Yin Yoga: Therapy and Practices with Kate Kearns
CYTA Spring Workshop 2025 Event Report
Text by Judith Lynch. Pictures by Kathryn Smith
Event date: 15th March 2025
Kate Kearns ably led this day event attended by 31 people at the Rixton with-Glazebrook venue.
Her topic was Yin Yoga and she themed it superbly to tie in with the advent of spring. In the morning we started with pranayama and then a heart opener posture propped up on a block. Hips raised by a bolster warmed up the lower back. Kate led us on to consider the relevance of the wood element to re-birth, change and growth in spring. She also (re)introduced us to the liver and gall bladder meridian energy lines which we would be focussing on all day allowing release of tension in the fascia, thereby improving energy flow and overall well-being.
We practised still stretches, held for at least one minute, with raised leg and a strap working into the hamstrings, the inner thighs and then the outer thigh/hip area. We were encouraged to adopt a shape where we could relax into the posture, using our focus on the breath and also props if needed. Kate talked us through it, explaining how these areas related to the location of the liver and the gall bladder meridians and the benefits of these organs and their energy lines. Afterwards we experienced the results of the yin stretches in our legs and hips by lying still on our backs A banana shape side stretch helped the flow of energy in our stretched side and an observation of the contracted side plus breathing into the ribs. Kate told us the wood element helps us in spring to let out any held in anger, freeing us up to move forward with our plans, tapping into our imagination, creativity and even our dreams . These were refreshing thoughts to light up our day.
Seated we completed the morning’s physical activity with a inner leg stretch in a choice of postures while Kate elaborated further on the function of the liver meridian, sometimes called “The General” in devising plans and of the gall bladder in providing the means of carrying them out. We finished with Yoga Nidra, including a freshness of spring visualisation and some deep breathing.
After lunch we experienced an interesting workshop of myofascial release using tennis balls to press into tight fascia and thereby releasing tension and tightness in the muscles below. We placed our two balls in each part of the back to the sides of the spine and moved them about to locate the knotty bits. It was painful in certain areas but then ecstasy when we removed the ball after working on each section of the back and lay down to experience the impact. Our backs felt flatter, soft and warm and they were spreading and sinking into the mat. The tissues and muscles had released their tension, allowing better circulation, hydration and space. In between further work with the tennis balls on the glutes and the feet we also practised more yin postures – the butterfly, thread the needle (you might know it as pigeon warm up) and shoe lace. Toe, ankle and calf stretches followed with downward dog pose in between to stretch out legs and back. More challenging yin postures were pigeon, swan, screaming pigeon and all the dragon postures. Leg forward hamstring stretches completed the physical activities.
A short relaxation with a spring poem and Om Shanti chant closed the day.
Feedback from attendees was positively glowing. To quote some of the responses:
Bliss. Excellent, inspiring, motivating. WONDERFUL DAY – I learned soo much. Relaxing and stimulating. Excellent really enjoyed. My body feels so relaxed – thanks. Feel relaxed and stretched. Nourishing + informative. KATE! She’s Brilliant.
Thank you very much to Kate for a well planned, full-on and interesting day of activities with lots of learning/food for thought. There were plenty of different activities and information both for individual attendees to enjoy and also for teachers to share with their classes. Thanks to all the enthusiastic attendees and to CYTA for organising the event.
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More pictures from the event will be published on our Facebook page.