I have just started trying some of the yin yoga postures. I have found that, doing sphinx and seal, my neck, arms and shoulders get very irritated from the work they are doing holding me up. Not so much in the moment, but for the next few days. I am wondering if there is a way to do the poses to get the same benefits, without so much strain on the neck, arms, and shoulders. Thanks for any suggestions!
In Yin Yoga, we don’t want the arms or shoulders to do any work: they should be able to relax and soften. You may find this page helpful: it describes the ways to do Spinx and Seal with lots of options and some videos as well. For example: have you tried placing a bolster under the arm pits so you can relax completely? There are lots of uses for bolsters that can help us marinate in the postures. This video is a good introduction to using bolsters in Yin Yoga.