Sally Parkes - The Student’s Anatomy of Yoga Manual: 30 Essential Poses Analysed, Explained and Illustrated

Step-by-step guidance and anatomical analysis of 30 asanas

Sally Parkes

First published in 2017 by

Global Book Publishing Pty Ltd

Part of The Quarto Group

Level One, Ovest House,

58 West Street, Brighton, BN1 2RA, UK

Digital edition: 978-0-85762-766-7

Softcover edition: 978-0-85762-518-2

A Global Book

2017 Quarto Publishing plc, 6 Blundell Street, London N7 9BH

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Conceived, designed and produced by Global Book Publishing Pty Ltd

Layout Design: Mike LeBihan

Cover Design: Tony Seddon

Cover Images: Joanna Culley, B.A. (Hons), R.M.I.P., M.M.M.A., medical-artist.com

Illustrations (Asanas): Joanna Culley, B.A., (Hons), R.M.I.P., M.M.M.A., medical-artist.com

Illustrations (Steps): Robert Brandt

Additional Illustrations (Anatomical):

David Carroll, Peter Child, Deborah Clarke, Geoff Cook, Marcus Cremonese, Beth Croce, Hans De Haas, Wendy de Paauw, Levant Efe, Mike Golding, Mike Gorman, Jeff Lang, Alex Lavroff, Ulrich Lehmann, Ruth Lindsay, Richard McKenna, Annabel Milne, Tony Pyrzakowski, Oliver Rennert, Caroline Rodrigues, Otto Schmidinger, Bob Seal, Vicky Short, Graeme Tavendale, Thomson Digital, Jonathan Tidball, Paul Tresnan, Valentin Varetsa, Glen Vause, Spike Wademan, Trevor Weekes, Paul Williams, David Wood

It is recommended that anyone who is considering participating in an exercise program should consult a physician before starting, and that no one should attempt a new exercise without the supervision of a qualified professional. While every care has been taken in presenting this material, the anatomical and medical information is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Neither the authors nor the publisher may be held responsible for any type of damage or harm caused by the misuse of information in this book.

This book is organised into three primary sections: a full-colour anatomy overview; a principles of yoga section; and a full-colour illustrated guide to thirty yoga asana, comprising the main part of the book.

The Anatomy Overview section provides detailed, anatomically correct illustrations with clear, informative labels for the various body systems and regions.

The Principles of Yoga section examines the origins, history, and effects of the practice of yoga, and introduces some common yoga props and the four recurring starting positions that are referenced throughout the book.

The main content examining thirty yoga asanas is split into six chapters that divide the asanas into types standing poses, standing balancing poses, standing forward bends, seated poses, backbending poses, and inversions.

Each yoga asana has four pages of explanation. The first two pages introduce the asana, summarise its benefits and origins, and offer tips on how to get the most out of it (while also advising what not to do). There are also clear step-by-step instructions and simple illustrations to help you achieve the correct posture.

The second two-page spread for each asana contains the more technical anatomical information a brief summary discusses the main muscle activity in the asana, a clear table lists the main active muscles (and the type of activity), and stunning full-colour anatomical illustrations are labelled to show the key muscles used during the pose.

The book concludes with four pages of suggested sequences, allowing you to combine the asana into flowing movements.

ANATOMY OVERVIEW PAGES

This section contains full-colour, double-page overview spreads that give a rundown of the important parts of a particular body system.

ASANA STEP-BY-STEP PAGES

ASANA ANATOMY PAGES

The word in brackets is the adjective for that body region.