Original Yin Yoga
Discover the complete primal art
What Original Yin yoga includes:
Yin Yoga Postures
Still postures for promoting growth, clearing energetic blockages, and enhancing circulation.
Yang Yoga Postures
Power postures used to develop core strength and muscle tone, balance, and stamina.
Yin Flow Yoga
The combination of both Yin and Yang yoga postures into a dynamic movement. However, Yin Flow Yoga is far more than just a sequence of postures. The transition process from pose to pose is as integral to the practice of Yin Flow as the poses are. Flow is a method of movement that incorporates continuous, smooth, and circular motion. It promotes graceful ease and fluidity of motion in the body.
Taoist Energetic Alchemy
This is the art of cultivating and harmonizing the five alchemical elemental energies contained in the universal life field. These elements animate distinct qualities in the body, such as lightness, fluidity, strength, springiness, and calm.
Chi Kung (Qigong)
exercises involve very simple and gentle movements and breathing techniques. They help increase vitality and restore harmony in the natural rhythms and functions of the body and its energetic field.
The foundations of Yin yoga
Yin yoga has its roots in the ancient Taoist tradition of China. Being in harmony with the rhythm and flow of nature is the essence of Taoist attitude. Yin Yoga draws upon the doctrine of the five elements and the principle of yin and yang that Chinese medicine and acupuncture are based upon.
Discover how Paulie developed Yin yoga.
Yin & yang are inseparable
Yin and yang are the polarities of a whole, the complementary opposites of dark and light, cold and hot, soft and hard, female and male, that allow all things to come into being. They are like two sides of a coin, one cannot exist without the other. Yin and yang is the vibration of the universe. It is the pulse of the energy that informs all life.
In Yin yoga, specific yoga postures are used to actualize the energetic attributes of various creatures and stimulate the transformational properties of the five alchemical elements. The postures and movements help to enliven and harmonize these qualities within the body. The goal is to animate the primal spirit that resides within us all. Integrating the power and healing aspects of these energies will help balance emotions and put one into accord with the true nature of our being.
Through years of intensive study, practice, and teaching, Paulie further developed the Taoist tradition he learned into his own distinctive and dynamic style. Master Zink continues evolving his Yin yoga art by developing new postures, variations, and insights.
Check out Paulie's streaming Yin Yoga DVDs on Vimeo
Try a FREE streaming class:
Paulie's monthly online Fun Flow Yin Yoga Classes
Article:
A Lesson in Yin Yoga from Founder Master Paulie Zink | Elephant Journal
What is Yin yoga?
There are primarily two forms of Yin yoga available. The commonly popularized version is more like a supplemental or restorative yoga, consisting of a small number of postures that help you grow but without a deep understanding of the animals or elements that the art was founded upon. In contrast, Paulie Zink's complete art of Yin yoga is about bringing forth your primal spirit.
It focuses on increasing fluidity and strength in movement. This is achieved by awakening your body and mind to the energetics of the postures. Flexibility is developed by growing into postures and activating the alchemical elements of those postures. It’s about the intention of becoming endowed with the essence of the animal and the element the posture expresses.
For example, if you can hold the Frog posture every day for 5 or 10 minutes then eventually you will grow into the full pose. And with proper practice, you will become one with the essence or spirit of the frog, which has a very springy quality. This is the process of embodying the energies of the creatures and the alchemical elements of Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire.
The purpose of Yin yoga is to restore our natural ability to move with fluidity and power. This in turn develops the flow of Chi throughout the body. It's a movement based art. Yet many people think that it's just about sitting still in postures for an extended period of time. However that's just the first basic simplified stage of it.
When should I practice Yin yoga?
Yin yoga can be done anytime. The best time is whenever you feel that you're up to it or need it. If you're feeling very tired and weak in the morning then it's better to just relax. Wait until you are energized enough to start. But if you're tired and stressed after work then it will revive you, as long as you don't strain or over exert yourself.
What does Yin yoga do?
It increases your chi (vital life force) and the circulation of your blood. And as your chi and blood flow better then it opens up your meridians. The points of your meridians that are blocked in your body will eventually clear as you practice the correct methods of breathing along with the animal postures and the flowing movements. This in turn helps you increase your energy So it’s important to do the practice properly in order get that to happen.
If you're just being still while holding a posture it's good but it won’t maximize the potential benefit. It's manyfold better when you actually embody the animals and elemental energies of the postures that you're working on. It's all up to the individual how much they want to do. The more you practice the better. Even if you just do it once a week, it's still going to help. But you won’t get the spectacular results of being able to move around like a deer or a frog, for example.
Taoist Alchemy
In its simplest terms alchemy is the method or power of transforming one thing into another. Taoist yoga alchemy is an internal art. It deals with the dimensions of spirit, consciousness, and subtle energies and the effects of their vitalization on one's being. The "Five Transforming Energies" refer to the alchemical elements of Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire.
