Yin retreats in Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll

Yin is a slow, floor-based style where you stay in each pose for several minutes, usually three to five, with your muscles as relaxed as you can make them. The idea is to let gravity and time do the work instead of effort.

You get a deep, slow stretch in places that rarely get attention: hips, inner thighs, lower back and the backs of your legs. Staying still that long brings a mix of sensations, from a dull pull to surprising ease, and learning to sit with them can feel like meditation in disguise. Many people leave feeling looser and noticeably quieter. It makes a good counterweight to running, cycling or a long week at a desk, and it slots nicely into an evening before sleep.

Classes run 60 to 90 minutes and stay almost entirely on the floor, seated or lying. You might do only eight to twelve poses in a whole class, each held three to five minutes or longer, supported by bolsters, blocks or blankets as needed. The facilitator talks less than in a flow class, often offering a short reflection, a poem or a few words on anatomy or Chinese meridians while you hold. Lights are often dimmed, music is soft or absent, and you will not sweat. Expect a long rest at the end.