Meet Florence, a yoga teacher and certified kinesiologist from Belgium. She shares about her journey with yoga and offers deeper insights into Yin yoga, highlighting its ability to cultivate stillness, emotional resilience, and deep self-awareness. Be sure to follow her 30-minute Yin practice below, designed to guide you into a peaceful, restorative space.
How did you find yoga and what was your path from student to teacher?
I discovered yoga when I was 16, during a time when I was going through a complicated adolescence. Even though it didn’t show on the outside, I was struggling with deep emotional discomfort. Yoga helped me reconnect with myself and find balance. I immediately fell in love with the practice, and since that day, I’ve been practicing 3 to 4 times a week. 7 years later, I became a certified kinesiologist, and that’s when I actually realized how yoga offers therapeutic tools. It brings us closer to our own deep, internal healing abilities that we all carry within. This is what inspired me to go to India for a month and complete my teacher training. When I came back, I became a certified yoga teacher, and I now strive to share this holistic approach that helps people connect to body and mind, tapping into their inner resources to find peace and balance.
What's your approach/philosophy to your teaching?
My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that yoga is a powerful tool for healing and personal growth. Through my own journey, I’ve come to understand that yoga not only strengthens the body, but it also reconnects us with our inner wisdom and therapeutic capabilities. I see yoga as a practice that empowers individuals to become their own guides, offering keys to balance and well-being without the need for external validation or guidance. In my classes, I focus on helping students create a deep connection between body and mind, encouraging them to listen to come back to silence, making it possible to listen again to their inner selves and embrace both the physical and emotional transformations that arise. I aim to provide a safe and supportive space where students can explore, release tension, and cultivate a sense of peace and strength from within.
What inspired you to delve into Yin yoga, and what initially attracted you to this slower, more meditative practice?
What inspired me to delve into slower yoga styles like Yin yoga was my growing need for stillness and introspection in both my personal and professional life. As someone who initially practiced more dynamic styles of yoga and sports, I found myself seeking a deeper connection to my body and emotions. Yin yoga offered exactly that. A slower, more meditative approach that allowed me to tune into the subtle layers of tension and energy within the body. What attracted me the most was the focus on long-held, passive poses that target the connective tissues and joints. This gave me the space to not only physically release, but also to sit with myself in a way that encouraged mindfulness and self-awareness. Yin yoga complements my belief that transformation often come from slowing down, listening, and creating space to let the body and mind naturally unfold. It’s a beautiful counterbalance to the fast-paced nature of our civilization.
For those new to the practice, could you explain what Yin entails and what distinguishes it from other yoga styles?
Yin yoga is a slow, meditative practice that focuses on holding passive poses for extended periods, typically 3 to 5 minutes, targeting the deeper connective tissues like ligaments, joints, and fascia. Unlike dynamic styles like Vinyasa or Ashtanga, Yin encourages stillness and mindfulness, allowing for deep physical and emotional release. It can be uncomfortable at times, as you create new space in both the body and mind. The mind often resists change and may want to escape the pose, but this is where you hold a little longer, finding a deeper sense of presence and awareness.
What are some of the physical and emotional benefits of Yin yoga that you think people often overlook?
Physical benefits: Yin yoga increases joint mobility and flexibility by targeting deep connective tissues, which can improve posture and overall body alignment. It also helps with circulation and promotes better blood flow throughout the body.
Emotional benefits: Yin helps also build mental resilience by teaching you to sit with discomfort, both physically and emotionally, fostering emotional strength. Its slow, meditative pace reduces stress and anxiety while allowing for deep emotional release and relaxation.
How do you encourage students to embrace the journey of self-discovery and growth that Yin yoga offers?
I remind them that Yin is not about achieving a perfect pose, but about cultivating awareness, patience, and acceptance of whatever arises. Whether it's discomfort, emotion, or stillness. The importance lies in listening to their bodies and staying present with sensations.
How can the principles and teachings of Yin yoga extend beyond the yoga mat and into everyday life?
The practice of holding stillness and embracing discomfort teaches us how to stay grounded during challenging situations, respond with greater emotional resilience, and cultivate a deeper awareness of our thoughts and feelings.
What role do props, like bolsters and blankets, play in Yin yoga, and how do they enhance the experience?
Props can provide support and comfort, allowing practitioners to fully relax into long-held poses. These props help to create a sense of safety and ease, enabling yogis to surrender more deeply into the poses, encouraging both physical release and emotional relaxation. That said, you don't have to have props at home to have a wonderful Yin practice.
Are there any final messages you would like to share with readers who are curious about Yin Yoga or considering it as part of their yoga journey?
I encourage you to approach the practice with an open mind and a gentle heart. Yin yoga is not about pushing yourself or achieving perfect poses. It's about being present, listening to your body, and embracing the stillness within. It’s a practice of patience, where the most profound transformation often happens in the quiet moments.
Lastly, which Manduka mat is your go-to choice?
My all time favorite is the PROlite® Yoga Mat 4.7mm. I love how safe and grounded I feel on this mat, and it's also incredibly light. I can take it with me everywhere. It's been my go-to choice for years.
Practice On
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Follow Florence on Instagram: @florence_piers and connect with her on: florencepiers.com.
