Dropping YinSide: Beyond Stretching

Season 9 | Ep. 9Yin Yoga Book Review: In My Element by Emma WallToday I'm reviewing In My Element by Emma Wall, a Yin Yoga book built around sequences for the Chinese Five Elements. I get asked all the time for book recommendations, so I like to do these reviews for anyone looking to nerd out on new Yin books.Overall, I really liked this one. It's beautifully designed, with big colour photos, easy to read, and each element comes with its own breathwork, meditation, poem, and sequence. She also includes upper-body poses, which is still rare in Yin books, and some good prop variations. My one real critique is that she leans on meridian pathway info, which I'm generally not a fan of since most Yoga teachers writing about Chinese medicine haven't studied it in depth, so I wouldn't take that part as gospel.I'm also not big on the Ujjayi breath showing up in a Yin practice, but that's a small thing.Bottom line, this is a lovely book worth adding to your collection if you love Yin Yoga. I'm getting my own copy. Thanks to my student Crystal for lending me hers!Also Mentioned In This Episode;Yin Yoga is not Chinese MedicineUpper Body Yin  Past Book ReviewsThe Complete Guide to Yin Yoga with Bernie ClarkYin Yoga Principles of Practice Mindful YIN Want to support my work? Leave Me a TipSee all episodes at a glance To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra  

Season 9 | Episode 7Yin Yoga for Sleep (Bedtime Yin)This one's for anyone who could use a better night's sleep. I'm walking you through a full Yin Yoga sequence you can do right in bed, so once you're done, you just... go to sleep. No getting up, no putting props away, nothing.What I get into:How I started doing Yoga in bed in the first place (long story short: I hurt my back and couldn't get to the floor)My honest sleep hygiene tips: caffeine cutoffs, ditching screens, lighting, bedroom setup, and the sleep aids I actually use (hello, passionflower)The full bedtime sequence: Graceful Bow, Constructive Rest with three-part breath, Baby Dragon, Heart Bend, Mermaid, Keyhole + Twist, Butterfly, Wide-Legged Child's Pose or Happy Baby, and SeaweedHow to wrap it all up with a guided relaxation so you can just drift offGrab these:The full bedtime Yin sequence PDFA guided relaxation audio linkMy earlier episode on Constructive Rest (with its own PDF)If you're into the show:Subscribe/follow and drop a 5-star review, it genuinely helpsScreenshot it and tag me in your IG stories: @nykdanuyoga@YinYogaPodcastOr toss a few bucks my way via this PayPal link if you're feeling generousSee all episodes at a glanceYoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Season 9 | Ep. 6Lessons in Meditation with Gabrielle HarrisGabrielle Harris is back, and we're diving into her latest book, Lessons in Meditation, the final installment of her trilogy. Grab your copy if you have it, I'm referencing specific pages throughout.Adult podcast, adult language. Headphones if you've got little ones around.In this episode:What meditation actually is and why it's so hard to defineThe myths that keep people off the cushion, including "my mind is too busy"Why Yin Yoga might be the best gateway to meditationHow to bring meditation into your classes without feeling underqualifiedGabrielle's meditation journey from age nine to nowWhy your own practice has to come before you teach itBuilding a ritual that makes you actually want to show upThe difference between a sankalpa and a resolutionThe mantra Aham Prema and why I'm obsessed with itWe also read Breath of Trees and Rooms of the Heart live from the book. That second one got me a little emotional.About Gabrielle: Award-winning author of The Language of Yin, The Inspired Yoga Teacher, and Lessons in Meditation. Based in New Zealand, leading trainings and workshops worldwide. Lessons in Meditation recently won a Gold Nautilus Book Award for Wellness.Giveaway: Check both of our Instagrams the same week this episode drops for details.Links:Gabrielle's websiteGabrielle's InstagramLessons in Meditation is available on all Amazon'sAlso mentioned in this episode:The Language of Yin Yin Yoga Is The Gateway Drug Want to support my work? Leave me a tip.See all episodes at a glanceYoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra Find me on Instagram @nykdanuyoga@YinYogaPodcast

Season 9 | Ep. 4In this episode, I'm talking about what it really means to "drop Yin-side" moving past the physical stretch into an actual inner journey.We cover why Yin is mentally and emotionally harder than most people expect, the 7-layer awareness approach I use at the start of every class, how to guide students from distracted to present, what to do as a teacher while your students are holding shapes, and some quotes you're welcome to borrow for your own classes.Whether you're a practitioner wanting a richer personal practice or a teacher wanting to guide attention (not just anatomy), there's something here for you.Also mentioned in this episode:Constructive RestShould You Use MusicDear Yin Yoga Teacher Please Shut UpLoving Kindness and Yin (Metta)Care Bears Video Want to support my work? Leave me a tip.See all episodes at a glanceYoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra Find me on Instagram @nykdanuyoga@YinYogaPodcast

