A Gentle Introduction: 9 Acupressure Points to Support Your Yin Yoga Practice
Yin Yoga is a slow and peaceful practice—a chance to pause, breathe deeply, and connect with your body in a new way. And while it may look simple from the outside, this style of yoga can help release tension on a deeper level—both physically and emotionally.
One beautiful way to support this process is by adding something called acupressure. Think of it like a gentle, loving touch on certain points of the body that help you relax, feel more balanced, and even connect to your emotions.
What Is Acupressure?
Acupressure is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s based on the idea that we all have energy flowing through our bodies, along invisible pathways called meridians. This energy is called Chi (or Qi), and it helps keep us healthy and in balance.
Sometimes, this flow can get blocked or slowed down - by stress, fatigue, emotions, or even poor posture. Acupressure helps “unblock” and guide that energy again, using simple touch on certain spots.
In Yin Yoga, we stay in postures for a while, giving the body time to open up. Adding gentle acupressure while you’re in a pose (or in the rest phase afterward) can support this natural healing process.
9 Gentle Points to Explore
Here are nine beginner-friendly points you can use during your Yin practice. You don’t need to press hard—just rest your fingers softly and breathe. That’s more than enough.
1. Yin Tang (Third Eye)
🌸 Between your eyebrows
🧘♀️ Helps calm your thoughts and settle your mind
💫 Try this during meditation or Savasana (final resting pose)
2. Heart 7 (Spirit Gate)
❤️ Inside of your wrist
💗 Offers comfort and emotional balance
🌙 Touch here when you're feeling overwhelmed
3. Lung 1 (Letting Go Point)
💨 Near the top of your chest, just under the shoulder
🌿 Supports emotional release, especially grief
✨ Great in gentle backbends or when focusing on breath
4. Large Intestine 4 (Union Valley)
🤲 Between thumb and index finger
🌼 Encourages energy to flow + relieves tension
💫 Use before your practice to feel centered
5. Kidney 1 (Bubbling Spring)
🦶 On the sole of your foot
🌍 Grounding and calming
🌙 Lovely during seated folds or when feeling anxious
6. Liver 3 (Great Surge)
👣 Top of your foot, between the big toe and the next
🌊 Helps with emotional flow and flexibility
💫 Ideal in hip openers like Butterfly or Swan
7. Stomach 36 (Leg Three Miles)
🦵 Below your knee, outer shin
☀️ Boosts energy and supports digestion
🌼 Good before or after longer holds
8. Spleen 6 (Three Yin Intersection)
🌸 Inner leg, above the ankle
🌿 Balances body and emotions
✨ A gentle point to touch in relaxing forward folds
9. Pericardium 6 (Inner Gate)
🙏 Inner forearm, about 3 fingers below your wrist
💗 Calms anxiety and opens emotional space
🌙 Supportive during moments of reflection
How to Use Them
There’s no “right way.” During a pose, or when resting in stillness after, try gently placing your fingers on one of these spots. Breathe slowly and notice what you feel. Maybe warmth, maybe calm, maybe nothing at all—and that’s okay.
What matters most is your presence, not pressure. Just being with yourself kindly is the heart of the practice.
In Closing
Acupressure adds another layer of care to your Yin Yoga journey. It’s simple, intuitive, and available to anyone. With soft awareness and gentle touch, you can support your body’s natural ability to heal, rest, and release.
You don’t have to know everything about energy or meridians to begin. Just begin—slowly, softly, and with curiosity.
Your body knows the way. Let it guide you.