Product Description

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga is the only modern authoritative source that correlates the study of hatha yoga with anatomy and physiology. Hatha yoga is comprised of stretching, strengthening and breathing exercises in upright, lying down and inverted postures. Yoga teachers and students, personal trainers, medical therapists, or anyone who is curious or troubled about how the body responds to stretching and exercise will find in this book a cornucopia -- partly new and partly old -- of readable and reliable information. It was written and edited to meet the needs of a general audience largely unschooled in the biomechanical sciences, and yet to attract and challenge the interests of the medical profession. This book features 230 black and white photographs and more than 120 diagrams and anatomical illustrations.

Chapter 1 summarizes general principles of anatomy and physiology as applied to hatha yoga. Breathing is next in chapter 2 because yogic breathing expedites movement and posture. Breathing is followed by pelvic and abdominal exercises in chapter 3 because the pelvis and abdomen form the foundation of the body. Standing postures will then be covered in chapter 4 because these poses are so important for beginning students, and because they provide a preview of backbending, forward bending, and twisting postures, which are covered in detail in chapters 5, 6, and 7. The headstand and shoulderstand, including an introduction to cardiovascular function, are presented in chapters 8 and 9. Postures for relaxation and meditation are treated last in chapter 10.

WINNER, 2002 Benjamin Franklin Award for Health Wellness, and Nutrition - Publishers Marketing Association.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5929 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 624 pages

Customer Reviews

Required reading for any serious yoga student
This book is meticulous and comprehensive. You will learn aspects of yoga that are rarely taught including the ability to train the neuromuscular system from the point of activation all the way back to basics of the spinal column. the angles of the poses are also all given which can round out a teacher or students education of the poses. Most importantly the neuromuscular knowledge leads to muscle training through endurance, strength, and toning; aspects of yoga that are under acknowledged and under appreciated.

Getting Physical
From a Doctors point of view, you'll get lots of valuable physiological information behind Hatha yoga. There is something for all levels of practice here. A good read or handy reference.

Great for students and teachers of Yoga!
I found this book very informative yet easy to read. And it is fun to color all those organs! I am a yoga teacher and anatomy seems to be an avoidable subject in a class. I have read quite a few anatomy books and thus far, I like this one the most - Highly recommended.

Ullasini Khwan
www.urbanyogis.com