The Big Yin

The Big Yin is back at The Salisbury Centre on Friday 30 October, part of a monthly series that runs on the last Friday of each month. It's a restorative, slow-paced yin yoga practice, and this session runs for 90 minutes from 18:30. The class is led by Hannah Simpson, who trains in yin yoga, vinyasa, meditation and functional yoga anatomy.

If you're not familiar with yin, it's a far cry from the active yang styles you'll find in most studios. You hold poses for longer periods—typically three to five minutes—to target the deep connective tissues and fascia rather than the muscles. The session also includes guided meditation, so it's as much about slowing down and staying still as it is about the physical side. It's not suitable for children or for anyone who is pregnant.

Simpson brings her own experience to the room, too. She lives with hypermobility and lower back pain, and she draws on that to advocate an anatomy-first approach to the practice. It's a good thing to keep in mind if you've ever felt like a standard class didn't quite fit your body.

The session is held in the Studio at The Salisbury Centre, 2 Salisbury Road, EH16 5AB, and it's worth noting that getting there requires climbing a flight of stairs. The centre itself is an Edinburgh community hub open to anyone looking to develop their spiritual, psychological and creative life, with a holistic programme of courses, workshops, lectures, meditations and one-to-one therapeutic work, plus indoor and outdoor spaces to hire. It relies on public donations to keep much of its community work financially accessible. The class costs £15, starts at 18:30 on Friday 30 October, and runs for 90 minutes.