Anatomy for Yoga:

I. Differentiate:

A. *Anatomy: Structure, a skeleton.

B. *Physiology: Function, functions in an organism or
in any of its parts
C. *Kinesiology: interrelationship of the physiological
processes and anatomy of the human body with
respect to movement.
D. Importance in yoga asana:
1. Anatomy = alignment
2. Physiology = function of the pose it’s purpose and the
3. Kinesiology of the asana is the analysis of how the
body accomplishes the pose.

II. Anatomical Terms:

a. Anatomical position*….DiVinci anatomical man VS

Tadasana, (Mountain Pose). Pictures…discuss
b. Axial Extension* Tailbone is lengthened down and
abdominal muscles are drawn inward, shoulders
downward, lifting the heart and neck retracted over
the shoulders.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE… Take a few moments and then come

back and discuss. Then review.

III. Body Planes…Use an apple

Anatomical Planes of the Body

A. Sagittal: Plane that runs down through the body, dividing the body into left and
right portions. Subsections of the sagittal plane include: (S for Sides)
Lateral movements such as Arde Chandrasana, Virabhadrasana II, Uttihita
Triganasana)
◦ Midsagittal runs through the median plane and divides along the line of
 symmetry
◦ Parasagittal is parallel to midline but does not divide into equal left and
right portions.
B. Coronal (frontal): Plane that runs perpendicular to the sagittal plane and
divides the body into anterior and posterior (front and back) portions.
(C=crown sits on front of head). EX. Uttananasana, Virabhadrasana I & III,
Ustrasana.
C. Transverse: Horizontal plane that divides the body into upper and lower
portions; also called cross-section. Ex. Parivritta Parsvakonasana, Parsva
Bakasana, pasasana (noose pose)

IV. Human Skeletal Anatomy:

A. 206 bones; 177 move voluntarily

B. Functions:
1. Support and Protect soft tissue…?
2. Attachment site for muscles tendons and
ligaments
3. Movement as when the bones are directed to move
by the muscles attached to them.
4. Blood/cell production in the red marrow.
C. Types of bones:
1. Short Bones, such as those of the hands and feet.
2. Long Bones, such as those of the arms and legs.
3. Flat bones, like the sternum, scapula, ribs, pelvic
bones and patellae.
4. Irregular bones, as in the spinal column.

D. Skeleton in 2 sections:
1. Axial = Bones of Head and Trunk…
a. Head, cranium (8)
b. Face (14)
c. Hyoid (1)
d. Auditory vesicles (3)
e. Vertebral Column Cervical (7)
Thoracic (12) > 26* bones
Lumbar (5)
f. Sacrum (1)
g. Coccyx (1)
 h. Thorax Sternum (1)
Ribs (24)
(80)

2. *Appendicular = Bones of limbs (appendiges),

moveable. The pelvis is the link between the axial and the
appendicular skeletons and is referred to as either.

a. Shoulder glides clavicles (2)

Scapulae (2)
b. Upper Extremity Humerous (2)
Ulna (2)
Radius (2)
Carpals (16)
Metacarpals (10)
Phalanges (28)
c. Pelvic Girdle (2)
d. Lower Extremity Femur (2)
Tibia (2)
Fibula (2)
Tarsals (14)
Metatarsals (10)
Phalanges (28)
Patella (2)
__________________________________
126
Total of 206 bones

E. The Vertebral column: (spine)

1. 2/5 of body’s height
2. Bones called vertebrae
a. Protects thespinal cord
b. Supports the head
c. Point of attachment for ribs and muscles of
back.
d. 26 bones in 5 sections
1. Cervical (7)
2. Thoracic (12) > 26* bones
 3. Lumbar (5)
4. Sacrum (1)
5. Coccyx (1)
e. Between each vertebrae is a soft disc, absorb
shock.
3. Natural curves in spine
a. thoracic and sacral curves = concave
kyphosis (primary curves)
b. Lumbar and cervical curves = convex
lordosis (secondary curves)
c. They increase strength, maintain balance,
absorb shock, protect vertebral column from
fractures.
4. Vertebrae differ in shape and size according to
region.
a. All have a body (weight bearing part)
b. An arch, (attachment site for muscles.)
c. Spinus Processes, projects posteriorly.
d. C-1, Atlas supports the head like Atlas
supported the world. Allows nodding of head.
e. C-2, Axis alows for pivot to shake head ‘no’.
f. C-7, the first vertebrae that can be felt at base
of neck.
g. Axial Extension* , lengthening of the
spine beyond neutral alignment.

