Learn the difference between the two & how they pair well together.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a style of yoga that involves long holds in various seated and reclined poses to access deeper layers of fascia (connective tissues, ligaments, joints, and bones) with a focus on quieting the mind through longer periods of silence. There are 5 pillars of Yin Yoga: find your edge where you can feel the stretch but without straining; remain still; allow yourself to stay here for time (typically held for 3 to 5 minutes), become the witness to the thoughts arising, and quite the breath. It is a simple practice with profound benefits.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha focuses on flexibility, balance, strength, stress reduction, and increased awareness and can be made accessible to every body. In Hatha, you do dynamic and static poses to target a certain area of the body. These poses are typically practiced more slowly with a focus on body and breath sensations.
The difference
In Yin Yoga, no muscular engagement is happening. The reason for this is to allow you to get into your fascia (ligaments, joints, bones, connective tissues.) In order to stretch your CT, your muscles must relax. In Hatha Yoga, the muscles are engaged to protect your joints in poses. While Yin is normally done on the ground, Hatha can either stay on the ground or go into standing poses.
How they pair together
Hatha is Yang energy while Yin is, Yin. Neither energy is greater than the other, both is needed. Both pair nicely together because they bring a sense of balance to the body (the nervous system) the mind, and the heart. Both styles have the option to be more on the gentle, nourishing side vs a fiery hot yoga or vinyasa style class.