Paul Grilley

Paul Grilley, born on November 11, 1958, is an American yoga teacher recognized for his contributions to the development of Yin Yoga, a slow-paced style of modern yoga. Alongside his wife, Suzee Grilley, he trains yoga instructors in this method.

Early Life and Education

Grilley was raised in Martin City, Montana. He completed his high school education at Columbia Falls High School in Columbia Falls, Montana. In 1979, he began practicing yoga and simultaneously commenced the study of anatomy in Montana. He furthered his education in 1982 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he studied anatomy and kinesiology. In 2000, Grilley obtained a master's degree from St John's College in Santa Fe. He was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree by the California Institute for Human Science, recognizing his research on fascia, the connective tissue in the body, and its relevance to yoga asanas.

Career

Grilley's exploration of yoga began in 1979, during which he studied a slow-paced, less aggressive form of modern yoga known as Yin Yoga. He learned this style under its creator, Paulie Zink, and contributed to its further development. Grilley initially described the practice as "Taoist Yoga." He taught yoga to Sarah Powers, who coined the term "Yin Yoga" and developed her version called Insight Yoga.

He specializes in teaching Yin Yoga and in training yoga teachers, with courses that include detailed instruction on human anatomy—covering bones and muscles—and foundational asanas, which he considers archetypal and relevant to yoga and meditation practice. Together with Suzee Grilley, he offers a curriculum that emphasizes the anatomical basis of yoga. Grilley serves as a master teacher at Pranamaya, an organization dedicated to yoga education.

From his anatomical expertise, Grilley emphasizes that not all individuals can perform every asana due to variations in bone structure. For example, differences in femur neck length can influence hip joint mobility.

Grilley has clarified that Yin Yoga is not a franchise or hybrid practice; its name is not trademarked, and it functions as an additional method of yoga practice. His work and insights have been featured in publications such as Yoga Journal and Elephant Journal, and in books including Victoria Bailey's 2012 "Sharing Sadhana." Bailey describes him as both spiritually inclined—highlighted by his DVD on Chakra Theory and Meditation—and highly knowledgeable about yoga's anatomical aspects.

Personal Life

In 1984, Grilley married Patti Davis, daughter of US President Ronald Reagan. The marriage ended in divorce in 1990. Subsequently, he married Suzee Grilley, born in 1959, who is a Registered Yoga Teacher with experience in Capoeira and modern dance. The couple resides in Ashland, Oregon.

Published Works

Grilley's notable publications include the DVD "Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley" (2004), the book "Yin Yoga: Principles and Practice" (2012), and "A Yogi's Guide to Chakra Meditation" (2019).