|
|
|
Paul Grilley's Discovery of Yin Yoga [1]
|
In the spring of 1979 Paul Grilley was inspired to study yoga after reading Autobiography of a Yogi by
Paramahansa Yogananda. After two years' study of anatomy with Dr. Garry Parker, he relocated from his
home in Columbia Falls, Montana, to Los Angeles to continue his studies at UCLA. While in L.A., Paul
furthered his study of yoga and began to teach.
Paul's personal yoga practice took him into Ashtanga, where he experienced the joys (and consequent dangers)
of doing too many drop backs into urdhva dhanurasana (the Wheel). He also ran a Bikram's studio and studied
that form of practice. One day, Paul stumbled across a locally televised martial arts interview that
featured Paulie Zink. While Paulie's martial arts demonstration was impressive, what really caught
Paul's attention was his flexibility. Paulie kept stressing the importance of yoga practice to do
martial arts effectively and without injury. Paul contacted Paulie through the TV station. Paulie
invited him to attend an ongoing class, which included two hours of long holds of simple postures,
and Paul was hooked. Paul became Paulie's student.
|
|
In 1990 Paul met Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama. Through Dr. Motoyama's teachings Paul began to see the connection
between the asana practices he had been doing and Dr. Motoyama's theory of the meridians. Paul went to
Japan to learn more about the way our body's physical and energetic structures are connected through the
chakra system. Paul continues to study with Dr. Motoyama as well as host seminars with him.
Paul combined the knowledge he had been given on anatomy, Daoist Yoga, and the meridian theory into the
core of his Yin Yoga teachings. His teachings resonated with many people who recognized the benefits of
the practice and related to the model of the body/mind/soul Paul offered. One student, who found this
practice compelling and highly beneficial to her meditation practice, was Sarah Powers.
From 1998 to 2000 Paul took a sabbatical and relocated to Santa Fe where he earned a master's degree from
St. John's College in the study of the Great Books of the Western World. In 2005 he received an honorary
PhD from the California Institute of Human Science, founded by Dr. Motoyama. He currently teaches yoga
and anatomy worldwide and lives in Ashland, Oregon, with his wife Suzee. [2]
|
1 -- Adapted from Yin Yoga by Paul Grilley.
2 -- You can learn more about Paul at his own Web site:
www.PaulGrilley.com.
|
|
|
|
