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The Manual of Yoga Anatomy: Step-by-step guidance and anatomical analysis of 30 asanas
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.
Featuring some of the most popular asanas:
- Mountain Pose - Tadasana
- Warrior 1 and 2 - Virabhadrasana 1 and 2
- Chair Pose - Utkatasana
- Dancer's Pose - Natarajasana
- Eagle Pose - Garudasana
- Hands to Feet Pose - Padangustasana
- Staff Pose - Dandasana
- Boat Pose - Navasana
- Seated Half Lotus - Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana
- Cat/Cow Pose - Marjaryasana/Bitilasana
- Locust Pose - Salambasana
- Upward Dog Pose - Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
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.
Featuring some of the most popular asanas:
- Mountain Pose - Tadasana
- Warrior 1 and 2 - Virabhadrasana 1 and 2
- Chair Pose - Utkatasana
- Dancer's Pose - Natarajasana
- Eagle Pose - Garudasana
- Hands to Feet Pose - Padangustasana
- Staff Pose - Dandasana
- Boat Pose - Navasana
- Seated Half Lotus - Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana
- Cat/Cow Pose - Marjaryasana/Bitilasana
- Locust Pose - Salambasana
- Upward Dog Pose - Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
- GenresHealth
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
34 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 17, 2017
4.25 Stars
A great look at the human body's anatomy and which muscles get stretched during specific postures. This book is an invaluable tool for the yoga practitioner who wants to see inside their skin during their practice. If you are deterred by medical jargon and complex polysyllabic explanations then stay far away. Otherwise this book is wonderfully conceptualized and executed!
The book starts with a detailed and in depth look at human anatomy. With 40 full color pages of pictures of the human body. This section covers the muscular, skeletal, nervous, and respiratory systems with images and detailed labeled diagrams.
It then briefly goes over the history of yoga and basic principles of yoga practice. Exploring breath, the spine, using the body's levers and counter levers and basic posture modifications. This section is very well done despite its brevity. At about 20 pages there are some really cool pictures in this section.
The next 120 pages are centered around 30 common yoga postures. With beautiful full color pictures for each pose it goes over
1. Uses of the posture and physical benefits.
2. Basic modifications and how to use props for them if needed.
3. The do's and don'ts of each posture.
4. 3-4 small diagrams of the motions of the set up and getting into the posture. (With descriptions of verbal cues for getting into them).
5. A very in depth medical explanation of which muscles and body parts are at work. (I.e. Lenthening, contractions, internal and external rotation of body parts, etc.)
6. A full sized full color picture of the full pose that takes up a whole page. It has diagrams and labels for each muscle at work, and each label is color coded for whether it is a prime moving muscle or an antagonist muscle.
It wraps up with another shorter section on sequencing postures.
This book is perfect if you want something on hand to help you go very deep into the postures included. The descriptions are difficult and filled with the medical terms for each body part. This aids in the overall use of the book, but does add an extra layer to its use. Quads and hamstrings are easy, but iliopsoas and sartorius muscles are a bit harder, unless you're a doctor.
Glad I picked this up for $6 at a used book store, it will be at arms length for a while. Perfect to read on the bus to the yoga studio.
A great look at the human body's anatomy and which muscles get stretched during specific postures. This book is an invaluable tool for the yoga practitioner who wants to see inside their skin during their practice. If you are deterred by medical jargon and complex polysyllabic explanations then stay far away. Otherwise this book is wonderfully conceptualized and executed!
The book starts with a detailed and in depth look at human anatomy. With 40 full color pages of pictures of the human body. This section covers the muscular, skeletal, nervous, and respiratory systems with images and detailed labeled diagrams.
It then briefly goes over the history of yoga and basic principles of yoga practice. Exploring breath, the spine, using the body's levers and counter levers and basic posture modifications. This section is very well done despite its brevity. At about 20 pages there are some really cool pictures in this section.
The next 120 pages are centered around 30 common yoga postures. With beautiful full color pictures for each pose it goes over
1. Uses of the posture and physical benefits.
2. Basic modifications and how to use props for them if needed.
3. The do's and don'ts of each posture.
4. 3-4 small diagrams of the motions of the set up and getting into the posture. (With descriptions of verbal cues for getting into them).
5. A very in depth medical explanation of which muscles and body parts are at work. (I.e. Lenthening, contractions, internal and external rotation of body parts, etc.)
6. A full sized full color picture of the full pose that takes up a whole page. It has diagrams and labels for each muscle at work, and each label is color coded for whether it is a prime moving muscle or an antagonist muscle.
It wraps up with another shorter section on sequencing postures.
This book is perfect if you want something on hand to help you go very deep into the postures included. The descriptions are difficult and filled with the medical terms for each body part. This aids in the overall use of the book, but does add an extra layer to its use. Quads and hamstrings are easy, but iliopsoas and sartorius muscles are a bit harder, unless you're a doctor.
Glad I picked this up for $6 at a used book store, it will be at arms length for a while. Perfect to read on the bus to the yoga studio.
April 16, 2018
Yoga students & teachers do not purchase
The anatomy photos are decent but more details could have been given. Some of the diagrams are mislabeled. The instructions in this book are not up to date and some of the anatomy terms are not accurate & if you listen to these authors you would not be able to do any of these poses if you have high blood pressure , weather it's symptomatic or not they do not clarify and make wide sweeping statements. . I do not recommend this book for any Yoga Teacher or practioner, I will be returning it.
The anatomy photos are decent but more details could have been given. Some of the diagrams are mislabeled. The instructions in this book are not up to date and some of the anatomy terms are not accurate & if you listen to these authors you would not be able to do any of these poses if you have high blood pressure , weather it's symptomatic or not they do not clarify and make wide sweeping statements. . I do not recommend this book for any Yoga Teacher or practioner, I will be returning it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews