Rebuttal to Bernie Clark Yin Yoga Article

Clarifying False Claims made in the
Bernie Clark Yin Yoga Article
"Clarifying Yin Yoga"

In this Bernie Clark Yin yoga article, Clark explains: "Jason Crandell recently spoke about Yin yoga on a Yogaland Podcast where he was interviewed by Andrea Ferretti. While there were dozens of statements he made that I could spend time debating, I will pick out the top 5:" (Not all five are listed here.)

1. "Yin yoga is extreme! It comes from a Chinese martial arts master, Paulie Zink, and is meant to develop a high degree of flexibility in order to build a performance art (Monkey Kung fu)."  [Crandell is right about Yin yoga being useful for developing a high degree of flexibility. However, Monkey Kung fu is a martial art, not a performance art.]

Bernie Clark says, "This is misleading. Paul Grilley, not Paulie Zink, developed yin yoga as a style of yoga."

Bernie Clark is mistaken.  The Paul Grilley Bio on Kripalu's website says: "Paul Grilley has been teaching yoga since 1980 in the style of Taoist master Paulie Zink." (see above photo)

Grilley originally taught Ashtanga yoga. He didn't study with Paulie Zink until 1988. But after he studied with Paulie Zink he then taught Paulie's Zink's art, although only an incomplete version of it.

The Bernie Clark article goes on to say: "To differentiate his offering from Paulie’s Taoist Yoga, Paul chose to use the name “yin yoga” to make sure people wouldn’t be expecting Paulie’s Taoist Yoga."

However, the June 2003 Yoga Journal interview, Talking Shop with Paul Grilley, contradicts Clark's assertion. Matthew Solan writes, "Paul Grilley practices and teaches yoga in the Taoist style, also known as Yin Yoga, as taught to him by the martial arts champion Paulie Zink."

Solan asked Paul Grilley, "You didn't call it Yin Yoga in the beginning, right?"

"No", Grilley replied, "Like Paulie Zink, I called it Taoist Yoga. The term 'Yin Yoga' actually came from Sarah Powers, who was introducing yin poses in her classes. It just made sense to use the same language."

Sarah Powers learned Paulie Zink's Yin yoga from Grilley.

The Bernie Clark article asserts, "Paul did study with Paulie -but Paul never did Paulie’s martial arts practice."

Grilley's description of Master Zink's classes tells a different story. He says, "Most of the poses were done with long holds, 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Then we would stand and perform about one hour of the yang yoga: warrior stances, martial movements, kicks, and spins."

What Grilley is referring to as "yang yoga" is, in fact, Kung fu. Grilley learned part of a kung fu form from Master Zink called Aura Palm.

The Bernie Clark Yin yoga article further asserts, "Eventually, Paul Grilley developed a separate yoga class focussed entirely on long-held, passive stretches complete with opening meditation and closing shavasana, counter poses, and explanations of the postures. Paulie’s offerings were never like this and still are not like this."

Bernie Clark is not qualified to claim what Paulie Zink's "offerings" during those years were like because he never attended any of them.

As Grilley points out in the interview quote, Master Zink did teach "long-held, passive" poses. Master Zink also taught meditations, but these were reserved for his more dedicated students. Grilley did not learn them. And Grilley did not learn the explanations of postures because he was only a beginner-level student of Paulie Zink's.

Paulie does not teach about meridians. He does not teach an intellectualized academic curriculum. What he does teach are the energetics of the immediate felt experience of the five alchemical elements.

The Bernie Clark Yin yoga article explains that Grilley "added a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) basis for the energetic effects, modern anatomical understanding, and placed it into a solid yogic tradition."

However, it isn't being called Yin academic curriculum. It's called Yin yoga. The yoga Grilley teaches, along with some of the philosophy and method, is a fragment of Paulie's complete art of Yin yoga.

Anyone can attempt to rewrite history to serve their self-interests, but no one can alter the truth of history. It's a done deal.

If it wasn't for Master Paulie Zink then Bernie Clark never would have had the opportunity to profit one red cent from teaching Yin yoga because it would not exist.

The word "develop" is defined as "grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate." Paulie Zink mastered the entire discipline of Taoist Chi Kung he learned from his master. Paulie exceeded his master's skill in the flexibility training of the art.

Paulie evolved beyond his master's limited thinking and the pedagogical constraints of the tradition he had been schooled in.

Paulie independently developed numerous postures and variations of postures and flow movements.

Paulie also developed meditations and a much deeper awareness of energetic alchemy than his master possessed.

Paul Grilley did none of these things.

The Bernie Clark Yin yoga article doesn't disclose the fact that Paul Grilley only learned a fraction of Paulie Zink's art. And, in Master Zink's assessment, he never progressed beyond a moderate level of skill as a student. Grilley and Clark didn't even demonstrate the postures themselves in their respective Yin yoga books. (see the blogpost: Grilley Got It Wrong)

Paulie Zink says, "Teaching by example is the truest way of teaching. So when I demonstrate a posture and embody the energy of it, then you can see how it’s done and get a feeling for it. But if you get talked to about doing it, if you listen to someone else’s interpretation of doing it, then you're not going to be experiencing your true way of being it. Seeing it is better than hearing about it."

In a private conversation at the Midwest Yoga Conference in '08 or '09, Master Zink asked Grilley if he was certifying teachers in Yin yoga. Allegedly, Grilley answered, "No, you should be the one doing it."

Dr. Elba Serrano is a Regents Professor and research scientist at NMSU and holds a real PhD. She is extremely accomplished in her field of Neuroscience and Biophysics. In addition, she is a skilled Capoeira martial arts instructor.

Elba trained with Paulie Zink for several years, first at UCLA and later in his studio at his home in the late 80's. She recognizes Paulie Zink as the founder of Yin yoga. She says, "It is the student's responsibility to know his teacher's worth."

I believe credit should be given where it is due. And Yin yoga enthusiasts deserve to be treated with respect and told the truth. Commensurate with assuming the authority of a teacher or a journalist is the responsibility to provide fair and accurate information. 

Kripalu is one of the most respected and longest-running yoga retreat centers in the country. They recognize Paulie Zink as the founder of Yin yoga, as does Yoga International Magazine, Yoga Journal Conferences, Elephant Journal, Yoga Magazine, Chicago Yoga Magazine, and others.

Maria