"Your illustrated guide to postures, movements, and breathing techniques"--Cover.

A fun introductory guide to yoga anatomy for new and experienced yoga teachers, practitioners, and enthusiasts Knowledge of anatomy is a crucial part of every effective yoga practice, but the subject can be dry and difficult. Yoga Anatomy Made Simple provides a fun solution—it’s a go-to guide to functional yoga anatomy, written for yoga practitioners looking to jump in and start applying key concepts to their work. Here, longtime yoga teacher Stuart Girling pairs his expertise with real-life examples and colorful, jaunty illustrations to create a book that serves as a playful introduction and refresher course for yogis, teachers, and trainers. Yoga Anatomy Made Simple provides simple explanations of key yoga-anatomy concepts, like patterns, variety, breath, and strength. The illustrations are diverse, body-inclusive, joyful, and fun—and mirror the author’s own accessible, unpretentious approach to practical yoga anatomy. Concepts are demonstrated on different body parts, as well as the following posture groups: Forward bends Hip rotations Backbends Twists Postures involving the shoulders Inversions Arm balances Girling ties everything together in a holistic framework with a playful touch on every page—one that embraces each student’s lifestyle, environment, and life history. Yoga teachers will learn to elevate their ability to analyze yoga postures from a physical perspective, sequence more effectively, avoid unnecessary injury, and appreciate the importance of individuality within postural yoga.

This is a Yoga Anatomy book for yoga practitioners, whether teachers or students and irrespective of style. It is about the doing of yoga, not abstract theory. Stu's focus throughout the book is on providing useful insights into what influences movement, and stability in the human body, and the implementation of those ideas into a physical yoga practice. Many students can be put off the subject of anatomy because in the wrong hands it can be dry and hard to relate to, but that won't happen here. Drawing from his many years of teaching yoga anatomy in studios around the world, Stu has managed to determine the most relevant information and the best way to present it. His relaxed style and emphasis on useability make the book engaging and enlightening. All of the concepts are brought to life by the fantastic illustrator Bug, who conjures up a visual feast that combines detail where needed with plenty of humour to enhance the reading and learning experience. The book is crammed with illustrations, providing visually stimulating concepts, and many practical exercises to help transition from the page to the body. If you are looking for a book that helps you incorporate anatomical principles into the way you perform yoga postures, increase flexibility and build strength, then this one will definitely deliver.

The Student's Manual of Yoga Anatomy is the essential guide for anyone looking to understand the importance of doing yoga poses correctly in order to maximize the benefit and avoid pain and injury. With the guidance of Sally Parkes and Joanna Culley, students and instructors glean a simple and clear understanding of the practice of yoga. Work through 50 step-by-step illustrated poses (asanas) that are perfect for working through each section of the body. Including an overview of the musculoskeletal system to explain the body systems and terminology discussed. Then it deeply introduces yoga, looking at the styles of Hatha yoga, movements of the spine and its axis points, how levers change the intensity of each asana, types of muscle activity, and the science of breathing. Full-color anatomical illustrations and clear, concise text of 50 common yoga asanas make the science easy to understand, and allow a deeper understanding of yoga and how it works with the body, allowing readers to easily apply what they learn to their own practice. Clear notes describe the type of muscle activation, plane of movement, axis of the spine, and options for practical modifications to allow for individual ability and injury rehabilitation. You'll also discover a list of sequences to link the asanas together to form a complete workout routine for a healthy lifestyle.

The Concise Book of Yoga Anatomy is the definitive guide to the study of yoga anatomy--a perfect companion book for any yoga teacher or practitioner seeking to understand the biomechanics of the body as it applies to yoga practice. The book is visually designed in quick reference format to offer useful information about the main skeletal muscles that are central to yoga, with asanas to demonstrate the particular muscles and muscle groups. Over 230 full color illustrations detail each muscle's origin, insertion, and action in order to clearly reveal how the muscles come into play in the movements and postures of yoga. Knowledge of yoga anatomy is paramount to the ability to teach or practice with no injury to oneself or others. With this foundation in place, it is possible to focus on the spiritual element of yoga as well as the physical. Yoga is a union of the two, so where appropriate, the more profound side of the practice is mentioned as it relates to the body. The Concise Book of Yoga Anatomy illustrates the form and function of the muscles first, then interlays the muscles into the yoga posture for full understanding in a clear and integrated way, explaining the technique of the asanas, as well as other important aspects of yoga: pranayamas, the bandhas, and chakras. Table of Contents About This Book 1 Anatomical Orientation 2 Muscles of Respiration 3 Muscles of the Face and Neck 4 Muscles of the Spine 5 The Deep Core and Pelvic Floor 6 Muscles of the Shoulder and Upper Arm 7 Muscles of the Forearm and Hand 8 Muscles of the Hip 9 Muscles of the Knee 10 Muscles of the Ankle/Foot Resources General Index Index of Muscles

his book combines the perspectives of a dedicated yogi with that of a former anatomy professor and research associate at two major American medicine schools. He has set himself the ambitious goal of combining the modern scientific under- standing of anatomy and physiology with the ancient practice of hatha yoga. The result of an obvious labour of love, the book explains hatha yoga in demystified, scientific terms while at the same time honouring its traditions. It should go a long way in helping yoga achieve the scientific recognition it deserves. Useful as both a textbook and a reference work, this is a book that all serious yoga teachers and practitioners will want on their shelves.

Unique learning resource teaches anatomy through movement Yoga and Anatomy: An Experiential Atlas of Movement by Barbie Klein and Mackenzie Loyet describes the muscular actions responsible for the movements of the body during the practice of yoga. In the first part, asanas (postures) are grouped by distinct categories: standing poses, forward folds, backbends, spinal twists, and more. The second part provides an atlas reference that connects the underlying anatomy with the muscles used to produce these movements. Key Features A series of three to four transitions along with contraindications and modifications safely guide readers through each pose Connections are delineated through the labeling of muscles used during each transition, as well as illustrated overlaid anatomy included in the final image of each asana High-quality figures and tables reinforce each muscle's origin, insertion, action, innervation, and relationship to other anatomical structures This is an essential anatomical self-study resource for students of physical therapy, osteopathic, and allopathic medicine. It also provides a thorough learning and teaching tool for yoga anatomy and mindful movement workshops in medical and allied health profession programs.