Yin and the emotional body

I have been following the yin sequences posted on the Garden for some time now, and loving the space and time lingering and exploring in each pose.     Particularly enjoying the space given to exploring how the emotions are held in such tight places,and how our reactions are held in the tissues and the breath.    I've been taking these explorations a bit further than is suggested in the classes by using the techniques of Focusing.    I'm sure you guys living in California are familiar with these practices, originally taught by a guy called Eugene Gendlin, and used now in many different psychotherapy approaches.    His book is well worth checking out if you're looking for a way to incorporate the experiences of the body in a real way (rather than our usual spinning around the same feelings again and again).

It dawned on me today also the differences for me between more dynamic practices where my physical body and energetic body get to feel alive and good, and the more meditative approach which I take in my teaching, and which is also encouraged in the Yin practices - it seems to me that the more dynamic practices take me out of my familiar patterns of self-negation, but they don't often allow me time to process this new feeling and integrate my new learnings enough - (sometimes they may do)  this means that I have to return to my Yoga again and again, which of course is no bad thing, it just means that the deep core of my patterns takes a looong time to soften and release.      I've been practicing Yoga for almost 20 years now - maybe I'm just a bit slower than a lot of others - but mostly I think that my approach has been somewhat 'missing the point'.      No to give myself a hard time here, but just to honour the fact that if we want deep and lasting release, then we have to touch on the real core issues.      The combination of Yin Yoga plus Focusing is beginning to allow me to do this - also my work on myself through Craniosacral Therapy which deals with the emotional layer through accessing the tissues where emotions are said to be stored, and which for me has a co-relation with many aspects of Yin Yoga.

These are just some of my ramblings on a Autumn morning here in Shillelagh - perhaps the slow energy of this place reflects the pace of my learning and understanding - would love to hear from you more active Californian- vibed yogis and yoginis.     How do ye experience the differences?

Much appreciation particularly to Kira who so generously shares your Yin practices and insights so freely