Suggested Reading ~ Certification Required Reading
Yin Yoga Teacher Certification Course
Study credits hours are required for reading and writing your choice of either book reports, essays, outlines, or synopses on books from the following list. Original and relevant poems and short stories may also be admissible pending our approval.
REQUIRED READING and OUTLINE (Choose one option)
Taoism~ An Essential Guide
(Former title: The Shambhala Guide to Taoism)
A complete introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of an ancient Chinese spiritual tradition
By Eva Wong
The Way of the Five Seasons~
Living with the Five Elements for Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Harmony
By John Kirkwood
Write your outline as a personal teaching reference resource with an emphasis on the specific topics which are the most useful and interesting to you as a teacher.
In addition, students are free to chose any combination of titles from any categories on the list. Reading only a selection of individual essays or chapters from a book is acceptable. Credit for reading will only be given when accompanied by a written work about the book. (Exception: “The How and Why of Chinese Painting”- see below*)
Students must keep a log of all study hours spent and submit the log along with your writing assignments.
Please include on your papers:
- Your name
- The title of the book and the sections you have read
- Total hours for reading and writing for each assignment
- Your postal address
Students interested in taking the Master Zink’s Yin Yoga Teacher Certification course can begin submitting reading and writing assignments now.
Please email writing assignments to pauliezink@gmail.com
Yin Yoga Teacher Training Weekend Workshops
Any translations of the Tao Te Ching are acceptable for the Teacher Training Hours reading and writing assignment. Our personal favorites are:
Tao Te Ching- Lao Tsu, A New Translation
By Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English
Tao Te Ching- A New Translation
By Stephen Mitchell
Certificate:
Participants who complete the requirements earn a teacher training certificate for the total hours of the workshop plus the number of hours committed to completing the assignment. These total hours are applicable towards teacher certification in Yin Yoga.
Requirements:
To earn a certificate, students must attend all days of the workshop plus read two translations of the Tao Te Ching and write a personal reflection of at least 100 words on a chapter of their choice.
Attendees who do not wish to earn the certificate are not required to write an essay.
Email the assignment to PaulieZink@gmail.com PaulieZink@gmail.com
Please include:
Your first and last name
Your postal address
The workshop date, location, and number of hours
The number of hours committed to the reading assignment
ADDITONAL READING:
OVERVIEWS OF TAOIST TRADITIONS
Shambhala Publications
Any book titles listed in the Shambhala.com section on Taoism are acceptable to read for study credit
The Shambhala Guide to Taoism REQUIRED Reading & Outline (option 1)
A complete introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of an ancient Chinese spiritual tradition
By Eva Wong
Book titles listed in the Bibliography for Further Reading are acceptable to read for study credit.
Taoism- The Road to Immortality
By John Blofeld
The Secret and Sublime- Taoist Mysteries and Magic
This book is based mostly on the author’s experiences as a guest of Taoist recluses
By John Blofeld
Beyond the Closed Door: Chinese Culture and the Creation of T’ai Chi Ch’uan
By Arieh Lev Breslow
Chronicles of Tao: The Secret Life of a Taoist Master
by Deng Ming-Dao
Daoism and Chinese Culture
Basic historical introduction, very readable, used for undergraduates- author’s note
By Livia Kohn
(Three Pines Press- Pub.)
TAO TE CHING
Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition
This book contains a comprehensive verbatim translation and gives the literal definitions of all the Chinese characters in the original text
By Jonathon Star
The Way and It’s Power
A study of the Tao Te Ching and it’s place in Chinese thought
By Arthur Waley
Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries
Further Teachings of Lao-tzu
Translated by Thomas Cleary
TAOIST PHILOSOPHY
Tao- The Watercourse Way
By Alan Watts
The Tao of Pooh
This book explains Taoist principles using Winnie the Pooh as an example of a Taoist master
By Benjamin Hoff
CHUANG TSU and LIEH TZU
Fourth century BC Taoist philosophers and story tellers. The books listed below are various translations of their work.
Chuang Tsu- Basic Writings
Translated by Burton Watson
Chuang Tsu-Inner Chapters
A new translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English
The Way of Chuang Tsu
By Thomas Merton
The Second Book of the Tao
By Stephen Mitchell
The Book of Lieh Tzu
By A.C. Graham
Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living
By Eva Wong
Taoist Teachings from the Book of Lieh Tzu
By Liezi, Lieh Tzu
Taoist Teaching: The Book of Lieh-Tzu
By Lionel Giles
A FREE online version of this book is available at
TAOIST WOMEN
Divine Traces of the Daoist Sisterhood
By Suzanne Cahill
TAOIST POETRY
Immortal Sisters- Secrets of Taoist Women
Translated and edited by Thomas Cleary
TAOIST ALCHEMY
Taoist Yoga- Alchemy and Immortality
By Lu K’uan Yu (Charles Luk)
Chinese Alchemy- The Taoist Quest for Immortality
By J.C. Cooper
TAOIST FOLK RELIGION
The Eight Immortals of Taoism- Legends and Fables of Popular Taoism
Translated and edited by Kwok Man Ho and Joanne O’Brien
Facets of Taoism
Essays in Chinese Religion
Edited by Holmes Welch and Anna Seidel
TAOIST HEALTH PRACTICES
The Way of the Five Seasons~ REQUIRED Reading & Outline (option 2)
Living with the Five Elements for Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Harmony
By John Kirkwood
The Way of the Five Elements~
52 Weeks of Powerful Acupoints for Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Health
By John Kirkwood
Chi Kung
Taoist Secrets of Fitness and Longevity
By Wen Mei Yu
The Taoist Ways of Healing
The Chinese art of Pa Chin Hsien
An introduction to the complete system of ancient Chinese Taoist health arts
By Chee Soo
Chi Kung
The art of mastering the unseen life force
By Lily Siou, Ph.D.
