Articles About Anatomy


  • What Really Happens in Hip Openers
    What Really Happens in Hip Openers

    Author Dr. Robin Armstrong

    One of the most common requests heard in a yoga class is “hip openers today please.” This request is usually followed by the other half of the class groaning. We love to hate hip openers yet our bodies crave them and often feel lighter and more open after—for good reason. The majority of us sit for most of our days, shortening the hip flexors at the front of the hip (psoas, rectus femoris, sartorius) and tightening the hip rotators (piriformis, obturator internus, gamellus, to name a few). 
  • The Anatomy of Pranayama: Understanding Our Breath
    The Anatomy of Pranayama: Understanding Our Breath

    Author Robin Armstrong

    Breathing is a simple act we have performed since the moment we were born, but for many of us only becomes illuminated within our yoga practice. We might go all day without noticing our breath until the moment we come to the mat – and observe.  Of all the functions of our body, the act of breathing is one of the most fascinating. It is completely subconscious yet we can exert conscious control. It is a muscular act, yet one also controlled by the laws of science that govern molecules of gas. It sustains our life, nourishes our organs, helps expel waste from our body, and can affect our emotional state by acting on our nervous system. Understanding exactly how our body performs this extraordinary act can bring us deeper into our pranayama (breathing) practice.
  • Standing Tall: Why Posture Matters
    Standing Tall: Why Posture Matters

    Author Mariska Breland

    Remember how your mom used to always lecture you to stand up straight? Well, she might have made some mistakes over the years (that outfit in your 5th grade school picture), but on this one, she’s right.
  • Explore Urdhva Dhanurasana: Upward Facing Bow Pose
    Explore Urdhva Dhanurasana: Upward Facing Bow Pose

    Author Ray Long, MD, FRCSC

    Ray Long dissects Upward Facing Bow Pose, a classic back arching yoga pose.  In Urdhva Dhanurasana, the direction of the shoulders shifts to a position of forward or frontal flexion (compared with poses that extend the shoulders away from the back). Thus the shoulder stretch changes here: the muscles that extend the arms are now lengthening. 
  • Adho Mukha Svanasana: Downward Facing Dog Pose Exploration
    Adho Mukha Svanasana: Downward Facing Dog Pose Exploration

    Author Ray Long, MD, FRCSC

    Adho Mukha Svanasana is both an inversion and an arm balance. It is the resting point in the Vinyasa sequence and serves as a barometer for the stretch at the backs of the legs as well as the shoulders. Flexing the hips and straightening the knees focuses the stretch on the hamstrings.
  • Could Poor Head Posture Affect Your Sleep?
    Could Poor Head Posture Affect Your Sleep?

    Author Kreg Weiss, B HKin

    Many people experience problems with acquiring proper, restful sleep.  We often associate this with direct causes like stress, anxiety, or diet.  Have you ever thought about your posture and, in particular, your head position being part of the reason for poor sleep habits?
  • Inner Knee Pain - Lotus Pose Not Blooming
    Inner Knee Pain - Lotus Pose Not Blooming

    Author David Keil

    Pain on the inside of the knee seems to be the most popular and is almost always associated with the leg being in a half or full lotus position.