Yoga Anatomy Articles


The yoga anatomy articles are organized into categories such as,  Injuries PosturesYour 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.

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Featured image for “Feet Together Versus Feet Apart in Bow Pose: Here’s What Changes”

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…
Featured image for “Can Yoga Reduce The Effects Of Stress On Medical School Students?”

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…
Featured image for “Why Don’t My Heels Touch In Dhanurasana?”

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…
Featured image for “Our Converging Histories In Yoga Practice”

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…
Featured image for “Is It Okay To Start Wheel Pose By Pressing Your Head On A Block?”

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…
Featured image for “Going Forward With Ashtanga: Tradition, Myth, And Community”

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…
Featured image for “What Muscles Are Working In Warrior Two?”

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…
Featured image for “What Does It Mean To Be A Good Yoga Student?”

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.…
Featured image for “Does The Action Of The Latissimus Change When The Elbows Bend?”

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…
Featured image for “Teaching The Stages Of A Life-long Ashtanga Practice”

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…
Featured image for “What Happens In Pigeon Pose With The Hips Squared?”

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…
Featured image for “What Makes A Sustainable Ashtanga Practice?”

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…
Featured image for “Is It Helpful To Work With Kapotasana On A Wall?”

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…
Featured image for “Yoga, Risk, And The Myth of Perfect Alignment”

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…
Featured image for “Why Do My Elbows Point Out In Kapotasana?”

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…
Featured image for “Can Yoga Mitigate The Effects Of Work Stress?”

Can Yoga Mitigate The Effects Of Work Stress?

Multiple different styles of yoga can help manage physical, behavioral, and psychological aspects of work stress.…
Featured image for “How Much Can I Change My Hip And Shoulder Rotation In Yoga?”

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.…
Featured image for “Can Yoga Practice Help Manage Migraines?”

Can Yoga Practice Help Manage Migraines?

Yoga positively affected symptoms of migraines and headaches across multiple studies in most cases as well as or better than…
Featured image for “Why Don’t My Feet Touch The Ground In Purvottanasana?”

Why Don’t My Feet Touch The Ground In Purvottanasana?

In purvottanasana, hip flexor flexibility and glute strength help get the pelvis up high enough to allow you to straighten…
Featured image for “What’s The Purpose Of Yoga?”

What’s The Purpose Of Yoga?

The purpose of yoga is more than the health and wellness benefits it provides. Yoga is a path to explore…
Featured image for “Are Proportions Preventing Me From Pressing Into A Handstand?”

Are Proportions Preventing Me From Pressing Into A Handstand?

Challenging proportions like long legs and a short torso can make pressing into a handstand harder, but good technique is…