Customer Reviews

Yogabody: Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Asana

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was extremely excited to get this book as a gift. I am a student of Yoga for many years and am preparing to go to school for Physical Therapy. The format of the book is fantastic and it has wonderful potential.
Unfortunately, the integrity of the book is seriously undermined by the presence of NUMEROUS typos. By 'NUMEROUS', I don't mean a handful. I mean close to 100. While these are somewhat forgivable, there are unfortunately other instances of information that is simply wrong. Such as a chart saying the Pectoralis Major muscle inserts into the Greater tubercle of the Humerus. It actually inserts into the lateral intertubercular sulcus.
The Rhomboid Major inserts on the medial (or vertebral) border of the scapula. Not the spine of the scapula. And certainly NOT the inferior angle of the scapula as is stated in the book. The Rhomboid Minor also does not insert into the spine of the scapula as stated in the book.
The drawings are generally easy to understand, although there are a few instances of error with insertions and positioning of bone surfaces.
I am no expert on Anatomy, so it was disappointing and frightening for me to see these errors, and then wonder what additional errors may be found in the text that I am not so knowledgeable about.
A book should never make it to the printing press with this many errors and typos.

I received a gorgeous hardcover copy of this book in the mail yesterday. It is the yoga anatomy/physiology book I have always longed for. I like the way she applies the anatomy to the asana. I also found the teaching applications amazing, and I thank her for including those segments. I am a new teacher, and this book is really going to help me. I injured both my knees last week, and I was thrilled to see an entire chapter devoted to the knee joint and leg. Excellent. I forgot to mention how much I love the "Links" section at the end of each chapter. I saw Judith at a seminar last year, and she is such a wellspring of info regarding other books and teachers. The "Links" section is that part of her brain put down in a book. A neat little reference at the end of each chapter. I know I am gushing, but the book truly is amazing. I am going to recommend it to my teacher to have as the anatomy text at her yoga school.

Judith's books are always outstanding, but this one in particular will become the standard for all yoga teachers and teachers-in-training. Her background as a physical therapist is especially evident by the inclusion of kinesiology, which takes this book to a much higher level than other yoga anatomy books. The clarity of description for each section makes it easy to read and incorporate into practice. The drawings are terrific and the way the book is arranged makes it useful for quick reference. I have been teaching yoga for 35 years and will recommend this book not only to other yoga teachers, but to all students who want to grow deeper into their own practices. It may have taken 20 years for this book to finally be completed, but it was sure worth the wait!

I can't wait to try the suggestions and ideas in this book. I love the quotes before each chapter and the links after. Along with the stories and anecdotes from the author's experience, these give levity and perspective to the subject and and help to make the book friendly and direct - just like Judith Lasater.

Judith presents the technical material in a way that gets you to try things out by doing the asanas and exploring what happens. You are not just reading about the body, you are feeling it in movement. That brings the lessons home. I also like how she steers you away from harmful practices by sharing the benefit of a lifetime of experience teaching yoga, studying the body and assisting people with physical problems.

I'm so glad to have such a sound reference and guide for asana. I recommend this to any yoga practitioner who wants to learn precise information about the body, anatomy and how we move.

PS If you can afford it, I recommend the hardcover version. It is sturdy and durable like a good textbook, and it opens and lies flat very well.

As a yoga teacher, this book is a fabulous resource for learning how anatomy relates to asana. YogaBody is broken up into sections that focus on particular parts of the body, going into great detail about the muscles, bones, joints, etc and how it all relates to yoga. For example, there is a chapter each on the lumbar spine, thoracic spine, cervical spine and sacrum. The practical applications at the end of each chapter help the reader apply the abstract anatomy to their own bodies or their students' bodies. Some of the "teaching" applications are better suited to peer work with fellow teachers than in an actual classroom setting, but they are still useful tools. Lasater obviously has a wealth of knowledge to share, and presents the information in a straight-forward and digestible manner. I wish the publishing house would have invested in a better editor or proofreader, though, as the text is riddled with typos.

If you are interested in anatomy and the benefits of yoga, this is the book for you. Judith Lasater is an expert on the working of the body. The illustrations and descriptions in this book are excellent. Although the book is primarily aimed at yoga teachers to help them with diagnosing and correcting problems with their students, it is also very informative for the dedicated yoga student. Your yoga library should include this book.

A MUST for anyone in a Yoga Teacher's Training. I would highly recommend this book for A study guide for training! It's laid out fantastic and an easy reference for any anatomy question relating to asanas. I highly recommend this book!

I have been involved in teaching/practicing Yoga for the past 10 years and one thing that I found is that having a solid practical knowledge of Anatomy and Kinesology can help you become a better Yoga Teacher / better Yoga Practitioner as you will be able to teach and practice with more efficiency and less injury .It does not matter which Yoga style you teach . Unless and until you have a solid knowledge of Yoga Anatomy /Kinesology you will not improve very much as a yoga teacher . Also most of the Yoga Teachers Training do not give in depth exposure to Yoga Anatomy and they just teach superficial stuff .I myself was struggling to learn anatomy and kinesology with respect to Yoga and did go through many books but somehow those books did not appeal to me until I came across Judith Lasater's Book -Yoga Body - Anatomy , Kinesology and Asana and I feel in love with it immediately . The beauty of the book is due to the fact that each chapter is followed by a Practice Session as well as a Teaching session where you can really apply what you have learned .Also throughout the book she gives various yoga asana examples to help us understand the concepts better .
However this book is not for superficial reading . It is meant for serious study and for those who want to really improve themselves as a yoga teacher they need to read this book seriously and be thorough with its contents . I have not yet completed this book but have started my serious study of this book and enjoying the same have started buying other Books by Judith to complement my knowledge on Yoga in general and Yoga Anatomy in Particular . I congratulate Judith Lasater for producing an excellent book that will be well appreciated by all Yoga teachers world wide .

Yogabody: Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Asana - a wonderful reference book of applied anatomy tailored to art and practice of yoga. It's a dense read, but worth the effort. I know I will refer to mine whenever students complain of those mysterious tingles, pains, knots and injuries that come up in every body's body from time to time.

Judith's seventh book is so enjoyable, crystal clear and well-written, that I keep it in plain view for easy reference and inspiration. This is her Life Work, a book she planned many years ago, back in the 1970's, when she was my teacher at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco. Yoga teachers like myself, who have many older beginners in their classes, especially need a more in-depth understanding of the basic structure of the human body and how it works. This is another great book to help "yogabodies" of all ages move safely and with less difficulty or pain. Judith's love for her subject, and her philosophy that "yoga is an act of kindness," is reflected on every page!

--Suza Francina
author, The New Yoga for Healthy Aging and other books for people at midlife and older.