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Leslie Kaminoff
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Amy Matthews
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Yoga Anatomy Kindle Edition

by Leslie Kaminoff (Author), Amy Matthews (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 4,658 ratings

The best-selling anatomy guide for yoga is now updated, expanded, and better than ever!

With more asanas, vinyasas, full-color anatomical illustrations, and in-depth information, the second edition of YogaAnatomy provides you with a deeper understanding of the structures and principles underlying each movement and of yoga itself.

From breathing to inversions to standing poses, see how specific muscles respond to the movements of the joints; how alterations of a pose can enhance or reduce effectiveness; and how the spine, breathing, and body position are all fundamentally linked.

Whether you are just beginning your journey or have been practicing yoga for years, Yoga Anatomy will be an invaluable resource—one that allows you to see each movement in an entirely new light.

With Yoga Anatomy, Second Edition, authors Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews, both internationally recognized experts and teachers in anatomy, breathing, and bodywork, have created the ultimate reference for yoga practitioners, instructors, and enthusiasts alike.

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  1. Print length
    446 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Human Kinetics
  4. Publication date
    April 12, 2011
  5. Reading age
    18 years and up
  6. File size
    9.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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About the Author

Leslie Kaminoff is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar, one of the world's foremost authorities on the therapeutic uses of yoga. Leslie is the founder of The Breathing Project, a New York City educational nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching of individualized breath-centered yoga.

An internationally recognized specialist with over 32 years’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath anatomy, Kaminoff has led workshops for many of the leading yoga associations, schools, and training programs in the United States. He has also helped to organize international yoga conferences and has actively participated in the ongoing national debate regarding certification standards for yoga teachers and therapists.

Kaminoff has been a featured yoga expert in publications such as Yoga Journal and The New York Times, as well as online at WebMD, FoxNews Online, and Health.com. He is the founder of the highly respected international yoga blog eSutra, coauthor of the best-selling first edition of Yoga Anatomy, and creator of the DVD Breath-Centered Yoga with Leslie Kaminoff and the highly successful online course yogaanatomy.net. He resides in New York City and Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Amy Matthews has been teaching movement since 1994. She is a certified Laban movement analyst, a Body–Mind Centering teacher, and an infant developmental movement educator. She is registered with ISMETA (International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association) as a somatic movement therapist and educator, and with IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists).

Matthews coteaches the Body–Mind Centering and yoga programs in California and New York City for the School for Body-Mind Centering. She was on the faculty of the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies for 10 years. Together, Matthews and Kaminoff lead The Breathing Project's advanced studies program for movement professionals committed to extending their professional skills and knowledge.

Matthews integrates somatic practices and yoga in her private practice as a movement educator, and she teaches embodied anatomy and movement workshops for programs in the United States, Canada, Israel, Ireland, England, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Japan. Matthews coauthored the first edition of Yoga Anatomy. She currently resides in New York City.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0076DDI8A
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Human Kinetics; 2nd edition (April 12, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 12, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 9.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 446 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 4,658 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Leslie Kaminoff

    Leslie Kaminoff

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Leslie Kaminoff is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar, one of the world's foremost authorities on the therapeutic uses of yoga. Leslie is the founder of The Breathing Project, a New York City educational nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching of individualized breath-centered yoga.

    An internationally recognized specialist with over 43 years’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath anatomy, Kaminoff has led workshops for many of the leading yoga associations, schools, and training programs in the United States. He has also helped to organize international yoga conferences and has actively participated in the ongoing national debate regarding certification standards for yoga teachers and therapists.