They are part of the universal life force and express distinct qualities and actions. The five energies are interconnected, existing in a dynamic relationship with each other. Each element has specific individual characteristics and participates in a cyclic process of transformation from one to the next.
The mind, body, and spirit are endowed with the five elements. Through the practice of Yin yoga, the qualities of these energetic states can be enhanced and harmonized, resulting in improved health, greater vitality, heightened awareness, and freedom of movement and ease with one's body.
How Yin yoga got its name
Who Did What
Three people are often confused with one another in the story of Yin yoga. Paulie Zink originated the art in the late 1970's. Paul Grilley studied with Paulie and later popularised a beginner portion of it. Sarah Powers gave the practice the name it is known by today.
Paul Grilley studied Paulie Zink’s Taoist yoga with Master Zink for about a year in the late 1980’s and learned Master Zink’s beginning level of the art. Grilley taught the basics he learned about Taoist yoga to Sarah Powers. Sarah began teaching what she learned from Grilley and changed the name to Yin yoga. Grilley also incorporates his own philosophy and theories and that which he learned from his studies with Dr. Motoyama into his teachings. In order to avoid confusion Master Zink now refers to his Taoist art of yoga as Yin yoga or Yin and Yang yoga.
This account is corroborated by Wikipedia's articles on Yin Yoga and on Paulie Zink, by Yoga International, and by Elephant Journal
Chinese yoga vs Hatha yoga
Yin yoga is rooted in a Chinese Taoist form of yoga. The art uses postures based on the five transforming energies or elements. Everything around us is made of these energies. Our health depends upon being in a natural state of balance with these elemental energies. The Chinese Taoist philosophy sees the entire universe as a living organism and our body's organism as a microcosm. Everything is interconnected and interdependent.
One difference between the Taoist tradition and Hatha yoga is in the emphasis on the flow of energy. In Hatha yoga, the focus is on moving energy (or prana) along the spine and through the chakras' energy centers. In Yin and Yang yoga energy is channeled up and down the spine through the chakras and then through the limbs and out the hands, feet, and head, extending the life force beyond the body. This is called "moving energy in the five directions."
“Yin yoga is an art form, not an exact science"
"The purpose of Yin yoga is to take us out of the systems of social convention, indoctrination and mechanistic ways of thinking, not to reinforce them by demanding conformity to rigid, limited paradigms. Yoga does not require scientific approval or validation. Intellectualizing the practice of yoga serves to obstruct a deeper understanding of its essence. The real power to authorize truth is contained within each and every one of us.”
Paulie Zink
Chi Kung (Qigong)
These exercises involve very simple and gentle movements and breathing techniques that are designed to increase vitality and to restore harmony in the natural rhythms and functions of the body and its energetic field. Chi Kung has been utilized in China for centuries as a preventative to debility and premature aging, and to promote healing, relieve stress, and strengthen immunity.
Chi Kung is taught to Chinese medicine doctors as part of their traditional training. Some doctors use their own chi to treat patients. And Chi Kung exercises are prescribed for a variety of medical conditions. Chi Kung can be helpful for those with serious illness or physical impediment who may not be able to participate readily in other forms of exercise.
These techniques are also a healthy way to revitalize from the effects of stress or fatigue. The methods of Chi Kung are quick and easy to do. They are especially useful for people in the care-giving professions. In addition, Chi Kung can be used as a physically active alternative to sitting meditation.
Aura Palm Form (a sequence of movements)
Aura Palm is a graceful open-handed martial art form that looks like Tai Chi but is more dynamic. This choreographed sequence of movements incorporates flowing motion with both high and low stances. It can be practiced slowly as meditation or quickly for an aerobic workout.
Aura Palm stimulates the circulation of life force in the body and channels it through the extremities. It enhanced vital energy while developing balance, agility, coordination, stamina, and strength. It is recommended for people who are in good physical condition.
What appeals to me about Paulie's art of Yin yoga
"What appeals to me about Paulie's art of Yin yoga is that it is totally unique. There is an innocence, yet a deeply rooted strength and power in experiencing this way of practice. It feels authentic. It isn’t an external form we insert ourselves into, but rather, a seamless extension of the natural world which is all around us. And since we are a part of nature too, it makes sense to explore the elements through the living world of plants and animals.
Most other styles aren’t going to prepare me for everyday activities. This practice enables me to be ready to respond to whatever may happen. For example, if I were to slip on the ice, I could naturally go with the momentum and do the splits. That was a great insight."
Leah Weisman
About This Page
The teaching on this page is Paulie Zink's. It is written on his behalf and in collaboration with him and reviewed by Paulie for accuracy. Paulie was trained privately for ten years as the sole protégé of Chinese Kung fu and Taoist yoga Master Cho Chat Ling. Paulie has been teaching his art of Yin yoga since 1979. Read Paulie's full biography.