Season 9 | Ep.4Teaching Swan Pose? Help Is on the Way!In this episode, I'm diving into one of the most requested topics from the Yin Yoga community: Swan Pose (also known as Sleeping Swan, or if you speak Hatha, Pigeon Pose). If you're a Yin Yoga teacher who's ever panicked when a student can't do this pose, this one's for you.What I cover:The difference between Swan and Sleeping Swan (and why we don't call it Pigeon in Yin Yoga)Why teaching functionally is everything — if you know why you put a pose in your sequence, you'll never be caught off guard when someone can't do itThe myth of the 90-degree front leg — spoiler: it's about bone structure, not flexibilityThe number one issue in Sleeping Swan (the front knee) and what to actually do about itWhat to do when it's the back knee that's the problem (yes, this happens!)A buffet of modifications and alternatives: adjusting the foot and knee angle, using props like blocks, bolsters, straps, blankets, towels, chairs, and wallsWhy flipping someone onto their back for a figure four (aka Keyhole, Reclined Pigeon, Eye of the Needle — so many names!) is often the quickest and most effective solutionWhy that reclined version is actually deeper for some people (hi, it's me)Reclined Shoelace as another great option for folks who need less external rotationSeated options like Shoelace, Square Pose, and Deer PoseThe "butt in the air" problem and how to handle it gracefullyWhy I love Paul Grilley's Anatomy for Yoga and why it's required watching in my teacher trainingA companion PDF on Tummee with tons of visual variations (living, breathing document, I'll keep adding to it!)Want to make a request? DM me on Instagram or leave a comment on the blog. Frog and Cattail are on the way, I promise.Until next time, bye for now!Mentioned In this Episode:Tummee PDF Link How To Make Yin Yoga Accessible  The Yin Yoga Way: Function VS FormTeaching Saddle Pose Help Is On The WayYin Yoga and Hip Pain: What Teachers Should Know Knee Pain and Yin Yoga: What Teachers Need to KnowTummee  Want to support my work? Leave me a tip.See all episodes at a glanceYoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra Find me on Instagram @nykdanuyoga@YinYogaPodcast

Season 9 | Ep. 3 Myo Yin with Nikki HajitomaIn this episode, I sit down with Nikki Hajitoma, founder of Yintelligence, to talk all things Myo Yin. If you've ever wondered what happens when you combine myofascial release balls with Yin Yoga, this one's for you.About NikkiNikki is a highly esteemed teacher within the international Yin Yoga community, a vastly experienced studio teacher, and founder of Yintelligence, a school of Yin and functional Yoga. She's known for her tenure as resident lead in the Yin Yoga teacher training at Pure Yoga (Asia's largest studio group). She is considered one of the key teachers to popularize Yin Yoga in Asia.She has trained extensively with Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Bernie Clark, and Jo Phee, and spent nearly a decade as a personal apprentice to Jo Phee Based in London, Nikki teaches online and travels internationally to deliver specialized teacher trainings in Yin Yoga, functional anatomy, and compassionate self-inquiry.What We Talk AboutWe kick things off with Nikki's Yoga origin story, and it's a good one. She shares openly about her struggles with addiction, the moment Yoga cracked her open during treatment at 26, and how she went from the last person anyone would expect to become a Yoga teacher to one of the most respected Yin teachers in the world.From there, we get into:What Myo Yin actually is (spoiler: it's not just a ball in a Yin pose)The different ways to practice and teach it, from dynamic rolling before a pose, to static ball placement during a Yin holdWhy the combination amplifies the physical benefits, and how it can also become a powerful mindfulness practiceThe importance of intelligent sequencing so it doesn't just become a gimmickHow Nikki uses Myo Yin with more yang-focused students to ease them into stillnessWe also talk about functional anatomy, the one-size-fits-all cuing problem in Yoga, alignment culture, trauma-informed teaching, and why Nikki believes you can teach functionally without being trauma-informed, but you can't be trauma-informed without teaching functionally. That one hit home for me.Nikki's Upcoming Trainings60-hour Myo Yin Teacher Training in London at Mission: December 7 to 13, 2026Myo Yin Teacher Training in Hong Kong: January 16 to 24, 2027Online workshops coming in fall 2026Online teacher training: late 2027The best way to stay in the loop is to sign up for the newsletter on her website.Nicky's website: yintelligence.com and InstagramIf you loved this episode, please leave a review or comment. It helps other Yin Yoga lovers find the podcast. And if you've already left one, a screenshot shared in your Instagram stories means the world.Want to support my work? Leave me a tip.See all episodes at a glanceYoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra Find me on Instagram @nykdanuyoga@YinYogaPodcast

