Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students Teachers and Practitioners

by David H Coulter

Overview

This is the first complete authoritative source combining the study of hatha yoga with anatomy and physiology. David Coulter provides an in-depth physiological examination of more than 100 yoga postures and practices and their relationship to the systems of the body. It includes chapters on breathing, relaxation and meditation as well as detailed diagrams, illustrations and photos.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780970700612
Publisher:	Body & Breath, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/28/2010
Pages:	632
Sales rank:	518,789
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	15 Years

About the Author

H. David Coulter received a Ph.D. in anatomy from the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in 1968. Dr. Coulter has been practicing yoga since 1974. He was initiated by Swami Veda, trained under Swami Rama and studied under Pandit Rajmani Tigunait at the Himalayan Institute since 1988.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	11
	Preface	13
	Introduction	15
	Basic Premises	17
Chapter 1	Movement and Posture	21
	The Neuro-musculoskeletal System	22
	The Nervous System	29
	Reflexes	36
	The Vestibular System, Sight, and Touch	47
	Connective Tissue Restraints	51
	Stretching	60
	Three Postures	62
	Putting It All Together	66
Chapter 2	Breathing	67
	The Design of the Respiratory System	68
	The Muscles of Respiration	74
	How Breathing Affects Posture	82
	The Somatic and Autonomic Systems	85
	The Physiology of Respiration	91
	Thoracic Breathing	102
	Paradoxical Breathing	107
	Supine Abdominal Breathing	108
	Abdominal Breathing in Sitting Postures	111
	Diaphragmatic Breathing	120
	A Traditional Warning	131
Chapter 3	Abdominopelvic Exercises	139
	Crunches and Sit-ups	140
	The Foundation of the Body	141
	Supine Leg Lifts	160
	Yoga Sit-ups	169
	The Sitting Boat Postures	171
	The Peacock	173
	The Pelvis and The Anatomical Perineum	177
	Ashwini Mudra	182
	Mula Bandha	183
	Agni Sara	188
	Uddiyana Bandha, The Abdominal Lift	195
	Nauli	201
	Contraindications	204
	Benefits	205
Chapter 4	Standing Postures	207
	The Skeletal System and Movement	210
	Anatomy of the Spine	215
	Symmetry and Asymmetry	227
	Standing Postures	228
	Four Simple Stretches	230
	Backward Bending	236
	Forward Bending	240
	Side Bending	249
	What Makes Postures Difficult?	254
	The Triangle Postures	255
	Two Balancing Postures	267
	Benefits	271
Chapter 5	Backbending Postures	273
	The Anatomy of Flexion and Extension	274
	Breathing and Backbending	280
	The Cobra Postures	284
	The Locust Postures	296
	The Prone Boat Postures	303
	The Bow Postures	305
	The Knee Joint	307
	Supine Backbending Postures	312
	A Kneeling Backbend--The Camel	320
	Contraindications	323
	Benefits	324
Chapter 6	Forward Bending Postures	325
	Forward Bending: Head, Neck, and Chest	326
	Lumbar and Lumbosacral Forward Bending	327
	Sacroiliac Nutation and Counternutation	328
	Forward Bending at the Hip Joints	332
	Forward Bending at the Ankles and in the Feet	334
	Clinical Matters and Cautions	337
	The Posterior Stretch	340
	The Down-Facing Dog	349
	The Child's Pose	352
	Breathing and Forward Bending	353
	Sacroiliac Flexibility	355
	Hip Flexibility	361
	Benefits	381
Chapter 7	Twisting Postures	383
	The Fundamentals of Twisting	384
	The Skull, the Atlas, and the Axis	388
	Movements of the Head and Neck	392
	Thoracic Twisting	395
	Lumbar Twisting	396
	The Lower Extremities	398
	Supine Twists	403
	Standing Twists	410
	Inverted Twists	424
	Sitting Spinal Twists	425
	Benefits	435
Chapter 8	The Headstand	437
	The Cardiovascular System	437
	The Two Headstands	446
	The Upper Extremities	455
	Structural Imbalances	471
	Breathing Issues	474
	Developing Strength and Flexibility	477
	Bending and Twisting in the Headstand	488
	Extending Your Time	493
	Benefits	497
Chapter 9	The Shoulderstand	499
	Anatomy of The Shoulderstand	500
	Inverted Action Postures	503
	The Shoulderstand	507
	The Plow	516
	The Lifted Shoulderstand and Plow	522
	Circulation	524
	Respiration	526
	Sequelae	528
	Benefits	539
Chapter 10	Relaxation and Meditation	541
	Muscular Relaxation	543
	Two Relaxation Postures	547
	Breathing and Relaxation	552
	The Autonomic Nervous System	554
	Deepening Relaxation	562
	Meditation Postures	565
	Maintaining the Geometry	566
	Props	572
	The Six Postures	575
	Mula Bandha	588
	Mastering the Situation	589
	Knower of the Veil	593
	Glossary	595
	Additional Sources	607
	Acknowledgments	609
	Index of Anatomical Terms	611
	Index of Practices	619
	Biographical Sketch	623

Editorial Reviews

4 Stars! from Doody

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. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Reviewer: Martha J. Greenberg, PhD, RN (Pace University)
Description: This book describes the philosophy and postures of hatha yoga with an objective analysis correlating these postures with biomedicine. Using anatomically precise terminology, the book discusses the effects of hatha yoga on major body systems.
Purpose: The book provides a comprehensive overview of anatomy and physiology of hatha yoga with special emphasis on the musculoskeletal, nervous, and cadiovascular systems. The book exceeds the author's objectives and fills a void in the literature, bridging biomedicine and complementary medicine.
Audience: Every yoga teacher as well as any health professional or layperson interested in exploring the anatomical and physiologic aspects of hatha yoga should own this unique publication. Dr. Coulter brings over 25 years' teaching experience in science and hatha yoga to this book. His writing style should satisfy and appeal to a range of disciplines and individuals at varying educational and professional levels.
Features: The author discusses the basic premises of hatha yoga with foundational material accepted in biomedical sciences, expressly avoiding comment on non-physical concepts such as prana and the chakras. All postures are discussed in detail and depicted in excellent quality black-and-white photographs. Steps in the postures are illustrated as well as terminal points of the positions.
Assessment: The book presents hatha yoga in scientific terms while at the same time respecting its principles. Marrying academic discourse with detailed and pictorial representations of postures, it is a premier book in the field.

Doody's Review Service