start to consume your reserves. Do this for long enough and you’re on the burnout train, baby. Your actions start to lose presence, efficacy, efficiency, focus and power. You start to lose the ability to relax. You’re entering into empty Yin territory.
Empty Yin
What the hell is empty Yin? Empty Yin happens when you’ve let your stress run your life. Being in flight or flight mode has become your norm and you no longer listen to your body’s messages to slow down, take space, rest, relax and recuperate. Empty Yin feels like pressure, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, inability to relax, reactivity. Empty Yin can feel inflamed and dry, you may have tapped your adrenals, stressed your digestion, put pressure on your liver and overwhelmed your mind.
When you get the hang of Yin restoration, it can feel lovely. A beautiful return. There is an art to relaxation – which is different from rest and different from sleep.
The Power of Yin
The internal martial arts, the Yin arts (training the mind, cultivating spirit), have always understood that to cultivate power you need to periodically turn inward.
With this space and quietude we can develop the relationship to our inner world. We can process and let go of how life has affected us. We can get clear on our deep motivations, we can reconnect with that consistent witness Self that is less swayed by the comings and goings of life. We can realign to our centre and we can house our mind back into our body, cleansing the doors of perception so as we can be refreshed when we re-engage with life outside ourselves.
Without this space, without this downtime, without letting go, without these rhythms, it’s an endless pushing of your own willpower. And with that approach, how are you meeting life?
Check out my timetable and book yourself into a Yin class.
