Yinsights: A Journey Into the Philosophy & Practice of Yin Yoga

by Bernie Clark

Why practice yoga or Yin Yoga in particular? YinSights, a new book by Bernie Clark, has the answers. In YinSights, Clark explores the benefits of yoga, as viewed by both the Eastern and Western worlds and relates how it affects the body and mind. Although more and more students are embracing the Yin-side of yoga, Yin Yoga is still relatively unknown. Filling a void in yoga literature, YinSights serves as a practical guide for students interested in understanding Yin Yoga. YinSights is divided into two main sections. The first investigates the benefits of yoga on the physical body, the energetic body, and the mind/emotional body. Clark presents three points of view those of the yogis in India, the Daoists in China, and the medical and scientific researchers of the West. The second section explores the practice of Yin Yoga in detail, and several flows are offered each with different themes. Slower versions of the normally active or yang Sun Salutations are provided, as well as even gentler ways to stimulate the flow of prana, chi, or energy. While YinSights illustrates how to practice Yin Yoga, it is not just for those seeking knowledge about Yin Yoga in particular. The book also discusses the advantages of all styles of yoga and will be of interest to every yoga student. Bernie Clark's Yinsights is one of the best yoga resources now available, no matter what your preferred style of practice. Paul Grilley, author of Yin Yoga

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

434 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2007

Reviews

[Frank Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are at all interested in Yin Yoga, this book belongs on your shelf. As is often the case with me, this book was on my shelf for years before I finally got around to actually reading it. Bernie Clark is an excellent elucidator of Yin Yoga and the philosophy behind the practice and I found myself nodding appreciatively when he writes things like "Balancing is not a static act" as I often remind my students that in fact there is no such state of absolute stillness in the universe and that as circumstances are always in flux, we must learn the art of balancing and jettison the notion that we can attain "balance" as some "happy ever after state."

In the first chapters he gives not only a good summary of the philosophy, but also the history, highlighting the innovative work of people like Paul Grilley, Paulie Zink and Sarah Powers. However, when he introduces Hiroshi Motoyama, it is a clear indication that we are also in for some major pseudoscience and sadly, there is quite a bit of it throughout the book -- which is the only reason I simply could not give this tome a full five stars.

Clark is excellent when describing physical anatomy and if only he'd cover "subtle anatomy" as the metaphoric phenomena it is rather than gullibly offering metaphysics as ontology I'd have much less to complain about. While he introduces "the energy body" by alluding to the "many metaphors and concepts concerning energy," he then strays into speaking about it quite ontologically. He attempts to smooth over the pseudoscience by saying "even in the West, there are various interpretations of the word 'energy'. There is the energy of our nervous system that is electrical in form. There is chemical energy transported by our blood system." Yes, and these "energies" all fit the description found in my linked blog post while the alleged energy of 'chi' or 'prana' is NOT that!
https://zennaturalism.blogspot.com/20...

At times Clark offers absolute bad advice: "Do you doubt your own experience? Don't." As Richard Feynman points out: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” Critical thinking, with metacognitive understanding of the myriad ways our perceptions and thinking can go wrong show us just why that advice is bad and potentially even dangerous.

The book was published in 2007, so I'd be curious to see if he still thinks quoting medical advice from B.K.S. Iyengar as by now most of us are aware as to how dangerous that can be! If you don't know what I am talking about, check out https://matthewremski.com/wordpress/?...

Clark also places a lot of unquestioned confidence in the "work" of pseudoscientist James Oschman whose book on "Energy Medicine" is replete with bullshit: https://www.skepdoc.info/energy-medic...

So... overall, Yin Sights is a wonderful primer on the practice of yin yoga, but take all the woo with a very large helping of salt!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent addition to a yin yoga library. Touches on many of the same topics mentioned by Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley but with a greater focus on meditation and the philosophical background of the practice.

[hh · Rating 4 out of 5]

a thoughtful, accessible, well-paced introduction to yoga overall and yin yoga in particular. covers a LOT of ground. it's difficult to get into at first because there's so much background, but when you get into the meat of it, you realize that you'd be lost without all that background. highly recommended for yogis.