    Kaminoff has been a featured yoga expert in publications such as Yoga Journal and The New York Times, as well as online at WebMD, FoxNews Online, and Health.com. He is the founder of the highly respected international yoga blog eSutra, coauthor of the best-selling "Yoga Anatomy," and creator of the DVD Breath-Centered Yoga with Leslie Kaminoff and the highly successful online courses yogaanatomy.net.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Amy Matthews

    Amy Matthews

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Amy Matthews has been teaching workshops and courses in the US and internationally since 1994. Integrating experiential anatomy, kinesiology, embryology and developmental movement with inquiries into pedagogy, educational philosophy and movement practices, she has taught on somatic certification programs and in a variety of university and studio settings.

    She is a Certified Body-Mind Centering® Teacher, an Infant Developmental Movement Educator, a Certified Laban Movement Analyst, and a movement therapist and yoga teacher.

    Amy taught with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen in Berkeley CA, and was on the faculty of the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies for 10 years. She also co-authored with Leslie Kaminoff the book Yoga Anatomy.

    Amy is the Program Director of Sonder Movement Project, which offers the Somatic Movement Educator and Infant Developmental Movement Educator programs for the School of Body-Mind Centering, and is the co-founder and co-director, with Sarah Barnaby, of Babies Project in NYC – an in-person and online space dedicated to developmental movement for babies, toddlers, adults and elders.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4,658 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this anatomy book highly informative and useful for understanding yoga practice, with detailed explanations of muscles and colored diagrams of people. The text is written in a way that's easy for laymen to understand, with clear pronunciation guides for Sanskrit, and one customer notes it's broken down into sections. They appreciate how it shows how muscles move and stretch, and consider it worth the money.

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372 customers mention "Information quality"331 positive41 negative

Customers find the book highly informative and useful for understanding yoga practice, with one customer noting how it presents the human body system by system.

"...but it has enough detail and anatomy to be a great value for any student wanted more details on poses, or for any teacher trying to design classes..." Read more

"Greater understanding of poses" Read more

"...Now that I have finished the book I have a much deeper understanding of my practice and the purpose/roots of yoga...." Read more

"...This is a very intelligent presentation of breath, the spine and anatomy for yoga teachers and those who want a deeper understanding." Read more

151 customers mention "Illustrations"140 positive11 negative

Customers appreciate the book's illustrations, which include detailed pictures of the body and amazing diagrams, with one customer noting they are easy to study.

"...The illustrations are with enough color and detail to enhance the written portion, but not so much so that they're distracting or visually..." Read more

"...This book is information heavy but it does make up with images you can easily study and visualize later as you move into poses...." Read more

"...It is easy to read and understand and has great visuals." Read more

"Combined with the text, the illustrations are invaluable it locating the muscle or muscle groups that a yoga leader is trying to reach...." Read more

79 customers mention "Ease of reading"67 positive12 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written, with clear pronunciation guides for Sanskrit and detailed explanations for every asana.

"...The illustrations are with enough color and detail to enhance the written portion, but not so much so that they're distracting or visually..." Read more

"I love anatomy and yoga and this book was so well written that it became an immediate favorite...." Read more

"...It is easy to read and understand and has great visuals." Read more

"...At the same time it's a very accessible book. It has helped me get a better understanding of breathing and how critical it is to good practice...." Read more

13 customers mention "Value for money"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth its price, with one mentioning that its accessibility on Kindle makes it priceless.

"...but it has enough detail and anatomy to be a great value for any student wanted more details on poses, or for any teacher trying to design classes..." Read more

"...Worth the money and I love the spiral bound version." Read more

"...It is also very reasonably priced and small enough to have lying next to you for a reference during your workout...." Read more

"Delivered fast and as described! Super happy with this order. The price was fair and I always appreciate a hand written thank you note! :)" Read more

8 customers mention "Organization"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the organization of the book, with one customer noting how it is broken down into sections and includes easy reference charts for each joint listing.

