Yin Yoga vs Restorative Yoga: what’s the difference?

Choose yin if you want a slow, meditative stretch that you can feel. Choose restorative if you want to rest completely, fully supported by props, with little or no stretch.

Aspect	Yin Yoga	Restorative Yoga
What it is	Yin yoga uses long, passive holds in seated and lying poses, usually three to five minutes each, with muscles relaxed. The aim is gentle, sustained stretching and stillness.	Restorative yoga uses props to fully support the body in a few simple poses held for five minutes or more. There is little or no stretch — the aim is deep rest and relaxation.
Pace	Very slow — a handful of floor poses, each held for three to five minutes or more.	Very slow — four to six poses, each held for five to twenty minutes with full support.
Intensity	Gentle — but the stretch can feel strong	Very gentle
What a class feels like	Quiet and still. You settle into each pose with minimal muscular effort, often with props, and stay there while the teacher guides your attention.	Dim, quiet and unhurried. The teacher helps you build a comfortable nest of props for each pose so you can let go completely.
Origins	Yin yoga was developed in the late twentieth century. Martial artist and Taoist yoga teacher Paulie Zink taught long-held floor postures in the 1970s and 80s; his student Paul Grilley and Grilley’s student Sarah Powers shaped and popularised the style, naming...	Restorative yoga grew from the teaching of B. K. S. Iyengar, who used props to help students who were ill, injured or recovering hold poses safely. His student Judith Hanna Lasater, a physical therapist, developed these supported poses into a complete style an...
Good to know	A contemporary style shaped by Paulie Zink, Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers from the late twentieth century, drawing on Taoist ideas of yin and yang.	Developed from B. K. S. Iyengar’s use of props and popularised by his student Judith Hanna Lasater from the 1970s onward.
Suits	People with busy, stressful lives who want to slow down Runners, cyclists and strength athletes looking for stretch and recovery Those curious about meditation who find sitting still difficult	Anyone feeling stressed, tired or burnt out People recovering from illness, injury or a demanding training period Those with limited mobility who need full support

Full guide

Yin Yoga

A quiet, floor-based style where you relax into a few poses for several minutes each — slow, meditative and deeply stretching.

Full guide

Restorative Yoga

A deeply relaxing style where the body is fully supported by bolsters, blankets and blocks — designed for rest, recovery and calm.

Class labels are not standardised — two ‘vinyasa’ classes can feel very different. Read the class description and ask the teacher about level and pace.