Rooted in Spirit:
The Heart of Chinese Medicine
By Claude Larre & Elisabeth Rochat De LA Vallee
Traditional Acupuncture:
The Law of the Five Elements
by Dianne M. Connelly, Ph.D.
Bragg Healthy Lifestyle
Body purification, toxicless diet & healing system
By Paul C. Bragg N.D., Ph.D and Patricia Bragg N.D., Ph.D.
The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity
The Essence of Chi Gung
The Tao of Detox
Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine
by Daniel P. Reid
Wood Becomes Water:
Chinese Medicine in Everyday Life
By Gail Reichstein
Between Heaven and Earth, A Guide to Chinese Medicine
by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold
TAOIST PAINTING
The How and Why of Chinese Painting
By Diana Kan
*Copies of original artwork inspired by this book are admissible for study credits
TAOIST STORIES
The Wandering Taoist
By Deng Ming Dao
Chronicles of Tao:
The Secret Life of a Taoist Master
By Ming-Dao Deng
The Medicine Box
By Shan-Tung Hsu
RELATED TOPICS
How to Be Animal: A New History of What It Means to Be Human
By Melanie Challenger
Books by Rupert sheldrake, Biologist:
Science Set Free (UK: The Science Delusion)
Science and Spiritual Practice
Ways To Go Beyond
Morphic Resonance / A New Science of Life
The Presence of the Past
Arguing Science
The Rebirth of Nature
Chaos Creativity and Cosmic Consciousness
The Tao of Psychology:
Synchronicity and Self
Jean Shinoda Bolen
The Singing Creek Where the Willows Grows
The Rediscovered Diary of Opal Whiteley
This is an amazing work by a magical child, a true Taoist!- Maria
Presented by Benjamin Hoff
The Last Child in the Woods:
Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
By Richard Louv
Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape
I highly recommend this book for its insights into our own animal nature and social potential- Maria
By Frans DeWaal and Frans Lanting
Peacemaking Among Primates
By Frans DeWaal
Chimpanzee Politics
By Frans DeWaal
Songs of the Gorilla Nation:
My Journey Through Autism
By Dawn Prince-Hughes
The Journey Home
What near death experiences and mysticism teach us about the gift of life
By Phillip Berman
The Archaic Revival
Speculations on psychedelics, mushrooms, the Amazon, virtual reality, UFO’s, evolution, the rebirth of the Goddess, and the end of history
By Terrence McKenna
The Natural Mind
Explores non-ordinary states of consciousness
By Andrew Weil, M.D.
The Chalice and The Blade:
Our History, Our Future
By Riane Eisler
The Great Cosmic Mother
Rediscovering the religion of the Earth
By Monical Sjoo and Barbara Mor
Truth or Dare
Encounters with power, authority, and mystery
By Star Hawk
The Sacred Hoop
Rediscovering the feminine in American Indian traditions
By Paula Gunn Allen
The Politics of Women’s Spirituality
Essays on the rise of spiritual power within the feminist movement
This book presents excellent perceptions into the ways patriarchy alienates us from our authentic natures- Maria
Edited by Charlene spretnak
Gaia’s Garden:
A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
Bu Toby Hemenway
Sweat Your Prayers: Movement as Spiritual Practice
Maps to Ecstasy: The Healing Power of Movement
Gabrielle Roth
The Secret Life of Plants:
A Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Relations Between Plants and Man
By Peter Tomkins and Christopher Bird, Revised Edition 1989
SHAMANISM
The Spirit of Shamanism
By Roger N. Walsh
Shamans, Healers and Medicine Men
By Holger Kalweit
Walking in a Sacred Manner
Healers, dreamers, and pipe carriers- medicine women of the Plains Indians
By Mark St. Pierre and Tilda Long Soldier
Shape Shifters
Shaman women in contemporary society
By Michele Jamal
Shaman, Healer, and Sage
How to heal yourself and others with the energy medicine of the Americas
By Alberto Villoldo
Hallucinogens and Shamanism
Edited by Michael Harner
Shamansim
An expanded view of reality
Edited by Shirley Nicholson
Other book titles may be admissible for study credits pending our approval. Contact us at pauliezink@gmail.com
Paulie Zink Yin Yoga Founder
For information about
Paulie Zink’s Yin Yoga Teacher Training workshops, Yin Yoga Certification Courses, Yin Yoga DVDs, and other inquiries, please contact Maria Zink at
pauliezink@gmail.com