Customer Reviews
Yoga Anatomy - By: Dr. Tami Brady, 09 Oct 2008 
I guess I'm one of those people that likes to understand the how & why of everything I do. Therefore, whenever I workout, I find myself wondering about the purpose of each particular exercise. Am I actually working, strengthen, or stretching my musclesin a way that is beneficial to my body or am I just wasting my time? Am I doing the exercises correctly or am I setting myself up for an injury? Perhaps that's why I love the Anatomy series from Human Kinetics. They have a number of different books that take a deeper look at Stretch Training, Stretching, & Yoga exercises.
Yoga Anatomy has full coloured pictures of the body for a wide variety of movements: breathing, standing poses, sitting poses, kneeling poses, supine poses, prone poses, & arm support poses. These pictures show which muscles arein use during a particular motion. Extra information is then included about which joints are involved & which muscles are lengthening & working during the process. Each entry also notes proper breathing as well as information on any challenges associated with the pose.
In this way, there is no guess work involved. I know exactly what each posture is meant to do, which muscles I'll be working, & how to prevent injuries. I can then take full responsibility for my health & fitness.
See "Inside" Your Yoga Poses - By: Stephanie, 26 Sep 2008 Yoga Anatomy is a book that gives the reader a look inside the human body as it is putin various yoga positions.
Chapter 1 covers the dynamics of breathing & actually covers some breathing physiology as well. Chapter 2 talks about the spine & gives some pretty detailed spinal information. Chapter 3 is short & covers the asanas.
The rest of the book, Chapters 4 through 9, make up the "meat" of the book & contains most of the anatomy information most readers probably bought the book for- what muscles are usedin what poses. The way the book gives you the information is quite handy- it has a section on standing poses, sitting poses, kneeling poses, on-your-stomach poses, on-your-back poses, & arm supported poses. Sooo, all you have to do is pick a position/pose, & there you'll find pictures of what muscles are involved (and let me say, they show you some great angles of the poses to make sure the reader can see ALL the muscles that are involved). In addition to learing what muscles are involved, the book also tells you what joint actions are involved, as well as what body parts are working AND which ones are lengthening- neat!
A great reference book, its simply perfect for the yoga enthusiast that has become acquainted over time with muscles they never knew they had- but will now after reading this book! Also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if plantar fasciitis pain keeps you from doing your yoga.
Great resource - By: K. Seidler, 06 Jun 2008 This is a brilliant book for those studying yoga. It has plenty of detail which would comein handy during study.If you need help on joint movements & muscles being used during postures the this is the book you need to buy- very clear, interesting & brilliantly illustrated.
Good reference for students and teachers - By: Laura Kai, 20 Apr 2008 
This new book is one of very few available on the specific subject of yoga & anatomy.
The nice thing about this book is its accessibility - it has pictures of a range of posesin the style shown on the book cover, illustrating the muscular-skeletal systemin the asana & highlighting the muscles being utilised (some postures shown from several angles). In some illustrations, the internal organs are also shown.
This helps you to relate anatomical & physiological knowledge to the actual asanas of yoga. The book also includes notes on breathing & the action of the jointsin each posture.
Not as in-depth as the Coulter book, but at a good 400 pages shorter, that is to be expected. What this book offers instead is a more visual, illustrated approach & a great reference tool for serious students & teachers.
