About Yoga Anatomy & David Keil
This website is about delivering anatomy to the yoga community in a simple and understandable way. It has always been about you, the reader, understanding the complexity and diversity of our own humanness as well as our anatomy.
We often interact with anatomy in two key places. The first is relative to injury, either in a preventative way, or after some type of injury has occurred. The second is often when we want to do a particular asana, but can't, and want to know why. In other words, you're looking for the technique or anatomical restriction that limits your ability to do a pose.
From this, we often want "the answer" to the problem or the injury. Unfortunately there is often no single answer or simple solution. It is not my desire to simplify the anatomy or the yoga itself - that would be an injustice to the complexity and diversity of who we are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
This website is about you learning to see and think about anatomy in a new and different way. One that honors its complexity but at the same time delivers it to you in a way that you can understand and use the information.
I hope to see you posting comments on the many articles here on the website, on Twitter, or on Facebook.
More About David Keil
David Keil was introduced to yoga in 1989 by his Tai Chi Chuan teacher. Both the Tai Chi and Yoga practice at the ripe age of 17 began his research into his own mind-body connections. His search continued through massage therapy where he discovered many insights and affirmations of what he had been exploring and finding on his own through his practices. One of the most important elements was the specific understanding of the musculoskeletal system and how fascinating, beautiful, and amazing the body is on the scientific level and how that directly played into and off of his own understanding of the human body. He was given names and explanations for some of the things he had been experiencing and feeling.
As an instructor of Kinesiology (the study of movement and musculoskeletal anatomy) at Miami's Educating Hands School of Massage from 1999-2003, David developed a fun, informal and informative style of teaching. By repeatedly teaching incoming students who had no prior understanding of anatomy, David was confronted with the problem of making such a complex and beautiful system accessible and understandable to the average person.
David brings his unique style and ability to make things simple to the yoga world. Because of his passion and desire to share the human body with everyone, he delivers this complex and sometimes frustrating topic in a way that is very accessible and understandable to yoga practitioners.
Over the years David has used his skills as a Neuromuscular Therapist to help people reduce their chronic pain patterns. He often brings this information into his workshops where students are regularly uncovering painful patterns or injuries in their bodies.
David was introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in 1999. But it was in 2001 that he met John Scott in Penzance, UK, presenting his anatomy workshops for the first time overseas. Two weeks practicing with John was transformational and he realized that he had found his teacher. This began a relationship of both teacher/student as well as a collaborative colleague relationship that continues today.
It was also John who told David to go to Mysore, India the following year, which he did. David arrived in Mysore in 2002 where he studied with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the “old” shala. In fact, it was the last year that the old shala was used for practice. David was authorized in 2004 and returned yearly for extended visits to Mysore with his wife Gretchen Suarez. They are both Authorized Level 2 and grateful for their time in Mysore, meeting Patabhi Jois and studying with R. Sharath, his grandson, over the years.
Interview with David Keil - What is Mysore About?
Part 1
- What is Mysore style practice?
- What are the differences between Mysore style (self-practice) and the led class method?
- Are Mysore classes appropriate for beginners?
- What would you say to those that are intimidated by the idea of taking a Mysore class?
Part 2
- Why do you think the Mysore or self-practice method shows up only in Ashtanga?
- Why should you stop at a pose when you’re unable to do it and wait for the next pose to be given to you by your teacher?
- What was your experience in your first Mysore class like?
Part 3
- When did you meet your teacher and what was Mysore practice like with him?
- When was your first trip to Mysore, India and what was that like?
- Why teach in the Mysore style method?
- What advice would you give to those who are interested in teaching in the Mysore style?