Dagmar_Spremberg_Yoga_logo_cropfinal-copy

13 Yin Yoga Poses For An Open Heart

By Dagmar Spremberg on 25 July 2016

yin yoga sequence for open heart

13 Yin Yoga Poses For An Open Heart

I love yin yoga for the complimentary effects to the more yang lifestyle and yoga practices we do. Ideally we have both energies in our life: yin is the more feminine, receptive, lunar quality and yang refers to the more active, striving, masculine energy. From a physical point of view there are aspects of the body that are more yin – the connective tissue, and aspects that are more yang, –the muscles.

Connective tissue takes on many different forms within the body. It is the tissue that holds the bones together, the muscles to the bones, and the internal organs in place. It is the web that forms and connects all aspects of the human body. The connective tissue has its own intelligence and memory. It is listening and remembering our every thought and experience. Some people say that our nadis/meridians, the channels in which our energy flows through the body, are located inside this tissue. As we grow older it shrinks, dries up and becomes tight, so we have to find ways to keep it juicy.

Yin yoga is a meditative practice of reconnection and surrender.  

When events occur in our lives that are beyond normal human experience, we often see no choice but to disconnect. We disconnect from society, from our family, from our body, and from our own heart. No place seems safe. Yin yoga is a way to begin to reconnect. First we reconnect with our body. Accepting ourselves as we are is the first step. Allowing ourselves to be in the posture just as we are is a way of acknowledging our body and its wisdom. By taking the time to sit down quietly and listen to our body, we can connect. In the quiet of the yin yoga postures we can create a space for the body to feel safe.

I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. The meridians that we mainly work with are for the heart, lung and small intestines. Each pose is explained in more detail below its picture. Please note that these are suggestions, we all have different bodies, so if at any time you feel a numbness, tingling or sharp pain, please come slowly out of the pose, back off or move on to the next. Please use as many props as needed to get yourself into a place of comfort, trust and stillness, so your nervous system can relax and benefit greatly. Watch my introduction video for more guidance on yin.

I am also currently teaching yin and vinyasa yoga live on Zoom and posted some video replays on my youtube channel, so you can now practice yin with me in a video as well.

Props: please have a blanket, pillows and maybe blocks to rest on. I use the app called Insight Timer with the beautiful sound of Tibetan gongs.

You can listen to my yin yoga playlists on Spotify to enhance your mood. Enjoy the practice and please feel free to leave your feedback!

photo credit: Susie Pearce       yoga clothing: pants by Onzie, tops by Alo Yoga

yin yoga sequence for open heart

1. OPENING MEDITATION  5 Min  – start in a comfortable seat, maybe using a blanket or pillow to elevate your hips. Close your eyes and connect to your breath, become aware how it flows through your body, try not to change anything about it. Just observe and listen. Then move your awareness to your heart and feel into the space, is it open and receptive or does it feel tight? use your breath to create more space here and see if you can even feel its heartbeat.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-backbend

2. RECLINED BUTTERFLY  5 Min – use 2 blocks or a few pillows to elevate your chest and rest your head. Bring the soles of your feet together and let the knees fall out to the side. Use props here if it feels uncomfortable under your thighs or keep your legs straight. This pose is wonderful to open the upper body, but also your hips. close your eyes and lie here breathing all the way up into your chest, into your belly and down into your pelvis as well into the back of your heart. Feel where space is most needed.

3. CAT/COW  2-3 Min  –  use cat/cow to neutralize between the postures, you can use it also between any of the following ones. On your inhale arch your back and on the exhale round the back. Move slowly and feel free to even circle your hips if your body calls for it.  A beautiful way to warm up the spine.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-shoulder-childpose

4. CHILDS POSE WITH BLOCKS   4 Min.  –  sit back and rest on your heels in childs pose. Use 1 or 2 blocks in front of you to rest your arms and then let your head rest on the floor, so your arms will be elevated and you feel a nice stretch in your shoulders. Breathe and surrender.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-yoga-anahatasana

5. ANAHATASANA  3 Min –  This pose is called the melting heart as it gently stretches your chest and benefits your heart and lung meridians. Come onto all fours and then walk your hands slightly forward. Keep your hips slightly in front of your knees as you begin to lower your chest towards the floor. Breathe deeply into the stretch. Remember to back off if you feel any stress in your shoulders or tingling sensations. When you release the pose come into a regular childs pose with the arms next to you and take a few deep breaths for a rebound effect.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-shoulder-side

6. SUBSCAPULAR RELEASE  4 Min – Place a block on your mat and roll the end of the mat over it for some padding. Come onto your left side and place your side at the trigger point below your armpit (see photo) onto the edge of the block. You will feel a slight sensation here when you hit the right point. This is the meridian for the heart and lung and as you rest your head in your hand, begin to surrender and breathe into the sensation. After 4 Min neutralise with Cat/cow and repeat on the right side for 4 Min as well.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-shpinx

7. SPHINX POSE 4 Min  –  lie on your belly and come up onto your elbows. Rest your elbows under your shoulders or if that is too much a little bit in front. Relax your face and look ahead of you, not down, so there is no tension on the neck. Relax your legs and buttocks, you want to feel a mild compression in your back, if it’s too intense please back off a bit and lower down more.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-yoga-spiderman2

8. SPIDERMAN  4 Min – come to rest on your belly. Fold your hands and rest on your left cheek. Bend your right knee and bring it in line with your hip, then bring your ankle in line with your knee (see photo). One of my favourite relaxing poses, feel your groin releasing and enjoy this sweet surrender pose.