LABEL WORKSHEET

F. Arches of the feet: LOCATE

1. Longitudinal arches, extend anterior to posterior
portion of the foot.
a. Medial part of arch under big toe to heel
b. Lateral part of arch base of pinky toe to heel
c. Transverse arch, from medial to lateral at the
posterior end of the longitudinal arches.

G. Articular Joints and Lever Systems

 1. Ligaments, connect bones to bones
2. Joint, point of contact between bones or between
cartilage and bones
3. The closer the bones are to each other the
stronger the joint, but the less mobility is present.
The looser the articulation the greater the
movement but less strngth with greater possibility
of dislocation.
H. Types of joints:
1. Immovable joints, those of the skull
2. Slightly movable joints, pubic symphysis,
movement for delivery and birth.
3. Freely moving joints, many types of movements.
a. Freely moving joints have a synovial space
that separates the articulating bones. Space
is filled with fluid to lubricate joint, reduce
friction.
b. Cartilage in freely moving joints, it covers the
surface of bone, to reduce friction and absorb
shock.
c. Bursae like synovial cavities, but where skin,
muscles or ligaments rub over bone.
d. 3 types of freely moving joints:
1. Gliding joints side to side and back and
forth, ie: the tarsals and carpals.
2. Hinge Joint, convex portion of oe bone
fits into concave portion of another
providing flexion and extension, knees
elbows, ankles and interpharangeal
joints.
3. Pivot Joint, rounded or pointed surface
of one bone, articulte with a portion of
another bone and a liament, allowing for
rotation, as in atlas and axis of spine to
shake head no.
4. Condyloid joints, like gliding joints
permit side to side and back and forth
movements except an oval shaped
 condyle of one bone articulates with an
elliptical cavity of another bone to
combine flexion/extension;
abduction/adduction to produce
circumduction.
5. Saddle joint saddle shaped bone
articulating with a bone that appears
like the legs of a rider allowing back and
forth and side to side
movements…allows the thumb to grasp
and manipulate objects with other
fingers.

V. Musculoskeletal System:

A. Muscle Tissue, refers to all contractile tissues of

the body and includes skeletal, cardiac and smooth
muscles. Over 700 skeletal muscles, look at major
ones that pertain to asana.
B. Tendons, dense connective tissues that attach
muscles to bones,each muscle has 2 one on each
end one on the stationary bone and one on the
moveable bone.
1. Skeletal muscles have 5 principles
characteristics to achieve functions and
movements:
a. Excitability, ability of muscle to respond
to a stimulus, ie: a nerve impulse.
b. Conductivity, the ability of the muscle to
conduct that impulse through the entire
length of the muscle.
c. Contractibility, the ability of the muscle to
shorten to generate force to do work.
d. Extensibility, the ability of the muscle to
extend without damage.
e. Elasticity, the ability to return to original
shape.
 C. Sliding Filament Mechanism, fingers sliding
together in an example of muscle contraction.

D. Synergists are muscle groups that work together

to steady movements and help with prime mover
the muscle group most responsible for movement.
1. Paschimottanasana, front body muscles
contract and back body relaxes.

E. Types of Muscle contractions:

1. Isotonic, constant load through a range of
motions in a joint. Muscle dos not shorten,
but tension in the muscle increases. Utthita
Hasta Padangusthasana, balancing leg
2. Concentric, reduces the angle of a joint, when
lowering into chaduranga Dandasana into
urdhva Mukha Svanasana.

F. Kinesthetic Awareness, awareness of body

position and movements. It tells you about the
position of our body in space. It is proprioceptors in
muscles, tendons, and joints that inform the brain of
the status of different body parts, and adjustments
can then be made.

Muscle Chart and Posters

Labeling muscles on partner with post it’s
Ordering the abdominal muscles
One way of remembering the names of the abdominal muscles is to think of a
spare tire, which is the nickname for the extra fat that can build up around a
person’s abdomen. The word TIRE stands for the four abdominal muscles:
I. T: Transversus abdominis
J. I: Internal abdominal oblique
K. R: Rectus abdominis
E: External abdominal oblique

The rotator cuff muscles

Four rotator cuff muscles run from the scapula to the humerus and work together
so you can rotate your arm. They’re usually remembered by the acronym SITS:
L. S: Supraspinatus
M. I: Infraspinatus
T: Teres minor
S: Subscapularis

The lateral rotator muscles of the hip

Six of hip muscles rotate the hip laterally. Following is a phrase that will help you
remember them:
Piece Goods Often Go On Quilts.
The bold letters represent the hip rotators, in order from most proximal to most
distal:
N. P: Piriformis
O. G: Gemellus superior
P. O: Obturator internus
Q. G: Gemellus inferior
R. O: Obturator externus
S. Q: Quadratus femoris