Yin yoga is a much slower, meditative style of yoga, in which deep stretches are held for several minutes at a time. It’s a counter to styles we might consider more yang—or active and powerful—such as vinyasa. But yin can also differentiate itself from other gentle styles like restorative yoga in that it doesn’t give us conditions that are inherently easier or more relaxing. It actually gives us quite challenging conditions we’re called to learn how to relax into.

So just what can this practice teach us from a therapeutic standpoint?