Repeat on the other side AFTER next round of sphinx/seal pose.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-yoga-seal

9. SEAL  3 Min – from Spiderman come back into Sphinx pose and either stay for another round here, or if you feel you could go into a deeper back compression straighten your arms into seal pose.  Hands are slightly wider than shoulder distance and turned out. Walk them as far or close as needed. Relax your face, legs and buttocks. Come out of the pose, rest on your belly for a moment and then repeat Spiderman with your left leg lifted and resting on your right cheek.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-yoga-downdog

10. DOWNWARD FACING DOG  2 Min  –  from your hands and knees lift slowly your hips and stretch into downward dog. feet hip distance and heels slightly turned out, spread your fingers wide and alternate between bending both knees to stretch out your legs and neutralise your body. Knees can stay slightly bend and your belly reaches to your thighs to give your a great stretch in your back as well. Press firmly into your knuckles and fingertips.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-yoga-kneestochest

11. KNEES TO CHEST  3 Min – come to lie on your back and hug your knees to your chest. Roll on your back to release any tension from your back and lift your forehead to your knees to release the shoulders and neck. Stay as long as feels good to neutralise and give little sparks to your spine, the biggest energy channel in your body, as you roll around. Inhale deeply, exhale through the open mouth.

12. TWISTED ROOTS  3 Min each side – with bend knees stretch your left arm to the side and let your knees fall over to the right side. maybe place a block or pillow under knees if it strains your back. Turn your head over to the left and close your eyes. Breathe deeply into the twist and your lower back/kidneys. After 3 Min bring knees back to the middle, roll a bit back and forth to neutralise and then let knees drop to the left and open your right arm to the right. Turn your head to the right.

dagmar-spremberg-yin-yoga-savasana

13. SAVASANA  5 Min –  rest on your back, maybe use pillows or a bolster under your knees to support your back. Arms resting with palms facing up and eyes are closed. Take a big inhale and exhale through the mouth. Let your body rest and absorb the practice. After 5 min or more slowly deepen your breath and hug the knees to your chest, roll onto your left (yin) side and stay for a few breath, then find your way back into a seated position. Keep your eyes close and notice anything that may have changed in your body. Notice a sense of peace and calm or any other sensations in your body. Give thanks to yourself for taking time to practice and connect with your body. Namaste!

The importance of yin yoga and moving into softness is one of my core themes of my Cultivating Intuition Mentorship programme. To find out more about Cultivating Intuition click here.

Liked the practice? You can download another free yin sequence for open hips here:

FREE Yin Yoga Sequence

Please enter your email to receive my FREE 'Open Your Hips' Yin Yoga sequence in your mailbox


You will also receive my monthly newsletter with valuable inspiration, lifestyle and yoga tips, including products and services I think you might like. You can unsubscribe any time. I will protect your details in accordance with my Privacy Policy. Powered by ConvertKit

I also offer many great yoga videos as well in my shop and on youtube, please feel free to check them out!

If you are excited to experience yin yoga in person, please check out my upcoming yoga retreats in Ibiza & Formentera. We will practice dynamic vinyasa in the morning and Yin Yoga in the evenings with live music on the Hang Instrument.

I look forward to connecting with you!

UPDATE: Do you love this sequence and would like to receive more practices? check out my YouTube channel for great new videos and replays of my live classes on zoom.

By Dagmar Spremberg on July 25, 2016 / , /

47 Comments

  1. Susan Hayes on November 14, 2016 at 7:26 am

    Beautiful.

  2. Jo on December 6, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    Thank you for this wonderful sequence.

  3. […] Try this yin yoga sequence by Dagmar Spremberg, designed to open your heart. […]

  4. Linda on January 30, 2017 at 8:12 pm

    Thank you!

  5. […] Find the sequence here: Dagmar Spremberg Yoga […]

  6. Jacqueline on March 25, 2017 at 1:01 pm

    Beautiful Sequence, Beautiful Expression! Thank You for Sharing.

  7. darias on May 21, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    Lovely! Love your playlist also <3

    • Dagmar Spremberg on May 22, 2017 at 2:58 pm

      Thank you, happy you like it!!!

  8. Valencia on June 18, 2017 at 1:42 am

    A really nice sequence. Thank you for sharing your practice.

  9. Steven on June 28, 2017 at 2:56 am

    Excellent!

