Anatomy for Yoga: An Illustrated Guide to Your Muscles in Action [Paperback]

Leigh Brandon (Author), Nicky Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2010

Get an inside look at the body's muscles at work during yoga

Anatomy for Yoga provides an in-depth tour of muscles as you progress through yoga exercises. The detailed four-color anatomical illustrations depict exactly what happens to the body's muscles and skeletal system while performing these incredibly spine-intensive movements. This book is divided into sequences, 10 to 20 poses each, and involve specific stretches/mobilizing for that particular postural imbalance as well as strengthening. The sequences cover an entire routine, which could last from 30 minutes to an hour or longer.

In addition, there is a breathing practice and a related meditation practice. You will be able to use the basic skills in the early chapters and, as your abilities develop, apply them to more advanced techniques featured later in the book.

• Full-color anatomical illustrations that detail the muscles engaged.
• Gives you the information you need, and shows you exactly what's going on with their body as they exercise.
• Build a routine custom to their abilities.

Topics include:
How to Use the Book; Anatomical Definitions and Terminology; Systems of the Body; Body Planes and Regions; Anatomical Terms; Joint Movements; Posture and Muscle Balance; The Spine; Overview of Postural Problems; How Can Yoga Improve Posture?; The Biomechanics of Breath; Meditation and its Benefits; The Chakras; The Practice; Sun Salutation; Kyphosis Posture; Longitudinal Mobilizations; Horizontal Mobilizations; Moving Cats; Shoulder Opener (1-4); Seated Twist; Locust Pose; Back Bridge; Camel Pose; Half Shoulderstand; Corpse Pose; Breathing Practice; Meditation Practice Lordosis Posture; Forward Bend; Yogic Squat; Front Thigh Stretch; Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch; Warrior 1 Variation 1; Hero Pose; Child's Pose; Plank; Leg Drop; Corpse Pose; Breathing Practice; Meditation Practice; Flat Back Posture; Expanded Leg Forward Bend; Intense Side Stretchl Extended Straight Leg Stretch; Warrior 1 Variation 2; Supine Toe Pose; Boat Pose; Moving Cats; Cobra; Locust Pose; Reclining Twist; Corpse Pose; Breathing Practice; Meditation Practice; Sway-Back Posture; Down Dog; Half Splits; Triangle Pose; Revolved Triangle Pose; Gate Pose; Seated Forward Bend; Boat Pose; Side Plank; Locust Pose 3; Crocodile Pose; Upward Facing Spread Foot Pose; Corpse Pose; Breathing Practice; Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Leigh Brandon is a holistic lifestyle coach and accredited strength and conditioning coach with clients that range from British and European professional and Olympic athletes, as well as those seeking weight-loss and fitness solutions.

Nicky Jenkins has practiced yoga for many years and teaches it at every level from her studio in the Channel Islands. She is also a CHEK holistic lifestyle coach and a bodyworker.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (April 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071633626
• ISBN-13: 978-0071633628
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, logical, informative book on yoga anatomy, July 21, 2010

By 

N. Henderson (North Vancouver, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anatomy for Yoga: An Illustrated Guide to Your Muscles in Action (Paperback)

This book is very well done. I have used the "Anatomy for Strength and Fitness Training" book by the same publishers, and now also use this new book of the same series "Anatomy for Yoga". Given that as trainers and yoga instructors we break everything in the physical body down by joint movements, both books hit the mark perfectly. In "Anatomy for Yoga", for each of the basic yoga poses, the following are given: a description of how to move safely into the pose, simple benefits, modifications, diagrams of all the muscles used in the pose, and a concise table explaining the joints used, the associated joint movement (e.g., flexion, extension, etc.), and a list of the active vs. stretched muscles used in that joint movement.

If you have a background in movement (fitness trainer, yoga instructor, pilates, etc.) you will find this book very easy to read and use. If you don't, you'll need to brush up on your movement anatomy, which is outlined very well in the introductory pages of the book, and then it will be easy to use for you.

Also wanted to note: with the deepest respect for the author L. Kaminoff of "Yoga Anatomy", which is another AMAZING book on yoga anatomy written a few years back and a definite must-have, I humbly disagree with Kaminoff's assessment that this new book, "Anatomy for Yoga" (by different authors) is a rip-off of his earlier creation. It is most certainly on a similar topic, as are many many books on many many topics, but this new book by different authors reads entirely differently, does not at all remind me or my colleagues of Kaminoff's book, includes poses that Kaminoff did not include in his book (e.g. marjaryasana), and directly links muscles stretched/activated to specific joint movements, which Kaminoff's book does not. Yoga, by its very definition, means union - we are all one. And so if we are all yogis striving to live out our union, and we truly believe and practice this philosophy, then we do not view ourselves as different or separate relative to "others". It is therefore essential that while observing asteya (non-stealing) and ahimsa (non-violence) to other authors, we create, write, and contribute to the one pool of knowledge on various topics and experience such activities as collective rather than exclusive. Bravo to BOTH authors for each creating such fabulous, intelligent, informative books, each from a very different and unique perspective, that BOTH contribute to the one topic of yoga anatomy.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Anatomy for Yoga, July 5, 2010

By 

Emily Canibano "skyyogastudio" (Naperville, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anatomy for Yoga: An Illustrated Guide to Your Muscles in Action (Paperback)

Although the cover for this book is unassuming, don't be fooled. I received a copy for review and honestly based on the cover would not have given this book a second look. Yes, I know you should not judge a book by its cover. But I am swimming in a vast sea of yoga books where any person who even saw a yoga class on TV feels compelled to write a book on how yoga has changed their life and can help you too. Honestly most writers are not re-inventing the wheel. Yoga is a thousand year old practice and the great yogic texts were written long ago.

So what do I look for in a yoga book I would be willing to pay to add to my collection? Clear, concise dissemination of useful knowledge. Anatomy for Yoga delivers. The illustrations are clear and uncluttered - main muscles identified and their action in some of the most frequent class asanas. What I really appreciated and could have used a few years back were the first dozen pages that breakdown anatomical terminology, movement planes, joint movements, biomechanics and more. This information is well presented and very clear - especially to someone like me who is not a fan of charts or verbose paragraphs. The authors hit the length right on, they give enough detail to get the point across but not too much to overwhelm or bore.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars OK, July 30, 2010

By 

Susan Johnson "Running and fitness enthusiast" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anatomy for Yoga: An Illustrated Guide to Your Muscles in Action (Paperback)

I've enjoyed learning about this topic and it has definitely helped my yoga practice. I would encourage prospective buyers to consider either Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teachers, and Practitioners or Yoga Anatomy.