Heart of Yin
Two free Yin Yoga sessions + essays you may have missed
Dear Reader,
This week, I’m offering something a little different. No new long-form essay—just a gathering of practices and reflections you may have missed. Think of it as a sampler tray from the kitchen of From Scratch—two full (and free) Yin Yoga practices, plus several essays that explore the evolving landscape of Yin Yoga, Chinese Medicine, and the deeper currents of practice.
One subscriber put it beautifully after last week’s session:
“I appreciate the instruction to find what suits our body within the target area. Also, to hold a space of non-judgement, it allows for such surrender. thank you for a wonderful beginning to the day!”
That spirit of surrender and discovery is what I hope these offerings carry.
🌿 A Complimentary Yin Yoga Practice
The Heart of Hips
👉 Watch the free 60‑min practice here
A friend, new to yoga but curious, texted me recently:
“In Square Pose, one of my knees started to complain. What should I do to modify?”
It’s such a simple question, but one that every sincere practitioner eventually faces. In this practice, we explore external rotation postures—Swan, Square, and Shoe‑Lace—through the lens of functional alignment: no “right” way, just the way that works for your body.
Bernie Clark once said:
“We don’t use our body to get into a pose; we use the pose to get into our body.”
That’s the heart of this class: curiosity, collaboration, compassion.
🔥 Tending the Inner Flame
The Fire We Carry
👉 Watch the free 45‑min practice here
When I returned home to Maine this summer, I found myself surrounded by boxes, ashes, and thresholds. This practice grew from that moment. We’ll treat the body as an altar, arranging ourselves deliberately, with care, as though tending a sacred flame.
The Upanishads remind us:
“There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond the highest heavens. This is the light that shines in your heart.”
Whether you light a candle or not, the fire is already there.
✨ Essays for Deeper Reading
More Than the Sum: Yin Yoga, the Five Elements, and the Synergy of Wholeness
👉 Read the essay
We don’t live in parts. We don’t heal in pieces. This essay explores the Five Elements not as plumbing, but as a living web of synergy and balance.
Beyond Channels and Into Wholeness: The Evolution of Yin Yoga
👉 Read the essay
Why Yin Yoga is shifting beyond the old meridian map—and how fascia, nervous system, and subtle energy converge into a more holistic practice.
Why Yin Yoga? Beyond the Physical
👉 Read the essay
In times of grief, illness, or overwhelm, Yin Yoga becomes more than a physical practice. It restores flow where we’ve frozen, and helps us bear the unbearable.
An Invitation
Every week, I offer new Yin Yoga classes, meditation prompts, and essays—threads of myth, science, and lived experience woven into a rhythm of practice.
If these offerings support you, consider becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll receive full access to the weekly practices and essays—and you’ll be helping me continue to share this work freely with anyone who needs it.
And if you have questions about Yin Yoga, Chinese Medicine, or meditation, I’d love to hear them. Your questions shape the heart of this work.
With care and gratitude,
Josh