Functional Anatomy of Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers

A full-color illustrated exploration of the body in motion during yoga practice

• Examines anatomical patterns and body mechanics in specific asanas, such as forward bends, twists, external hip rotations, arm balances, and back bends, to inspire confidence in students, deepen practice, and prevent injury

• Provides detailed images and photos overlaid with anatomical diagrams, allowing you to see clearly what is happening within each asana discussed

• Explores how various yoga postures interrelate from the perspective of functional anatomy

In this full-color illustrated guide, David Keil brings the anatomy of the body in yoga asanas to life. Writing in an accessible, conversational tone, he outlines how practitioners and yoga teachers alike can utilize a deeper understanding of their anatomy and its movement and function to deepen their yoga practice, increase confidence, prevent injury, and better understand their students and their challenges.

Providing detailed images and photos overlaid with anatomical diagrams, allowing you to see clearly what is happening within each asana discussed, Keil shows how the muscles, joints, tendons, and structure of the body work together to support integrated movement. He discusses the basics of functional anatomy, exploring the workings of the foot and ankle, the knee, the hip joint, the pelvis and SI joint, the spine, the shoulder, and the hand, wrist, and elbow. He examines anatomical patterns and body mechanics in specific asanas, such as forward bends, twists, external hip rotations, arm balances, and back bends, such as, for example, how a wide-legged forward bend shifts the position of the femur and the pelvis, allowing students with tight hamstrings to accomplish a deep forward bend–something they struggle with when the legs are together. Keil also shows how various yoga postures interrelate from the perspective of functional anatomy.

Revealing in detail how everything in the body is connected and how your anatomy functions holistically during yoga practice, this book helps you to understand the body better and connect and integrate yoga postures in a completely new way.

From the Publisher

Anatomical Patterns in Asana

Forward Bends: Triangle Pose

In Triangle, the angle of pressure placed on the hamstrings changes. The outstretched leg is both externally rotated and abducted relative to anatomical position. When we reach for our shin or the big toe, the pelvis tilts over this leg sideways, the sit bone moves away from the knee, and we experience a sensation of stretching in the hamstrings. But there is another element of Triangle Pose that deserves our attention and that is indirectly related to our forward bends. The opening we feel in the back hip is a lengthening of tissues that potentially restrict both hip flexion in a forward bend and hip rotation. Seeing how the different angles of pressure contribute to our simple forward bend evokes a more integrated perspective of the body and further clarifies how one asana can build on another.

Twists: Ardha Matsyendrasana

Ardha Matsyendrasana shows the direct relationship between the twist of the spine itself and the hip joint. The right leg is folded in with the heel right in front of the opposite hip. The leg is lying on its side and the hip is externally rotated. Because the right leg is simply folded and rotated, the right side of the pelvis is (quite naturally) on the floor. The left leg is flexed at both the knee and the hip, with the foot placed on the outside of the left knee. If your hips are tight, then the left side of the pelvis is likely to lift off the floor as you enter this position. In order to bring the left leg across the right and place the foot on the floor near the folded knee, we must adduct the left hip joint as it crosses the midline and our other leg.

Backbends: Dhanurasana

When we move into Dhanurasana, we move beyond our unassisted range of motion. Our hands reach back to grab onto the feet or ankles. We create tension between the hands pulling and feet pushing that initiates the lifting action. The relationship between hands and feet bring the posture to a deeper place. Without this relationship, we would be limited to the same height as our Salabhasana. The co-contraction of the buttocks and paraspinal muscles combined with tension created holding onto the feet allows us to lift higher and keep us lifted! Pulling the feet against the hands lifts our chest higher and usually rocks us back towards the pubic bone. Creating tension in the lower leg, or rather, by straightening the lower legs against the resistance of the hands, allows us to move in the opposite direction at the hip joints. This creates extension at the hips, allowing for a deeper backbend.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Healing Arts Press; 2nd Edition, New (January 17, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1644116278
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1644116272
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.6 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.44 x 0.8 x 9.69 inches