Therapeutic Yin Yoga with Nyk Danu
In this week’s podcast episode, I’m geeking out on therapeutic yin yoga with Nyk Danu, a fellow Certified Yoga Therapist with a specialty in Yin. Nyk has extensive training in Chinese Medicine and yoga therapy, so we go in-depth on how these modalities can inform and enhance the Yin Yoga practice.
Episode Details:
Nyk talks about how learning anatomy from Paul Grilley – especially the reality of skeletal variation – was a game changer for understanding alignment in yoga. We also discuss the use of props in Yin Yoga, and why they are so important for making the practice accessible and therapeutic.
Therapeutic Yin Yoga topics we discuss:
- the role of the nervous system and interoception in Yin Yoga therapy
- how the long-held Yin Yoga poses can be calming for anxiety
- the mental challenges that often come up in a Yin Yoga practice
- why Nyk is cautious about sharing Chinese Medicine and Meridian theory in Yin classes
- what the sinew channels are, and how they may be more relevant to Yin than the Meridians
We also discuss alternatives to some of the common language used in Yin Yoga, and ways to make Yin classes more trauma-informed.
This episode is packed with info for our Yin Yoga lovers! So, give it a listen and let us know what your favorite take-aways are.
Guest Bio:
Nyk Danu Is a Yoga therapist (C-IAYT), Yin Yoga teacher trainer and Yoga business mentor. Nyk holds the following teacher training certificates: 300 hour Yoga teacher training – The Yoga College Of Canada; 500 hour advanced Yin Yoga Teaching certificate – Paul Grilley; 1000 hour Yoga Therapy Certification – Ajna Yoga College. In addition, Nyk has also completed 2,000 hours of Chinese Medicine studies and 360 hours additional Bio-medical studies at Pacific Rim College.
Nyk lives in the enchanted city of Victoria on magical Vancouver island, teaching Yoga to MisFits, those who are not human pretzels, the Underdogs, Rebels, Introverts, Geeks and Bookworms. When Nyk is not teaching Yoga classes and Yin Yoga Teacher trainings, you’ll find them expanding their personal tattoo collection, walking by the ocean, or curled up at home watching Star Trek or immersed in a book.
Resources & Links from this episode:
- Paul Grilley’s Anatomy for Yoga (video course) – https://pranamaya.com/courses/anatomy-for-yoga/
- Bone photos on Paul Grilley’s website – https://paulgrilley.com/bones
- Manual of Acupuncture (app) by Peter Deadman – https://amanualofacupuncture.com/digital-membership/
To connect with Nyk, you can visit the website https://nykdanu.com/
or follow Nyk on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nykdanuyoga/
To connect further with your host (Addie), check out my main website movedtomeditate.yoga
or practice therapeutic Yin Yoga with me in the Moved To Meditate Class Library! Sign up for your MTM Library Card to access this month’s FREE practices.
If you missed the newsletter mentioned in this episode with the Deeper Dive worksheet on Patience and Persistence (because you’re listening to this later), you can still get the worksheet. All you need to do is email Addie and ask.
P.S. If you enjoyed this episode on therapeutic Yin Yoga, continue learning with Episode 4: Principles of Trauma-Informed Yin Yoga with Julie Johnson and Episode 50: Yin Yoga Therapy and Mental Health with Dr. Tracey Meyers!