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.

Anatomy

The Adductors In Yoga

Stretching and engaging our adductors, or inner thigh muscles, is important for maintaining stability and mobility around our hips.
Anatomy

What Is Hip Opening In Yoga?

Hip opening in yoga increases our range of motion in external hip rotation to prepare us for poses like half lotus and…
Anatomy

The Calf Muscles In Yoga

Tight calf muscles can restrict our forward bends. But, we can also use our forward-bending postures to stretch the calf muscles in…
Anatomy

Psoas Muscle: The Complete Guide — Anatomy, Function & Pain

An exploration of the psoas major and iliacus muscles. Learn about iliopsoas function, dysfunction, and when to stretch or strengthen.
Anatomy

Exploring The Semispinalis Muscles

The semispinalis muscles are deep spinal muscles that contribute to extension, lateral flexion, and rotation of the cervical and thoracic spine.
Anatomy

Foot Muscles And Arches: Your Foundation In Yoga Postures

Your foot is the foundation of your standing postures in yoga practice. Your foot muscles and arches create your adaptable base.
Anatomy

Stretching and Flexibility in Yoga: Types, Science & How It Works

Yoga and stretching both increase our flexibility. However, while increased flexibility is a benefit of yoga, it's not the main purpose of…
Anatomy

Should We Be Trying To Tilt Our Pelvis In Downward Dog?

Trying to tilt our pelvis in a particular way in downward dog may not have any noticeable effect on either our hamstring…
Anatomy

How Can I Work With Scoliosis In My Yoga Practice?

When working with scoliosis in yoga practice, you may have to choose in poses like down dog, whether to balance the pelvis…
Anatomy

What To Know About Spinal Disc Dysfunction And Yoga

When concerned about spinal disc dysfunction and yoga, pay extra attention to how you approach forward bends, twists, and deep backbends.
Anatomy

Back Pain In Backbending

Learn why back pain in backbending can be related to overworking backbends, technique, anatomical issues, as well as other variables.
Anatomy

Exploring The Suboccipital Muscles

Find out where the suboccipital muscles are, what actions they assist with, and where they show up in our yoga practice.
Anatomy

Working With The Lumbar Spine In Yoga

The shape, orientation, and spacing of the vertebrae in the lumbar spine affect our ability to back bend, forward bend, and twist.
Anatomy

How Do We Know If We Should Lengthen Or Strengthen The Psoas?

Learn why we should strive for balance rather than an overly-simplified idea that we should always lengthen or strengthen the psoas.
Anatomy

Upper Crossed Syndrome And Yoga

Learn about the muscular imbalance pattern of upper crossed syndrome. Find out how we can use yoga to help rebalance the body.
Anatomy

Effects Of Tight Hip Flexors On Posture

Tight hip flexors affect posture in many ways. They can affect movement in daily activities, sports, and our yoga practice.
Anatomy

The Rotator Cuff And Yoga

Learn why maintaining the right balance of tension among the rotator cuff muscles can help prevent shoulder pain in yoga.
Anatomy

Over-doing The Abdominals In Yoga Practice

Learn how to tell if you're over-doing the abdominals in your yoga practice and find out what the common sources of over-doing…
Anatomy

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome And Yoga

Find out how to modify for carpal tunnel syndrome in your yoga practice, if you are recovering from or just beginning to…
Anatomy

How Is Turnout In Ballet Achieved, Anatomically?

Learn how turnout in ballet happens in your body, anatomically. Find out how the hip and kinetic chain of the leg are…
Anatomy

Distinguishing Between Felt Sense And Anatomy In Yoga

Learn what that felt sense in yoga is telling you and why it's important to consider your experience through the lens of…
Anatomy

Can Curvy People Jump Back And Jump Through?

How is the transition different for curvy people who want to jump back or jump through? Find out how to work that…
Anatomy

Muscle Contraction In Yoga: Do You Know What’s Happening?

Muscle contraction in yoga is more complex than most people are aware of. Learn how the different types of muscle contraction affect…
Anatomy

Anatomy Of The Knee

The anatomy of the knee is unique among our joints. Find out how our knee anatomy affects knee function in our body…