What’s the Connection Between Myofascial Meridians and Anatomy Trains in Yin Yoga?

If you’ve ever taken a yin yoga class and thought, Whoa, why do I feel that stretch all the way in my soul? you’re not alone. Yin works deep. And one of the reasons it’s so powerful is because it taps into the body's myofascial meridians. This is what Thomas Myers calls the “Anatomy Trains.”

Let’s break it down.

Myofascial meridians are lines of connective tissue (fascia) that run through the body. They link muscles together into long functional chains—so instead of thinking of the body as a bunch of isolated muscles, we start to see it as one integrated, continuous network. The same way Traditional Chinese Medicine maps energetic meridians, Anatomy Trains maps out physical, anatomical ones.

For example, the Superficial Back Line runs from the soles of your feet, up the back of your legs and spine, and all the way over the top of your head to your forehead. So when you’re in a forward fold like Caterpillar or Dangling, you're not just stretching your hamstrings, you’re unwinding that entire backline of fascia. Pretty amazing, right?

In yin yoga, because we hold postures for time and soften muscular effort, we give fascia the space to release. This is where the magic happens. Instead of just targeting one spot, we’re influencing entire trains of connective tissue, which can affect posture, mobility, energy, and even emotional release.

It’s all connected. That tightness in your calves? It might be related to tension in your neck. The way you hold your shoulders? It could stem from your feet. My teacher Tom always says "It is where it ain't" and promotes whole-body movement, treatment and exploration.

Understanding Anatomy Trains brings a whole new depth to yin. It helps you teach (and practice) with more clarity, intention, and awe for how beautifully woven the body really is.

Want to explore this more? We dive deep into myofascial meridians in my yin yoga teacher training. Come nerd out with me and you’ll never see the body the same way again.

Learn about my 30 hour yin yoga teacher training