Functional Anatomy of Yoga

A full-color illustrated exploration of the body in motion during yoga practice

• Examines anatomical patterns and body mechanics in specific asanas, such as forward bends, twists, external hip rotations, arm balances, and back bends, to inspire confidence in students, deepen practice, and prevent injury
• Provides detailed images and photos overlaid with anatomical diagrams, allowing you to see clearly what is happening within each asana discussed
• Explores how various yoga postures interrelate from the perspective of functional anatomy

In this full-color illustrated guide, David Keil brings the anatomy of the body in yoga asanas to life. Writing in an accessible, conversational tone, he outlines how practitioners and yoga teachers alike can utilize a deeper understanding of their anatomy and its movement and function to deepen their yoga practice, increase confidence, prevent injury, and better understand their students and their challenges.

Providing detailed images and photos overlaid with anatomical diagrams, allowing you to see clearly what is happening within each asana discussed, Keil shows how the muscles, joints, tendons, and structure of the body work together to support integrated movement. He discusses the basics of functional anatomy, exploring the workings of the foot and ankle, the knee, the hip joint, the pelvis and SI joint, the spine, the shoulder, and the hand, wrist, and elbow. He examines anatomical patterns and body mechanics in specific asanas, such as forward bends, twists, external hip rotations, arm balances, and back bends, such as, for example, how a wide-legged forward bend shifts the position of the femur and the pelvis, allowing students with tight hamstrings to accomplish a deep forward bend something they struggle with when the legs are together. Keil also shows how various yoga postures interrelate from the perspective of functional anatomy.

Revealing in detail how everything in the body is connected and how your anatomy functions holistically during yoga practice, this book helps you to understand the body better and connect and integrate yoga postures in a completely new way.

About the Author

David Keil is an experienced yoga teacher and longtime practitioner. The creator of the YogAnatomy DVD series, he was introduced to yoga in 1989 by his Tai Chi Chuan instructor and later studied yoga in Mysore, India, with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson R. Sharath. He was an instructor of Kinesiology at Miami’s Educating Hands School of Massage from 1999 to 2003, and since 2000 he has been presenting yoga anatomy workshops. He lives in Miami, Florida.