Sarasvati Karahan and the Art & Science of Yin Yoga

Send us a text

I remember the first time I saw a sign for Yin Yoga at a studio I was going to in downtown Portland. I peaked in one day, and saw what looked like a bunch of people super relaxed and blissed out. Needless to say, I was utterly freaked, and vowed never, ever, ever to go to Yin. 

For those unfamiliar with Yin Yoga, it’s a style of yoga–as I’ve learned from our guest today, yoga instructor Sarasvati Hewitt–that derived from the martial arts, adapted by Paul Greely and others in the US, and which draws on yoga postures that, essentially, you stay in for 3-5 minutes and sometimes much longer, really leaning into the stretch, and the silence.

I wouldn’t have been able to stay in one posture for so long at the time, and I certainly couldn’t imagine making myself comfortable. I was all in for Ashtanga Yoga, Crossfit, Mountain Biking–and any sport I could go hard and never stop. The more pain, the better.

I was not alone in this view….And I was not ready until I had to learn to get comfortable with slow discomfort, for truly being present with myself and taking care of myself. Until, I was ready.

Yoga teacher  Sarasvati Karahan. was also initially aghast at a practice of slow, very intentional, very present, very slow–did I say slow–yoga. But she was equally intrigued by the science that supported this ancient-meets-modern-world practice.

And it turns out, according to Sarasvati’s intense studies into the neuroscience of yin, this yoga practice, treats sleep disorders, mental health conditions, addiction and general human-ness. In this conversation, we explore the science and the art of yin, how Sarasvati stumbled into this fascinating world of ancient art and modern science, how she is dedicated to teaching this style–and more importantly, how this practice can work for everyone.

Find Out More about Sarasvati Karahan:

https://www.sarasvatikarahan.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sarasvatikarahan/

Join the Fully Mindful Community: ✨ Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps others find the show!
✨ Stay Connected: Follow @the_fully_mindful on Instagram for mindfulness tips, breathwork insights, and more!
✨ Free Breathwork Sessions: Email me at [email protected] to get signed up for your first session for free of my monthly Unwind Your Mind session.