If your job is demanding, busy and full on, there is a good chance your life has tipped into what I call yang overdrive: always doing, never being. The fix is not to work less (although that helps). It is to deliberately bring more yin into your week. Below I explain what that means in plain English and give you ten practical ways to do it, most of which take less than half an hour.
Before you decide this is a woo woo blog, it is not. Yin and yang is simply an analogy for the two extremes we swing between and the balance in the middle.
What yin and yang actually means
You have seen the symbol: two curved teardrops, one white, one black, each with a dot of the opposite colour inside. Yin and yang are two independent but complementary energies, and there cannot be one without the other. The idea applies to plenty of life's dualities: work and rest, action and stillness, our need to achieve and our need to switch off. When the two are balanced, we stop fighting ourselves, stop depleting our reserves and stay sane, mentally, physically and emotionally.
Living in your yin
Yin is your inner introvert. It is peace, wisdom, imagination and intuition. In yin you are process-oriented, collaborative and focused on being rather than doing. You feel relaxed.
Too much yin and you become sluggish, overly withdrawn and prone to overthinking. You are crippled by inaction and cannot get things done.
Living in your yang
Yang is the doing. It is ambition, courage, logic and drive. In yang you are directive, goal-oriented and getting things done.
Too much yang and you feel anger and frustration. You cannot relax, you need constant stimulation, you cannot sit still and you cannot sleep. If that sounds like you, keep reading.
None of this is about gender. Everyone needs a healthy balance of both.
Why balance matters
A balance of yin and yang brings lower anxiety, a stronger sense of who you are, more creativity, sharper intuition and a genuine sense of fulfilment. You still carry a busy life, but you carry it with zen.
Which energy do you spend most of your time in? Not everyone is yang dominant, but it is very common for working professionals to be depleted in yin. If that is you, these ten practices will help you nurture yourself back into balance.
10 ways to bring more yin into a busy life
1. Sit in stillness
When we sit in stillness by ourselves, we turn inward, reflect and focus the mind. It is a slow, methodical practice that strengthens the connection between mind and body, and it is the most direct way I know to nurture yin. If you struggle to still your mind on your own, join one of my guided classes. My favourite place to zen out in the city is The Mingary in Melbourne CBD, a quiet room where anyone can walk in, take a seat and be still.
2. Yin yoga
Yin yoga gives you time to sit, be still and notice what your body and mind are telling you. I love a yin class after work because it stretches out a body that has been knotted up at a desk all day and lets you turn inward before the evening. I have written more about the benefits of yin yoga for relaxation. For something extra special, look out for our Yin and Sound sessions, which pair yin yoga with singing bowls.
3. Get out in nature
Take a walk, breathe and be in the moment instead of checking your phone every five minutes. You will talk less and notice more. Two of my favourite quiet spots in Victoria are Serendip Sanctuary in Lara and the Redwood Forest in Warburton.
4. Get to bed early
Sleep is when your body regenerates and regulates its hormones. It is the single biggest yin activity there is. If you find it hard to switch off at night, read 3 ways to fall asleep.
5. Stretch properly
Not just a quick stretch here and there. Give your body an actual stretching practice you attend regularly, the way you would a gym or yoga class.
6. Choose slow activities
Reading, writing, slow crafts, a round of golf, a facial or a massage. Anything that asks you to move at a gentler pace.
7. Stop rushing
Leave earlier, plan the night before and be realistic about how much you take on in a day.
8. Just be
Instead of stressing over the dishes, the washing and the mess, let it go for a moment and relax. Return to it later with a fresh mind and it is rarely as big a deal as it seemed. Can you find ten minutes today to simply sit or lie down and do nothing?
9. Sound before bed
If you have reached the end of the day without a moment of peace, put on headphones and listen to a singing bowl track. It helps focus and still the mind, which makes relaxing and sleeping much easier. Better still, come and experience a live sound meditation at the studio.
10. Breathe
This is how you invite yin on the spot. Slow down and deepen your inhale and exhale. Breathe into your belly and feel it rise, then your chest, and release. Repeat. When I notice I am about to snap at someone, I now take a few deep breaths and turn inward until I find my zen again, then deal with the problem far more productively. Our post on breathwork goes deeper on this.
Balance in the workplace
The same principles apply to teams. A culture that is all yang, driven by constant pressure and long hours, leads to burnout. A workplace that makes room for yin tends to be healthier, more creative and more engaged. Mirosuna's corporate wellness programs bring original mindfulness experiences to teams at their office, offsite or venue of choice.
It takes commitment
Good habits take time and dedication, and the result is worth it. Nothing gets better unless you decide to put in the effort, and I created Mirosuna to make that effort as easy as possible. I have been through this myself, and I know the practice will change your life the way it changed mine. You will know it is working when people start asking how you do so much and still seem so calm. Start with a sound meditation or a class at the studio, read up on yin yoga, and enjoy the process of inviting more yin into your life.
xx
Sally Kellett
Founder of Mirosuna