  10. gabrielle on June 28, 2017 at 7:40 am

    thank you for the beautiful sequence and inspiration 🙂

  11. BRIAN on July 4, 2017 at 3:23 pm

    Thank you, thank you for sharing this lovely sequence, Dagmar! I return to it regularly and am never disappointed by the way I feel after completing it. Here’s wishing you much joy. 🙂

    • Dagmar Spremberg on July 4, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      Thank you Brian, very happy to hear this and preparing right now 5 new yin yoga sequences! If you like to stay in touch, please subscribe to my newsletter, so you will receive updates on new sequences. Enjoy the practice, jungle greetings, Dagmar

  12. Maki on July 16, 2017 at 10:18 am

    Thanks, nice motivating sequence

  13. Elizabeth Margeson on September 10, 2017 at 2:18 pm

    What a lovely sequence – thank you for sharing this gift!

  14. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  15. Suzanne Maldonado on December 7, 2017 at 6:51 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful sequence!

  16. steve on January 3, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    very nice. i especially like the subscapular release using the block.

    • Dagmar Spremberg on January 3, 2018 at 2:49 pm

      Thank You Steve! I love that one too!

  17. Cassi on February 18, 2018 at 2:58 pm

    Subscapularis release was quite intense!! Thank you for introducing me to that potent move 🙂

    • Dagmar Spremberg on February 18, 2018 at 3:04 pm

      Thank you Cassi, glad you enjoyed it!

  18. Steve A on March 30, 2018 at 1:22 pm

    Really great sequence. Thank you for sharing. Just curious about the neutralizing cat/cows in between poses. Is it safe to assume there’s not much movement here? I am under the impression yin poses are supposed to be done cold (meaning not generating heat in the body), are we really looking to warm up the spine?

    • Dagmar Spremberg on March 30, 2018 at 2:08 pm

      Hi Steve, thanks for your comment and good question, you are right, we are not looking to warm up the body, in the yin we do cat cow slowly to neutralise the spine between long held poses, to keep fluidity in the body. Think of moving energy through the body, this is really your biggest energy channel! Enjoy the practice, Dagmar

  19. Heba on April 4, 2018 at 6:29 am

    Wow, that was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.

    • Dagmar Spremberg on April 4, 2018 at 8:12 am

      Glad you enjoyed it! I juts posted a new one in the blog, check it out!

  20. Katia on October 9, 2018 at 2:22 am

    Thank you for the sequence, lovely! Have a small doubt about subscapularis release though, are there any more pointers how to find the correct spot? Thank you?

    • Dagmar Spremberg on October 9, 2018 at 4:03 pm

      Dear Katia, thanks for checking out the practice and writing to me. The only pointer I have is the one in the description, as you can see on the picture the edge of the block is hitting a point below your armpit where you will feel a mild sensation/trigger point. In all the yin poses it’s very subtle work, so feel into it and the only way you can do something “wrong” is if you feel sharp pain or tingling sensation, then I would recommend to come out of the pose. If the pose does not work or click for you, then also feel free to skip it or replace it with another one. Enjoy and all the Best to you, Dagmar

  21. 13 Yin Yoga Poses For An Open Heart – Top Pin on February 2, 2019 at 3:32 pm

    […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  22. 13 Yin Yoga Poses For An Open Heart | ligaments on February 16, 2019 at 3:22 am

    […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  23. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  24. 13 Yin Yoga Poses For An Open Heart | Yoga on May 5, 2019 at 4:48 am

    […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  25. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  26. […] Creé la siguiente secuencia de yin yoga para abrir tu corazón y tus hombros. Incluye una bonita lista de reproducción. ¡DISFRUTAR! dagmarspremberg.c … […]

  27. […] Ich habe die folgende Yin Yoga-Sequenz erstellt, um dein Herz und deine Schultern zu öffnen. Enthält eine schöne Wiedergabeliste. GENIESSEN! dagmarspremberg.c … […]

  28. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  29. […] I created the following Yin Yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Contains a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c … […]

  30. 13 Yin Yoga Poses For An Open Heart on July 27, 2019 at 4:12 am

    […] Read More […]

  31. […] J'ai créé la séquence de yoga yin suivante pour ouvrir votre cœur et vos épaules. Comprend une belle liste de lecture. PRENDRE PLAISIR! dagmarspremberg.c … […]

    • Dagmar Spremberg on August 5, 2019 at 7:50 am

      Merci beaucoup!

  32. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  33. 13 Yin Yoga Poses For An Open Heart | Slimmer You on September 26, 2019 at 9:15 am

    […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  34. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  35. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  36. […] Yin Yoga sequence for an open heart with images and description Montezuma Yoga montezumayoga Community Involvement I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  37. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  38. […] I created the following yin yoga sequence to open your heart and shoulders. Includes a nice playlist. ENJOY! dagmarspremberg.c… […]

  39. The 6 Keys To Happiness - Dagmar Spremberg on September 10, 2021 at 10:47 am

    […] understand what triggers you and acknowledging your “dark sides” and your limitations. Yin Yoga is a wonderful practice for […]

Leave a Comment