IF ANYTHING IS SACRED, THE HUMAN BODY IS SACRED.
—WALT WHITMAN
THE ANCIENT INDIAN philosophy of yoga has many schools of thought and a variety of techniques, the most popular of which is asana. The practice of asana has historically been taught to prepare the sadhaka (seeker) for the prolonged practices of meditation. Today, however, yoga asana is being used by millions of people throughout the world for other reasons as well: to reduce stress, improve health, enhance athletic performance, recover from injury and illness, as well as to simply improve the enjoyment of daily life.
As a result of this popularity, an increasing number of yoga teachers are teaching classes in all imaginable venues. This book is written for you. My goal is to offer to the experienced and the novice teacher a thorough presentation of the basic systems that create and control movement in the body. Furthermore, it is my wish to present this information in a manner that will render it immediately useful in your yoga studio class. This book is also for you, the yoga student, to help you understand how your body functions so you can become your own teacher when practicing on your own. What follows is a brief explanation of the emphasis and organization of this book.
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body. To study anatomy, the structure of the organism, is like learning the letters of the alphabet, the basic building blocks of words. Kinesiology is the study of the movement of that body through space; to study kinesiology is to put those “letters” together to make the “words” of movement. You can’t fully understand the dynamic movement of asana without first understanding the basic structure of the human body.
This book will focus on both anatomy and kinesiology in relationship to asana practice and teaching. By understanding the structure and function of the locomotor system, you will become a more effective and efficient practitioner and teacher. You will be better able to quickly decide what might be able to help you and your students move with more enjoyment and less difficulty or pain.
My emphasis is on macroanatomy, the anatomy of the major structures of the body. I do not discuss microanatomy, such as the structure of the cell or the specific fibers of muscles. I have written Yogabody as if I were teaching an anatomy class. My hope is twofold. The first is that this book will be a direct and friendly connection from me to you, and then of you to the subject matter. My second hope is that what you learn in the pages of Yogabody will be interesting and immediately applicable to your practice and teaching, not merely a collection of facts about the body. This book does not include all the details about the anatomy of the body, but it does, I hope, include enough to keep you interested and learning for a very long time.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
Yogabody is divided into five parts: the locomotor system, the vertebral column, the lower extremity, the trunk, and the upper extremity.
Each chapter focuses on a specific region of the body. In addition, there is a chapter each on the diaphragm and the abdomen, even though these areas are not as directly related to the locomotor system as is the vertebral column, for example. I include the diaphragm and abdomen because I feel it is useful for you to understand the structure of these parts of the body when teaching yoga asana. You will only benefit by knowing where all the abdominal organs are, their relationship one to another, and how these organs could be affected by the various positions, such as inversions.
Each chapter begins with an epigraph, a quote to enlighten and amuse. Then comes a section on the bones, which discusses the bony structures of the area, including any specific and unusual aspects found there. Next we look at the joints, the pertinent connective tissue, the nerves, and the muscles. A discussion of the kinesiology of the area follows. Here we explore how anatomical structures interact to create and express movement, especially in asana.
The final part of each chapter is called Experimental Anatomy. It has two sections that integrate the information presented in the previous two sections of anatomy and kinesiology as they relate to asana. The first, For Practicing, outlines one or more movements you can explore on your own to further your understanding of the principles presented in the chapter. For Teaching offers points to use and look for when teaching asana. The names and alignments suggested in these sections are based on the poses and approach of B. K. S. Iyengar of Pune, India, author of Light on Yoga and other books.
Each chapter concludes with Links, a section that offers connections for further learning.
My wish is that this book will become not only a guide but also a friend, to be consulted time and again to enrich and enhance your practice and teaching. May you read it with enthusiasm and curiosity.