Lessons from Bailey: The Yin of Dogs

Be Like Bailey: Finding Yin in Everyday Life

My sweet Bailey has this incredible way of reminding me to pause.

When the world feels fast — when I’m caught up in to-do lists, work, classes, and constant motion — he’ll just sit in the sun, close his eyes, and breathe. Fully present. Fully content. Watching him is my cue to slow down, to be instead of always doing.

There’s something sacred about the energy of dogs. It’s pure, grounding, and deeply intuitive. They don’t rush, they don’t force, and they certainly don’t worry about what’s next on the agenda. Dogs exist in harmony with the moment — completely attuned to the subtle rhythms of life.

Over time, I’ve realized that what Bailey embodies so naturally is the essence of yin energy.

In the philosophy of Chinese medicine and yoga, yin represents the energy of stillness, rest, and receptivity — the moon to yang’s sun, the exhale after the effort, the quiet space between breaths. It’s the part of us that knows how to surrender, to soften, to listen.

When we step into a yin yoga practice, we enter this realm of being rather than doing. We hold postures for longer periods, allowing gravity and time to open the body rather than force. In that stillness, we begin to feel — not just physically, but energetically. The noise of the mind quiets, and the heart space opens.

Bailey is my little yin teacher. When I bring him into my classes or onto my mat, his calm presence transforms the space. He’ll settle quietly, maybe curl up near my students, and in that gentle silence, something shifts. The energy softens. People smile. Breaths deepen. The room feels grounded, safe, and connected.

That’s the medicine of dog energy — a reminder to drop the armor, release the striving, and trust in the simplicity of being.

Dogs don’t perform presence; they are presence.
They don’t chase life; they feel it.
And every time I watch Bailey bask in a patch of sunlight or exhale into rest, I’m reminded that yin isn’t just a style of yoga — it’s a way of living.

Their energy mirrors what we seek on the mat: unconditional love, trust in the moment, and the ability to rest fully in what is.

So when you step onto your mat, maybe channel a little “dog energy.” Let yourself soften. Find stillness. Breathe deeply. Be content, right here, right now.

Because life — like Bailey teaches me every day — isn’t something to chase.
It’s something to feel.

Much love to you all from me and my little Bailey -Serina Sunshine xxxx