Yin Yoga is Boring – and That’s the Point!

Have you ever went along to a yin yoga class and thought, this is boring? If you answered yes, then you’re not the only one. Yin yoga is boring, but sometimes boring is exactly what we need.

The 24-hour Stimulation Trap

Living in the 21^st century is pretty full on. We have access to rolling 24 hour news, can check in instantly with anyone, and distraction is only a hands reach away. In 2025 there are no opportunities to experience boredom. 

Considering the ‘good old days,’ without the constant connection to the wider world, we often felt bored. This lead to daydreaming, finding ways to entertain ourselves and being with our own thoughts. Is the constant availability of entertainment and the loss of boredom linked to our increasing anxieties?

Our Daily Dose of Distraction

My morning alarm clock wakes me to the sound of Classic FM. This sounds like a gentle start to the day but it’s simply the beginning of my daily entertainment diet. I have music on in the car, in the background at work and while I go about my household chores in the evening. There is constant background noise, even though it is soothing, it’s still there.

But there’s more. Over breakfast I check the weather and news on my devices. Scrolling is my hobby while I eat a healthy breakfast and prepare for the day. I’m more aware of what I consume in terms of food and drink, than of what I’m consuming through my devices.

Throughout the day I randomly scroll Social Media. I’m not looking at anything in particular (ok maybe cute dog videos, or posts of people doing EVERYTHING better than I am!) It’s simply a means of distracting me from the daily workload for a few minutes. I crave entertainment, despite having a busy job which demands my full attention.

My evening is often spent sitting in front of the television, re-watching shows I enjoyed years ago as I hope that the nostalgia will fill the entertainment void. (Spoiler alert, these shows were great in the 1990s and early 2000s, not so much now!) As I scroll through the TV listings during advert breaks, I am constantly searching for something better to watch. The amount of time I spend looking for something suitably entertaining is quite shocking. What’s more shocking is the times when I ‘settle’ and put something on just for the background noise.

But I’m not simply watching television, I have my phone to hand just in case the entertainment value drops a little. If it does I can quickly find something more interesting on the internet until the show picks up again. Then it’s time to head to bed and reach for headphones to listen to a sleep story which aims to lull me into a restful slumber.

After a day of constant information, entertainment, noise, lights and clutter I expect my weary brain to rest soundly until the morning when it begins all over again.

It’s pretty full on when you stop to think about it. What does your own entertainment diet look like?

The Hidden Cost of Constant Entertainment

Consuming information at the rate we do in the 21^st century is leading to an over-stimulation pandemic. The constant barrage of noise vying for our attention all day (and night) can lead to feelings of anxiety, frustration and fatigue.

There is never any respite from this overload as the tools we use to relax are often contributing to the over-stimulation in the first place. This leaves an inevitable feeling of increased stress and anxious thoughts making it difficult to sleep or to focus.

Do we really need to be entertained every second of every day?

An Invitation to be Bored

Taking a step away from the smartwatches and relaxing music seems like a massive request and a step too far. But what price would you pay to feel well? To sleep better and to wake rested? To ease migraine symptoms and to feel less anxious? Would you put away some of your technology if you knew it would help you feel better in the long run?

Yoga offers a valuable opportunity to disconnect, as most classes are taught without music and in dimly lit spaces. The purpose of a yoga space is to offer the chance to step away from it all. To just be. Not to be bored or to be entertained with fancy poses and stories. Just to be.

In fact one of the 8-limbs of yoga discusses the withdrawal of the senses, as we turn our attention towards our inner landscape. It’s pretty impossible to do this while you’re checking messages on your smartwatch or updating your status on social media.

Yin Yoga is Boring

My very first experience of yin yoga was that it was boring. Having came fresh from an Ashtanga practice, the slowness of yin was so alien to me. But as this practice began to soften my edges and I started to learn the benefits of stillness something amazing happened. The 5-minute holds in my yin class did not seem like 5 torturous minutes, instead it felt like a gift to myself to just be still. The boredom in my yin yoga class offered a fantastic opportunity to explore the idea of just being. The minimalist pedagogy of this style of teaching, opens a space to let go of external stimulation and to be bored. By switching off the music, dimming the lights and sitting with our own minds in these poses we can work out what we truly need.

Modern Yoga Practices

Some people find yin yoga and restorative yoga boring – which is fine. These practices don’t offer the mass appeal of a typical vinyasa practice and are definitely not for everyone. But giving them a chance can offer a wealth of opportunities from nervous system regulation to improved flexibility. It’s in these type of classes where we can experience moments of peace which help to reset the nervous system. This is where we can fully and completely rest. Staying in the poses and being bored, welcoming that feeling and letting it be is the key to healing the over stimulation pandemic.

If you are struggling with sleep, ongoing migraine symptoms or any other health challenge look to your daily routine. Explore the levels of stimulation you are engaging with and decide what changes you can make. It’s time to rethink what rest actually is and to give ourselves the gift of feeling bored.