Class Theme: Surrender + Stillness
Class Duration: 60 minutes
Level: All levels
Props needed: Yoga mat, bolster (or pillow), 2 blocks (or books), blanket
Opening Meditation (5 minutes)
Seated or reclined, eyes closed.
“Take a deep breath in through the nose… and a long, slow exhale through the mouth. Let this breath be a doorway from your day into your practice. In Yin Yoga, we meet sensation with stillness. We’re not here to stretch—we’re here to release, to soften, and to listen. Allow your body to settle and your breath to anchor you in presence.”
(Invite 1-2 minutes of quiet breathing.)
Yin Yoga Sequence (50 minutes)
1. Butterfly Pose – 5 minutes
Seated, soles of feet together, knees wide. Round forward.
“Let gravity do the work. No pulling, no pushing. Just breath and time. For teachers in training, this pose teaches the art of holding space—for ourselves, and eventually for our students.”
Rebound (rest in stillness) – 1 minute
2. Caterpillar (Seated Forward Fold) – 5 minutes
Legs extended forward, gently fold over.
“Surrender doesn’t mean giving up—it means softening into what is. In teaching, we learn that presence is more powerful than perfection.”
Rebound – 1 minute
3. Half Butterfly (Right side) – 4 minutes
Right leg extended, left foot inside thigh. Fold over right leg.
Rebound – 1 minute
4. Half Butterfly (Left side) – 4 minutes
Rebound – 1 minute
5. Dragon Pose (Low Lunge, Right side) – 3 minutes
Use blocks under hands for support.
“In Yin, discomfort is information. Notice where your edges are—and meet them with curiosity, not judgment.”
Rebound in Tabletop – 1 minute
6. Dragon Pose (Left side) – 3 minutes
Rebound in Tabletop – 1 minute
7. Supported Bridge or Reclined Butterfly (Supta Baddha Konasana) – 5 minutes
Use a bolster under the spine for heart opening.
“Let your heart soften. This is where the teaching lives—in the quiet spaces, in the deep listening.”
Rebound – 1 minute
8. Supine Twist (Both sides) – 2 minutes each side
“Twists help us integrate. As teachers, we’re always integrating experience into wisdom, and wisdom into practice.”
Final Rest – Savasana (8 minutes)
Lay back, use a blanket or bolster under knees. Eyes closed.
“This is your time to receive. Yin teaches us to let go—not just in the body, but in the mind, in the story, in the striving. This is your sacred pause.”
(Silence or soft music for 6–7 minutes)
Closing (2 minutes)
Seated or reclined.
“As you slowly come back, carry with you the essence of stillness. As yoga teachers and students, remember that Yin is not the absence of action—it’s the presence of awareness. Teaching begins here, in the spaces we’ve learned to hold.”
Optional affirmation:
“I lead from presence. I teach from experience. I embody stillness.”
Why Yin Yoga Matters for Yoga Teachers and Trainees
At YogaRenew, we include Yin Yoga in our Yoga Teacher Training programs because we believe that stillness is an essential part of a complete yoga education. Yin teaches us how to hold space, listen deeply, and honor the inner landscape—skills that every impactful teacher needs.
Whether you’re in a 200-Hour YTT, 300-Hour advanced training, or exploring Yin Yoga certification, this practice supports you in becoming a more grounded, compassionate teacher.
Ready to Teach Yin Yoga?
If this practice inspired you, and you’re curious about becoming certified to teach Yin Yoga, check out our Yin Yoga Certification Course—fully online, self-paced, and Yoga Alliance approved.