[John Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am currently in a training with the author and his knowledge is incredible. He is explaining anatomical and energetic anatomy to a liberal arts yoga teacher. I am happy to be a part of this training. The second reading is faster and we are going through the book in the training so a third reading is forthcoming. i also have a Kindle edition

[Karen Fournier-foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. Bernie Clarks story telling and the weaving of philosophies/history across east and west was fascinating. I have a much deeper understanding of Yin Yoga and its applications in my personal practice and as a teacher. Highly recommended.

[Barbara Ginsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! Bernie Clark writes with a sense of humor but there is a serious wealth of information in this book.

[Baaska Baaska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Иогийн багш болох сургатын үеэр багшийн уншаарай гэж өгсөн номны нэг. Өмнө нь юин иогийн талаар огт сонсож байгаагүй ч энэ номноос бүх талын цогц мэдээллийг авч чадсан. Юин иог нь холбоос эдүүдэд зориулсан нэг байрлалдаа 3минут 5 минут хүртэл барьдаг иогийн нэг төрөл.
Бүхий л утга учир, ач холбогдлыг тайлбарлахаас гадна биеийн тухай маш олон хэрэгтэй зүйлс байлаа. Бас юин иогийг хэрхэн хийх, байрлал, анхаарах зүйлс гээд хэрэгтэй гэсэн бүхий л зүйлсийг багтаасан. Хэрвээ иог сонирхдог бол уншихад илүүдэхгүй.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is packed full of information all about Yin Yoga. It took me a really long time to read this book because I had to take all the information in, in small doses. This book talked about anatomy, the Eastern view of the body and mind, and the Western view of the body and mind. It also talked about different yoga styles and a collection of yin style poses. Needless to say, I'm still processing a lot of this information and I really feel like this is a good Yoga resource to have on my shelves.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bernie Clark's book is a paramount reference tool for yoga teachers, students and those looking to deepen their practice or understanding of yoga and religion. Hands down best yin book I've read so far and happy to have it on my shelf. Used it in class last night.

[Sandi]

Reading this for some new training

[Christine]

I love this book. Has taught me the practice of yin. thank you Bernie!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book with theory and practical info. Also, compares with the usual yoga so it's interesting and useful.

[Reading Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernie Clark is the big name in Yin yoga, which is my favorite type of yoga, as I get older. In addition to giving a good dictionary of poses and some sequences, this book offers a lot of knowledge and food for thought, about the how and why of Yin yoga. His ultimate goal is to prove, from both the Eastern perspective (the panchamayakosha system, the Chinese meridian system) and the Western perspective (anatomy, science), that Yin is doing real work in terms of healing and strengthening the body and mind.

Sometimes it feels he's just woolgathering, and he definitely only scratches the surface on the meridians, but this is basically a master class in the subject. An absolute MUST for yoga instructors and for people who want something a little deeper than, say, the Yin yoga resources from Yoga Journal, etc. Not to take away from those books! Those are great! This is just...greater if that's what you're looking for.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a required read for a Yin retreat that I'm taking. It was a nice introduction to Yin yoga with concrete history, a broad overview, and a section on poses (including length you should hold, how to get in and out, the names of similar poses in yang yoga, etc.) There were definitely parts that veered into the woo-woo territory for me but it was overall a quick, easy, informative read.

[Johanna DeBiase · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is extraordinarily comprehensive. It covers everything and more. I particularly like the information about energy. If you want a straightforward book about yin yoga, this is not it. If you want a highly detailed and informative history, multidimensional and cross-cultural book about yin yoga, this is it.

[Quảng Trương · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice book

[Lisa Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful refresher for yin yogis

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My new love.

[KP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on Yin Yoga - wonderful reference.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a major reference text, the longer and complete version (2007) of the somewhat misnamed 2011 The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga (all the facts and asanas without the chapters on history). I have "read" both, but as references, now continue to return to them in preparing yin classes. Excellent resources.