The Student’s Anatomy of Yoga Manual: 30 Essential Poses Analysed, Explained and Illustrated

466 Pages·2017·43.04 MB·English

by  Sally Parkes

The Manual of
Yoga Anatomy
Step-by-step guidance and anatomical analysis of 30 asanas
Sally Parkes
Contents
How this Book Works
Anatomy Overview
Body Regions
Muscular System
Skeletal System
Nervous System
Circulatory System
Respiratory System
Movements of the Body
Principles of Yoga
What is Yoga?
Origins and History of Yoga
Yoga and Breathing
Yoga and the Spine
Joints and Movement
Types of Muscle Activity
Levers and Intensity
Modifications and Props
Starting Poses
Standing Poses
Chair Pose
Triangle Pose
Revolved Triangle Pose
Warrior I Pose
Warior II Pose
Extended Side-angle Pose
Revolved Side-angle Pose
Standing Balancing Poses
Tree Pose
Eagle Pose
Dancer’s Pose
Half Moon Pose
Warrior III Pose
Standing Forward Bends
Standing Forward Bend
Wide-legged Forward Bend
Intense Side Stretch
Seated Poses
Seated Forward Bend
Boat Pose
Half Lord of the Fishes Pose
Cobbler’s Pose
Backbend Poses
Cobra Pose
Upward-facing Dog Pose
Pigeon Pose
Wheel Pose
Cat Pose to Cow Pose
Inversions
Downward-facing Dog Pose
Shoulder Bridge Pose
Shoulder Stand Pose
Plough Pose
Headstand Pose
Sequences
Glossary
Index
How this Book Works
This book is organised into three primary sections: a full-colour anatomy
overview; a principles of yoga section; and a full-colour illustrated guide to
thirty yoga asana, comprising the main part of the book.
The Anatomy Overview section provides detailed, anatomically correct
illustrations with clear, informative labels for the various body systems and
regions.
The Principles of Yoga section examines the origins, history, and effects of the
practice of yoga, and introduces some common yoga props and the four
recurring starting positions that are referenced throughout the book.
The main content examining thirty yoga asanas is split into six chapters that
divide the asanas into types – standing poses, standing balancing poses, standing
forward bends, seated poses, backbending poses, and inversions.
Each yoga asana has four pages of explanation. The first two pages introduce the
asana, summarise its benefits and origins, and offer tips on how to get the most
out of it (while also advising what not to do). There are also clear step-by-step
instructions and simple illustrations to help you achieve the correct posture.
The second two-page spread for each asana contains the more technical
anatomical information – a brief summary discusses the main muscle activity in
the asana, a clear table lists the main active muscles (and the type of activity),
and stunning full-colour anatomical illustrations are labelled to show the key
muscles used during the pose.
The book concludes with four pages of suggested sequences, allowing you to
combine the asana into flowing movements.
ANATOMY OVERVIEW PAGES
This section contains full-colour, double-page overview spreads that give a rundown of the important parts of
a particular body system.
ASANA STEP-BY-STEP PAGES
ASANA ANATOMY PAGES