The over-yang of modern living

'Most forms of modern yoga are 'yang' in their approach: dynamic and engaged, muscular and repetitive.

In many ways, this reflects modern society: achieving, rushing, striving. We hurry from here to there, fuelled by caffeine and chocolate, emotionally consuming soap operas and Crimewatch, our commuting dash supported by a diet of fast food.

In this yang world, our fight/flight response is being perpetually stimulated - this is the sympathetic nervous symstem, which is essential for survival as a species, but is now being significantly over-used.

A common complaint is anxiety and exhaustion: being worn down by it all. Perhaps an addition of more yin practices, with their calming and cooling, slowing and surrendering, could help in a small way to resolve this modern unease.'

Yin Yoga: Philosophy, practice, principles, postures, by Norman Blair