Yin Yoga · Full-body · Flexibility

40-Minute Head-to-Toe Yin — Yin Yoga class, 39 minutes

40-Minute Head-to-Toe Yin

A full-body deep stretch, from the toes up to the shoulders

40 min All levels Full-bodyFlexibility Feb 2023
Watch the full class on YouTube
Save this class

Before you go

Two hours to completely switch off

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe any time. I'll only send Yin.

What this Yin class is

Forty minutes of Yin that works its way right up the body — we start at the toes and ankles, travel through the hamstrings, hips and lower back, and finish in the shoulders, wrists and neck. Because it’s Yin, we hold each shape a good while — around one to three minutes — so the stretch has time to reach past the muscles and into the deeper connective tissue around your joints. Come as you are — every pose has a gentler option and a deeper one.

Who this class is for

Anyone craving a proper, top-to-toe deep stretch, and anyone who sits or stands a lot and feels the stiffness settle in the feet, hamstrings and shoulders. It’s an all-levels class — a few poses, like the toe squat and reverse prayer, are wonderfully intense, but there’s always a way to make them yours. New to Yin? Read the pose notes below first, then follow along at your own pace.

What you need

Just your mat, and a warm, quiet space where you can be still. No props are required — though a yoga block or cushion is lovely to sit on or to lift the hips, and a folded blanket is handy to pad the knees when we take them to the mat. Press pause whenever you need to.

How Yin Yoga works — three simple cues

What you'll practice

Welcome to head-to-toe Yin
Legs
Dangling · round two
Back
Half-Butterfly · side 1
Back
Half-Butterfly · side 2
Shoulders
Reverse Prayer
Twist
Seated Spinal Twist · each side

Tap a time to jump to that moment on YouTube · tap a pose to open its page.

A gift from me

Two hours to completely switch off

✦ A members-only class — free for you

Enjoyed this class? I'll send you my free two-hour Yin, restorative and Yoga Nidra retreat — two slow hours to properly switch off, yours to keep. Just pop your email in.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe any time. I'll only send Yin.

Common questions

Do I need any props for this class?

No — nothing is required, just your mat. A yoga block or cushion is lovely to sit on or lift the hips, and a folded blanket helps pad the knees when we bring them to the mat, but all of that is optional.

How long are the poses held?

Each shape is held around one to three minutes — the toe squat and dangling for about two minutes each. The long holds are where the deeper stretch happens, but you can always come out sooner whenever your body asks.

Is this class suitable for beginners?

Yes, it's an all-levels class. Every pose has a gentler option and a deeper one, and you only ever work to about 60–80% of your capacity — never into pain. If you're new to Yin, read the pose notes first and go at your own pace.

More like this

Or browse every class in the library.

A gentle reminder: Yin asks you to respect your limits, not override them. Come out of any pose that feels like pain rather than sensation, ease off if your hands tingle or a knee complains, and take your time coming out of the long holds — the body feels tender for a moment, and that passes. This practice is about taking good care of your body, never pushing it.