Sunday evening yoga is a great way to relax before the start of a new week!
Whitetop Yoga presents a new class:
Slow Flow & Yin
Sundays at 5:00 pm
What is "Yin"?
Yin Yoga is based on the Taoist concept of yin and yang, opposite and complementary principles in nature. Yin is the stable, unmoving, hidden aspect of things; yang is the changing, moving, revealing aspect. In the body, the relatively stiff connective tissues (tendons, ligaments, fascia) are yin, while the more mobile muscles and blood are yang. Yin Yoga class consists of a series of long-held, passive floor poses that work to loosen the connective tissues and curb sympathetic overdrive.

Who should do Yin?
Yin Yoga is for you if you are:
-Tired
-Achy
-Over-stimulated
-Craving for energy
-Attention-deficient
-"Addicted" to your phone, laptop, TV, or other devices
-A human with a brain and a body

Why practice Yin?
 We live in a world where our laptops, phones, TVs- even our watches- are constantly buzzing with stimuli. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for sorting through and responding to all of this stimulation. Unfortunately, the sympathetic nervous system is also responsible for our fight or flight response. Sympathetic overdrive leads to chronic levels of stress hormones which wreak havoc on all of body's systems.
Despite the fact that it is detrimental to our health, our mind gets used to processing the insane amount of information we throw at it. Like any other addiction, over-stimulation of the mind begets more cravings for stimulation. When we do vinyasa-based Yang yoga, we cater to the part of us that craves to be busy. This is akin to feeding sugar to a child who is already hyper-active. You may sate the child's cries at first, but you will only increase his/her activity level later.
In contrast, Yin yoga shuts off the sympathetic pathway and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the blissful rest and digest response. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system decreases stress hormone levels which can help in the management of symptoms associated with anxiety, cancer, depression, heart disease, sleep disorders, and more.
To create balance in our lives, we need both Yin and Yang yoga. Chances are you already have a regular Yang practice. After you have experienced Yin, even just once, you will realize that you have been doing only half of the asana practice.

Meet the teacher
Maggie Fuller is an enthusiastic newcomer at Whitetop Yoga, and an avid student of life. After years of searching for something- something for herself- Maggie finally committed to her yogic path at the beginning of 2015. Later that same year, she completed her 230 hour teacher training through InnerSea and Bristol Yoga; it completely transformed her from the inside out.
Maggie's personal yoga journey opened her eyes to all yoga really had to offer: allowing her to keep discovering her true, authentic self, as well as building the foundation from which she has learned to love and accept herself. This deeper connection and newly found love is what brought about her desire to teach and share her practice.
As she and her journey continue to blossom, Maggie has also realized yoga isn't just about what you do on your mat... It's more about taking the tools of yoga OFF the mat, into everyday life: learning to take your time, breathe, stay present, and cultivate a mindful awareness in all that you do. The literal definition of the word yoga is to yoke, to join, to connect. Yoga builds the connect to the body, breath, mind, and ultimately the connection we have to ourselves and others.
As a yoga teacher and Reiki (energy healing) practioner, Maggie's ultimate hope is to create a compassionate, supportive space for others to know the comfort of self love, and to help others find themselves, their own unique path, and recognize their natural, radiant light. Her goal is to see students go from human beings doing yoga, to humans BEING yoga.
As stated in the Bhagavad Gita, "yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self."
Maggie firmly believes that yoga is for everyBODY, and provides variations, modifications, and gentle hands-on adjustments to assist students in their own individual practice. Just as every person and their path is different and distinct, so is their yoga practice... and that is something beautiful!