Yoga Anatomy
by Leslie Kaminoff
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Book Reviews of Yoga Anatomy
Book Review: After the first two chapers, it's a great resource.
Summary: 3 Stars
This was assigned to me as a required resource for Shala (Yoga Teacher Training). Having no background in anatomy, I am really struggling to tie the written descriptions in the first two chapters to the illustrations. Perhaps there is an assumption by the author and illustrator of a certain level of anatomy knowlege that this reader doesn't posses. I find that the illustrations of the thoracic cavity (lungs, central tendon, diaphram) and the spinal column (discs, tendons, vertebrae) more confusing than helpful. I needed to consult with my Shala yoga instructors and 3 different anatomy books to understand what the author was trying to teach me. Chapter two is no better. The illustrations of the spine, tendons, discs are all superbly drawn, yet don't quite sync up with the written text if you're a newcomer like myself.
After these two chapters, it's a great resource. As the other reviewers have stated, the illustrations of the muscles used during different asanas are right on and quite helpful. This is a resource I'll keep and use again. However I'd like to see the first two chapters revised so the illustrations are presented better for the novice.
Book Review: Great starting point, excellent illustration but leaves a bit to be desired
Summary: 3 Stars
The diagrams are beautifully presented and the format is concise and thorough in most regards. A great starting point for the dedicated practitioner or those interested in one day teaching. That said, I feel it falls short in other areas, particularly in that the author doesn't do much to explain the various therapeutic effects or contraindications of each pose. Because I fear his audience may include a fair few absolute beginners, I think it the responsible thing to do to advise which poses are to be avoided in cases of high blood pressure, insomnia, glaucoma, etc. Similarly, providing a short list of conditions each pose can help to alleviate (e.g., menopause, asthma, indigestion). Either would have only taken a few lines of additional space/text and would have added so much value. If you are looking for scientific or medical explanations of the various therapeutic effects of hatha yoga, I highly recommend Coulter's Antaomy of Hatha Yoga. It's a hefty read, perhaps more tailored to yoga teachers than the casual practitioner.Book Review: Incredibly detailed but too technical
Summary: 4 Stars
I am very curious about which muscles do what in my yoga poses, and why some poses hurt more than others, and what I should be doing with my back muscles in certain poses. I had hoped that this book would provide some answers, but I discovered that the book was written about yoga from an anatomy perspective rather than the other way around. I don't understand 90% of this book, because I don't know which muscles are being referenced and what the motion is that he's talking about. Adducted? Trapezius? I'm totally lost.
If I bought some kind of anatomical dictionary and used it to translate this book, I've no doubt the book would be wonderful. The illustrations are amazing, and I can tell that the text and the breakdown of each pose are thorough and not at all dry. Nevertheless, I'm going to have to ask a friend who's an RN for some help reading it. Yogis, be warned: you'll need some knowledge of anatomical terminology to understand this book.
Book Review: A welcome addition to any fitness library
Summary: 5 Stars
Leslie Kaminoff's book is an excellent owner's manual for anyone who has a body! "YOGA Anatomy" not only provides practitioners and instructors with a quick, concise source of information about muscles groups, but it is an excellent reference for anyone who is thinking about adopting any type of exercise routine outside of yoga. As a Yoga, Tai Chi, Nei Gong and Qi Gong instructor, I keep this book in my kit bag and use it whenever I need to make a fine point about alignment or strength. Dancers and martial artists will be excellently served and advised by Amy Matthews' clear and precise descriptions of kinesiology, or muscle/joint interaction. The notes and obstacles section of each posture also offers insight on the range of muscle movement and its effect on skeletal alignment. The fine and detailed illustrations provided by Sharon Ellis help round out this wonderful book. I highly recommend this book! You will be satisfied.Book Review: A lot of work
Summary: 4 Stars
There is a fantastic amount of work in this book, and any teacher, or trainee teacher will find it a very useful book. The section on breathing is particularly good and explains well the complex relationship that exists between the thorax and abdomen. The asanas are wonderfully illustrated, but I felt a little frustrated that muscles that are working, and those that are stretching are not clearly differentiated, it would have been easy to do them in different colours for instance. However, If you want to find out what muscles do what when you practice the asanas he describes, this is probably the best book around.
It doesn't set out to make judgements about the validity of the asanas described, and that probably needs to be understood when you read it, because understanding what is happening to you when you practice doesn't always mean that what your doing is good for you.