Yin Yogassage™
What is Yin Yogassage™?
Yin Yogassage™ is the creation of Jill Cummings, Vinyasa and Yin yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner and Brad Mumpower Certified Massage Therapist and Reiki Master. Jill and Brad have combined Yin yoga with massage. Unlike most yoga classes where you hold yoga poses, or actively engage in moving into a stretch, Yin yoga focuses on poses without muscle contraction and alignment. Rather, you begin to surrender into poses, which you hold for 3-7 minutes, focusing on the breath, relaxing the body, and allowing the blood to nourish the connective tissue. The benefits open up the body, creating space for deeper breath and quieter mind. The lack of muscle contraction while in poses allows for the addition of massage. Imagine you are diving into a seated pose, supported by blankets and blocks, you’re mind starts to wander, and your body starts to tense up, then, a certified massage therapist is there, helping you to remain present in your body and in the moment.
During a Yin Yogassage™ class, students will be lead through the quiet, reflective practice of yin yoga while receiving massage as they are in the poses. Yin yoga invites the student to hold poses on the ground for longer periods of time to allow muscles to soften and the release of energy deep in the connective tissues of the spine, hips and shoulders. Massage is offered to the students while they are in the poses to help facilitate the release of obstacles held in the body and to allow them to move deeper into the poses. This practice is appropriate for beginners to advanced practitioners. Students with chronic conditions are assisted in modifying/adapting their practice to accommodate their conditions. Class size is very limited so that each person will receive the benefit of a lot of touch and attention.
Yin Yogassage™ creates a time and space where co-operative healing work can be done in the body. While all healing arts like massage, reiki and yoga are a all co-operative on some level, each practice has a more active or a more passive participant. In a traditional Yoga class, students are doing most of the physical work while the instructor leads the class. In a massage or reiki session, the client is passive in receiving the body work. In a Yin Yogassage™ class, both participants are active, the student is active in taking the postures and doing the class while at the same time passively receiving bodywork from class leaders. This co-operative work allows for significant healing to take place.
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This sounds lovely. I do have a chronic condition that is now making it extremely difficult for me to do most yoga poses. I have severe osteoarthritis of the pelvis, hips, sacro illiac and knees. I actually used to teach yoga but now am finding it almost impossible and extremely painful to open my hips, sit on a cushion, or put any weight on my legs . .ie lunges, warrior poses, moving in and out of sun salutation, etc. I am wondering if this would be appropriate for me or still too demanding. A friend of mine took your class and loved it, but said that you held sitting in lotus for a long time . ..I cannot even get into that pose these days.
Debra,
One of the things I personally love about the Yin Yogassage™ practice is how it is suitable for just about everyone, and with two instructors in each class, each student can get the help they need to feel comfortable. The class does begin and end in a cross legged pose, some choose to do a lotus pose, others just cross legged, and others in a seated position that is comfortable for them. We have props from blankets, to blocks to cushions to allow everyone to get the most out of the class tat is possible.
I have been a massage therapist for almost 13 years and I currently teach at the massage school, and Jill is currently in the Occupational Therapy program at Pitt, so we both bring a good understanding of the body and anatomy to assist people that have issues that cause pain in the body (ex. arthritis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, to name a few).
The Yin Yogassage™ practice does not include strength or endurance poses like warrior poses or sun salutations. This practice is done seated or laying down and where we encourage the body to slowly release muscle tension using just the weight of your body, gravity and the assistance of the massage therapist. It is most likely like no practice you have experienced in the past.
If you have other questions or concerns, please feel free to ask.
Brad Mumpower
Sounds very exciting and I would love to try it. Tell me where!
Michael,
Currently all of our Pittsburgh classes take place at Massage and Bodyworks Shadyside located at 235 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15206. If you select one of the classes listed on our class/workshop schedule calendar, a window will open showing all the details for the class, time, location (with a map), cost and a link to register for the class.
Please let me know if you have other questions!
Brad
Jill and Brad offer a well-crafted two hours filled with great energy, attention to the individual, encouragement, information, healing touch, and genuine care. Each time I’ve participated, I’ve come away stretched – spiritually and physically. What a gift!
I have taken 2 Yin Yogassage classes and LOVE them! Jill is so knowledgeable, caring & in-tuned with her students. Brad is such a wonderful massage therapist and with the help of both of them, the students stay in yoga positions that give deep stretches in combination with soothing mini massages. It is an awesome experience and a great way to start off a weekend on a positive note. These classes have really helped me with some lower back issues. Thanks Jill & Brad!
Awesome!