The Key Muscles of Yoga: Scientific Keys, Volume I

This book is incredible!!! I decided that I want to do yoga teacher training in a year or two, and I wanted some books to help me start to prepare/expand on what I already know. A couple years ago, I had looked through "Yoga Anatomy," but it wasn't really what I had expected. I was searching around for other yoga anatomy-type books, and I saw the high reviews for this one. I purchased it, along with Volume 2, and WOW, I am SO impressed! I teach high school anatomy, so I have some anatomy background; this book helped me review what I know and helped build off that. For someone new to anatomy, I am guessing that this book is perfect as well--all of the information is so clear and well-explained. The pictures are awesome and really help you see the muscles and how they work--something that is very important during yoga (if you know where a muscle is and how it should be moving, it makes poses that much deeper). Volume 1 focuses on the muscles--their actions, insertions, origins; what they do as a prime mover, their antagonists, and synergists. It shows key poses that use the muscle, ways to really awaken the muscle, and limitations that the muscle causes if it is tight. There is a really nice introduction at the beginning of the book to all of the vocabulary terms, in case you don't know what they mean. Along the way in the book, there are short quizzes that you can use to test your new anatomy knowledge. At the end of the book is some general yoga information on breathing, bandhas, chakras, etc. It's a really nice introduction to everything! I'm excited to read Volume 2 next. The difference between the two books is that Volume 2 is the "Key Poses" of yoga, whereas Volume 1 is the "Key Muscles" of yoga. Just from flipping through Volume 2, I can tell that it'll be just as good as Volume 1!! These two books operate great as a set for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge for personal reasons, or learning because they plan to teach, or learning just because they are interested in anatomy. There are also four other books in the line--"Yoga Mat Companion"--focusing on groups of poses (inversions/backbends, vinyasa flow, etc.). I'm definitely buying those next! HIGHLY recommended!!!!

I'm in a 200 hr yoga teacher training and realized I needed to know a lot more about anatomy. I'd never taken an anatomy class. I'd read that Kaminoff's book "Yoga Anatomy" was excellent, but too wordy for newbies, and that Ray Long's books are a great place to start. I concur whole heartedly. "The Key Muscles of Yoga" has lots of pictures with great details in short paragraphs - just the key points to remember: action,origin, insertion, antagonists, synergists, exercises to awaken, stretch & contract. At the end of each chapter, there are quizzes with pictures of the muscles group taught in that chapter (ie. back or shoulder or pelvis, legs...). I went through the book in a few days, reviewing what I'd learned on the previous day/s. I retained a lot of it. Now, I've moved on to his next book, "The Key Poses of Yoga" which is organized around backbends, foreward bends, hip openers & the like) He breaks down the muscles used in many of the poses; he details what muscles are activated (or should be) to strengthen and protect different parts of the body - lumbar, rotator cuff...) Fabulous book! After this book, I'll be ready for Kaminoff's book, Yoga Anatomy which goes into a lot more detail - more text; fewer pics. Get both of Ray Long's books - especially if you're new to anatomy. You'll be up to speed in no time.

This is the book I was required to buy for my yoga teacher training. The printing is clear, the shipping was fast, and the book arrived in perfect condition. I also like that there are many pictures, which make it easy to understand the key muscles of yoga. Overall: Exactly what I needed for my training.

This should be a must read for all yoga instructors. If you don't know and understand the muscle structure of the body, then you shouldn't be teaching yoga. Clear, precise and so much information, along with excellent illustrations.

Very interesting read - One very large error on page 16, the axial and appendicular skeletons are switched.

I’ve been looking at this book for awhile. Finally purchased and am so glad. I’m studying for both CPT and 200 YTT and this book explains anatomy like no other. Great photos and verbiage to explain. Don’t be fooled by title though.... it’s not just yoga. This book takes each muscle and says it’s origin/insertion as well as its actions, antagonists, and synergistic. Goes through each section of the body.... ie back muscles, hamstring complex, rotator cuff, etc. packed full of info that you could refer back to time and time again and still gain knowledge.

I was initially put off by this book's web-like layout and thought it would be confusing so I bought Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews' book instead. That book is totally useless to me so I ended up getting this one on a friend's advice. This book is AMAZING! I learned so much from just reading the first 20 pages that I hadn't gotten the hang of before. Where Kaminoff's book gives no introduction to anatomical terms, major muscles, major bone structures or anything (which is crazy to me!) and just jumps into advanced, heavily specific language to describe action in asana - this book goes through anatomy from the very beginning, giving the reader all the basics before it goes into more advanced explorations of asanas. I'm really stoked on this and find it incredibly useful - a great book as an intro to anatomy for those wanting to learn in order to teach yoga or deepen their scientific understanding of practice.

This book is incredible. It breaks down the anatomy and makes it fun to learn. Easy to read and very helpful.

Testo eccezionale molto comprensibile ed immediato per chi vuole un modo alternativo di praticare o far praticare stretching illustrando il fine dell'esercizio che si sta compiendo.

O livro atendeu às minhas expectativas, além do que é muito bonito e agradável de se ler, com observações importantes e pertinentes apenas do essencial.

I bought the second book before the first. Both were gifts for my yoga-mad 60something wife. She has physical issues (don't most 60 year olds?) that she treats with yoga and I thought the second book seemed more likely to be a good resource for her. I was right but her enthusiasm for book 2 prompted me to also order book 1. Result? Herself say that she understands the concepts much more after reading both cover to cover almost the day each arrived. Now she's reading them again in sequence and the reports are good. She loves them. I'll benefit too. She's now telling me (even more often than usual) all the mistakes I make with my own yoga practice. Not only that but she's now applying the info to other aspects of our movement/exercise regime. Fitness is important to us and these books are easily the most value-added purchase I've made since my last swimming pool membership. Highly recommended for home fitness enthusiasts, especially us oldies.

Muy buen libro, explica las posturas y su anatomia de forma detallada. Tal vez un poco dificil de entender si no tienes un buen background, podrian haberlo hecho más sencillo

The Key Muscles of Yoga: Scientific Keys Volume I by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ray Long MD FRCSC (Author) and Chris Macivor (Illustrator) covers medical-school-style anatomy of the human skeletal and muscular systems at very high levels of detail for the technically-oriented person. More importantly, with respect to yoga, it describes innervation of the muscles in various yoga poses and the relevant chakras illuminated. The book is superlatively written: highly organized; well indexed; fully illustrated; concise; and presented in the active voice. The language is medical-school vocabulary rather than the common vernacular (i.e. clavicle = collar bone; sternum = breast bone; scapula = shoulder blade; femur = thigh bone; patella = kneecap; and so on). This book could be a useful reference for any personal trainer (not just those focused on yoga) as well as for any technically-minded person interested in how the human body works.