Season 9 | Ep. 2The Courage to Say "I Don't Know" In this episode, I'm talking about something that I think every Yoga teacher needs to hear: it's okay to not have all the answers.I share a real moment from my own teaching that got me thinking about how we relate to not knowing, and why saying "I don't know" is actually one of the most courageous and mature things a teacher can do.We get into the Dunning-Kruger effect and how it shows up in Yoga teacher training, my own experience of thinking I knew way more than I did as a new teacher (including some very confident and very wrong alignment cues), and how discovering Paul Grilley's work on skeletal variation completely cracked my world open.I also talk about the difference between clarity and certainty, why the wellness world's obsession with having all the answers can actually do more harm than good, and what Daoism has to say about the wisdom of not knowing.Whether you're a brand new teacher or you've been at this for years, I think this one will resonate.In this episode:The Dunning-Kruger effect and how it shows up in Yoga teachingWhy "I don't know" reflects maturity, not inadequacySkeletal variation and how it changed everything for meThe difference between certainty and clarityWhy curiosity is lighter to carry than the pressure of having all the answers Want to support my work? Leave me a tip.See all episodes at a glanceYoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra Find me on Instagram @nykdanuyoga@YinYogaPodcast

Season 9 | Ep.1 7 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started Teaching Yin YogaIn this episode, I'm sharing seven things I wish someone had told me earlier in my teaching journey. These aren't lessons you have to wait decades to earn. Think of them more like signposts to keep an eye on as your teaching unfolds, whether you're brand new or you've been at this for years.What we get into:1. The nervous system always has the first and last say2. Timing matters more than technique3. Your presence matters more than your plan4. Variability isn't the problem; it's the practice5. I stopped teaching poses and started teaching people6. Experience doesn't give you all the answers7. Go teach, then come back and study again Also mentioned in this episode:My #1 Pose for Every Yin Yoga Class (constructive rest)Dear Yin Yoga Teacher- Please Shut UpHow To Teach Exceptional Yin Yoga Classes Mentorship matters Let's connect:I'd love to hear what pearls of wisdom you've picked up on your own teaching journey. What did I miss? Drop a comment on YouTube or Spotify, I genuinely want to know.And if you love this podcast, a rating or review goes a long way in helping other Yin Yoga lovers find it. You can also take a screenshot of your favourite episode and share it in your Instagram stories. Tag me so I can share the love!Thanks for being here. Until we meet again, bye for now.Want to support my work? Leave me a tip.See all episodes at a glanceYoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra Find me on Instagram @nykdanuyoga@YinYogaPodcast

Season 8 | Ep. 12Episode Title: Protecting the Sovereign: The Wisdom of the PericardiumThis is the last episode of the season, and we're going out on one of my favourite topics: the heart and the pericardium in Chinese medicine.The heart is the sovereign, the seat of our Shen (spirit/mind). The pericardium is its protector. But what happens when that protection goes too far, and the fence becomes a wall? Or when there's not enough, and we're giving it all away?We also get into how Yin Yoga creates the conditions for the Shen to settle, and I leave you with some journal questions to take this deeper.In this episode: the Shen and why it matters, signs of scattered or disturbed Shen, the pericardium as heart protector, boundaries versus walls, emotional armour, and how stillness reveals what we didn't know we were carrying.Quote: "Wide open, gentle heart. Big fucking fence." Danielle LaPorteTaking a summer break, back in September 2026. See you then.Want to support my work? Leave me a tip.See all episodes at a glanceYoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on ZoomTo subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:Anatomy for Yoga with Paul GrilleyHang Drum Music by Fred Westra Find me on Instagram @nykdanuyoga@YinYogaPodcast

Season 8 | Episode 11A comment in a Yin Yoga network group stopped me in my tracks. Someone said they were "already certified to teach Yin," and I couldn't get that out of my head. So this episode is all about what certification actually means, whether it equals qualification, and what only time and humility can teach you that no training ever could.In this episode:Why a certificate marks the beginning of teaching, not the completion of learningThe problem with weekend intensives and fast-track certification cultureThe shadow side of collecting certifications without integrating the materialWhy the deeper you go into Yin Yoga, the less certain you becomeHumility as a Yin quality and why staying teachable matters more than arrivingIf this episode resonated, please rate and review on Apple, leave a five-star on Spotify, or drop a comment on YouTube. I read them all.My 100 Hour Therapeutic Yin Course. Full details and sign up here.https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/Also mentioned in this episode: What is Therapeutic Yin Yoga: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-podcast/what-is-therapeutic-yin-yoga/Why Yin Yoga Teachers Need a Home Practice: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-podcast/yin-yoga-teachers-home-practiceUnearthing Trauma - Yin Yoga for Release and Resilience with Janis Isaman: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-podcast/unearthing-trauma-yin-yoga-for-release-and-resilience-with-janis-isaman/What is Yin Yang: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-podcast/yin-yoga-podcast-what-is-yinyang/Want to support my work? Leave me a tip. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/78PEVR5WF3ZSASee all episodes at a glance: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NOyRZM7cKC-h9kOMT-rIIeuatJgOf1CKT63LjAHk2LU/edit?usp=sharingYoga Teachers Get on the Waitlist: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/ at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom https://nykdanu.com/students/yoga/online-yoga/To subscribe to my https://nykdanu.com/students/yoga/video-library/Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley : https://pranamaya.com/courses/anatomy-for-yoga/?ref=20 (affiliate link)Find me on Instagram Nyk Danu Yoga: https://www.instagram.com/nykdanuyoga/Yin Yoga Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/yinyogapodcast/