Yoga Anatomy Articles

The yoga anatomy articles are organized into categories such as, Injuries , Postures, Your Questions , Yoga , Anatomy , Yoga Injuries Research , Ashtanga Yoga Research , and even Yoga Adjustments.

They are also broken down more specifically by muscles, bandhas, breathing, sit bone pain, shoulders, psoas, and knee pain.

459 articles

Your Questions

Why Am I Struggling With Seated Wide-legged Forward Fold?

You’ve been practicing for years. Every pose has slowly opened except one. Seated wide-legged forward folds feel exactly the same as they…
Yoga

Why Can’t I Do This Yoga Pose? – Our Singularity Bias In Yoga

Why can’t I do this yoga pose? Students should consider that it likely isn’t just one thing that prevents us from accessing…
Your Questions

Internal Versus External Shoulder Rotation in Downward Dog: Both Sides Miss the Point

External shoulder rotation in downward dog makes more space for the greater tubercle to have clearance under the acromion. Don't mistake felt…
Teacher Trainings

Yoga Alliance’s 2027 Changes: What They Mean for the Anatomy in Your Teacher Training

Yoga Alliance's 2027 credential changes don't touch the anatomy hours, and anatomy isn't on either assessment. What changes, what doesn't, and what…
Yoga Postures

There’s No Right Way To Forward Bend In Yoga: Here’s What Matters Instead

A good forward bend in yoga is more complex than it appears. The right forward bend is the one that fits the…
Your Questions

Why Can’t I Jump Back Or Do Handstand In Yoga?

Your ability to do a handstand in yoga or jump back is not always about the core. Work on reducing the resistance…
Yoga Research

Is Yoga Helpful As Part Of Eating Disorder Treatment?

Yoga can be a feasible and acceptable way for some people with an eating disorder to engage with their body. However, it…
Your Questions

Feet Together Versus Feet Apart in Bow Pose: Here’s What Changes

Tension in the hip flexors, especially rectus femoris, is a likely reason for difficulty lifting up in bow pose with the feet…
Yoga Research

Can Yoga Reduce The Effects Of Stress On Medical School Students?

Yoga was associated with a decrease in negative symptoms of stress and an increase in positive psychological states for medical students when…
Your Questions

Why Don’t My Heels Touch In Dhanurasana?

Your heels might not touch in dhanurasana if arm position interferes, or if your gluteus maximus or adductors are overly engaged.
Yoga

Our Converging Histories In Yoga Practice

Our converging histories in yoga practice are the sum total of our genetics and life experiences that shape who we are and…
Your Questions

Is It Okay To Start Wheel Pose By Pressing Your Head On A Block?

Starting wheel pose with your head on a block can work around tight hip flexors making it feel hard to press up,…
Yoga

Going Forward With Ashtanga: Tradition, Myth, And Community

Practitioners are the lineage of Ashtanga yoga. It's up to the community to decide what aspects of the tradition to retain and…
Your Questions

What Muscles Are Working In Warrior Two?

Many muscles are working in warrior two, not just the quadriceps. You may feel the quadriceps, the hamstrings, or others working.
Yoga

What Does It Mean To Be A Good Yoga Student?

A good yoga student shows up with curiosity, an openness to learning new things, and respect for the process.
Your Questions

Does The Action Of The Latissimus Change When The Elbows Bend?

Tension in and action of the latissimus is not directly affected by bending the elbow joint because the lats don't cross the…
Yoga

Teaching The Stages Of A Life-long Ashtanga Practice

Teaching students how to shape the stages of their Ashtanga practice into a life-long relationship, not a static achievement, is essential.
Your Questions

What Happens In Pigeon Pose With The Hips Squared?

When you do pigeon with the hips squared, you create leverage for rotational force into the hip joint which stretches the lateral…
Yoga

What Makes A Sustainable Ashtanga Practice?

Elements of a sustainable Ashtanga practice include using structure without rigidity, cultivating breath, awareness, and concentration. It requires developing comfort with the…
Your Questions

Is It Helpful To Work With Kapotasana On A Wall?

To work with kapotasana on a wall, move closer to the wall. Send the hips forward and reach for the wall. Then,…
Yoga

Yoga, Risk, And The Myth of Perfect Alignment

Instead of fear-based cueing and broadly overused alignment cues, let’s talk about how to adapt yoga to each individual. Let’s include a…
Your Questions

Why Do My Elbows Point Out In Kapotasana?

When the elbows point out in kapotasana, it's often more related to tension in the triceps brachii than it is to bone…
Yoga Research

Can Yoga Mitigate The Effects Of Work Stress?

Multiple different styles of yoga can help manage physical, behavioral, and psychological aspects of work stress.
Your Questions

How Much Can I Change My Hip And Shoulder Rotation In Yoga?

Limitations to hip and shoulder rotation in yoga are usually caused by soft tissue restrictions, not bone shape.