Anatomy of Hatha Yoga

by H. David Coulter and Timothy McCall

Information about all facets of anatomy and body movement.

This is the definitive reference book on yoga. It is filled with diagrams of the yoga postures, the muscular system, the nervous system, and explanations on what yoga can do for the body. For any yoga devotee, this is a must.

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.

Reviews:

"Coulter, who received a PhD in anatomy in 1968, and has taught in numerous contexts since then, has also been a student of yoga since the 1970s. Here he conjoins his two areas of expertise. After discussion of basic premises regarding yoga practice--focusing attention, becoming aware of breath, moving into and out of postures, responding to pain--he discusses movement and posture, breathing, and abdominopelvic exercises, and then explores in detail the various standing, backbending, forward bending, twisting, and inverted postures, as well as relaxation and meditation. In his densely packed explications and descriptions, he variously addresses yoga teachers, yoga students, and medical practitioners; and this leaping about from audience to audience lends a clutter to the presentation. Still, there's valuable information here for readers in all three groups." - Book News, Inc.®, Portland.

"...an amazing volume ... contains ample diagrams and photos of the postures with an analysis of the action of joints and muscles for each one. Quite simply the bible of hatha yoga. - Network, Spring Issue