Yoga Anatomy Made Simple: Your Illustrated Guide to Form, Function, and Posture Groups

Description

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. Contents Introduction List of Abbreviations PART I—KEY CONCEPTS 1.Fundamentals of Yoga Postures Making Shapes Individuality Gravity Alignment Fighting Own Restrictions Balance 2.Movement Basics Range of Motion Flexibility Stretching Multi-Segmental Movement Moving in Patterns Compression Fundamental Movements Relational Movement 3.Muscles and Fascia Neurophysiology Open and Closed Kinetic Chains Polyarticular Muscles Strength Variety Opposing Muscles Restrict Secondary Action of Muscles Fascial Considerations Recommended Reading 4.Breath Breath Breath and Posture Breath and Trauma References 5.Other Personal Considerations Environmental Influences Lifestyle Personal History Psychology Risk Factors PART II—BODY BITS 6.Foot and Ankle Construction of the Foot and Ankle Muscles that Move the Foot and Ankle Arches of the Foot Foot Alignment So How Do We Start Working on This? Putting Things into Context 7.Knee Construction of the Knee Joint Muscles that Move the Knee Putting Things into Context 8.Hip Construction of the Hip Joint Muscles that Move the Hip Putting Things into Context 9.Spine Construction of the Spine Muscles that Move the Spine Putting Things into Context 10.Sacroiliac Joint Construction of the Sacroiliac Joint Muscles that Move the Sacrum Putting Things into Context 11.Shoulder Construction of the Shoulder Complex Muscles that Move the Shoulder Complex Putting Things into Context A Bit About Moving the Head Putting Things into Context 12.Elbow and Wrist Construction of the Elbow Muscles that Move the Elbow Putting Things into Context Construction of the Wrist Muscles that Move the Wrist Putting Things into Context PART III—POSTURE GROUPS 13.Forward Bends 14.Hip Rotations 15.Backbends 16.Twists 17.Postures Involving the Shoulders 18.Inversions 19.Arm Balances APPENDICES 1.Anatomical Language and Movement Terminology 2.Stu’s Simple Model of Infinite Complexity 3.Names of Poses/Postures (Asanas)