To assist or not to assist.

To assist or not to assist. That is often the question. While I’m not totally against assists, in fact I often do them in a vinyasa practice, I don’t choose to for Yin. In Yin Yoga we are asking people to come to their edge and be still. I can’t tell what a person’s edge is and there is potential for injury if I push or pull them beyond that point. It’s simply not worth it to me.

Even more importantly, I believe that the practice of Yin provides the ultimate opportunity for Svadhyaya or self-study. Svadhyaya in Yin begins as soon as clients start to get into a pose. Are they listening to their bodies or their egos? What if they used this prop here or moved that leg there? In the stillness are they paying attention and riding their edge? Are they fidgeting because of pain or simply discomfort? Are their thoughts running away from them?

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 11.44 says “Study thy self, discover the divine”. If I am too hands on there is a possibility that I can take away from a client’s ability to experience this powerful part of the practice.

No matter what you choose to do it is important to remember that unwanted touch can triggering. Communicate clearly, move slowly and be respectful!