"...which muscles are activated in any given pose and easy reference charts for each listing joints and which muscles are being stretched and contracted..." Read more

"...The 2nd edition is great. More information and a change up in the layout of the book...." Read more

"...The Second edition involves a reorganization/reclassification of chapters base upon Asana types and also the digital portability...." Read more

"...The book is broken down into sections: (i.e: standing poses, seated poses, etc.)..." Read more

8 customers mention "Stretchability"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on flexibility, showing how muscles move and stretch, with one customer highlighting the detailed breakdown of bending vertebrae by vertebrae.

"...I got the idea of doing any spinal twisting or bending vertebrae by vertebrae, as much as I can distinguish anyway...." Read more

"...it gives a deeper understanding as to why yoga and stretching is so good for you and your muscles. A must have for any yogi or athlete." Read more

"...a great informative book on how certain poses affect and stretch and tighten the muscles and which joints are affected as well. I highly recommend it." Read more

"...to bodybuilding collection showing all the moves and stretching to keep your body flexable." Read more

Great yoga book! Recommend spiral bound
5 out of 5 stars
Great yoga book! Recommend spiral bound
Extremely useful yoga guide which helped me understand anatomically where i was supposed to be feeling the poses. If you have the extra money, the spiral bound version of this book is super useful since you can easily read it while practicing.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Yogi
    5.0 out of 5 stars An essential for any teacher or curious student!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is the third in this series I've purchased (Pilates and Dance prior to this), and it's as clear, concise and accurate as it's previous counterparts. The writing style is succinct and not too intense for the casual reader to understand (it's not a medical jargon book, for sure!) but it has enough detail and anatomy to be a great value for any student wanted more details on poses, or for any teacher trying to design classes around body groups or injuries. For anyone wanting to know the exact breakdown of a great number of poses, this is a must have! I wish it had been a required read during my teacher training, the amount of info it contains is fabulous, considering its small size! This means I can tuck it in my bag and if a student has a question regarding a pose or injury, I'm a quick consult away from being able to better explain safety and modifications in their practice.

    The illustrations are with enough color and detail to enhance the written portion, but not so much so that they're distracting or visually overwhelming. The illustrator clearly knew what the intention of the book was, and stayed consistent and precise throughout.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Seraphim
    5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Yoga book to date
    Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I love anatomy and yoga and this book was so well written that it became an immediate favorite. I found myself in awe several times at the insights I found within its pages and eagerly shared those insights with my partner who is much less inclined to read (and who would be incredibly lost reading this information intensive book).
    Now that I have finished the book I have a much deeper understanding of my practice and the purpose/roots of yoga. I am able to be mindful of what is happening within my body as I move through each pose, which I am certain helps keep me safer and progressing faster.
    For example, the conversation about breathing and shape change allowed me to fully connect my breath to movement and I finally understood what ujjayi pranayama meant and how to do it.
    Although the terminology may be overwhelming if you have never studied any anatomy, for me it was perfect and the precision of the language really helped me grasp what the book was describing.
    This would also be a wonderful book for anyone who wishes to teach yoga! When yogi instructors talk about the healing power of each pose I often find myself marveling at the lack of basic anatomical understanding (I was once told that Eagle helps massage the pituitary gland O.O). This text would quickly remedy any confusion while helping create accurate descriptions of what is really going on during each pose.

    By far the best yoga book I have purchased (so far). I look forward to revisiting it as grow in my practice and know I will learn something new each time I do.
    69 people found this helpful
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  • Bernadette Lehmann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Greater understanding of poses
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  • MBS
    5.0 out of 5 stars My Yoga Practice Just Got a PhD (Without the Student Loans)
    Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    For years, I'd been happily flowing through Vinyasa classes, attempting to fold myself into various shapes, and generally feeling good. But there was always this little voice in the back of my head asking, "Okay, but how is this actually working? What muscles are really doing the heavy lifting (or lengthening)? Am I even doing this pose correctly for my body?"

    Enter "Yoga Anatomy" by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews. This book is the answer to every curious yogi's unspoken questions. It's not just a dry textbook; it's like having a brilliant, patient anatomy professor right there on your mat with you.

    The real stars of this book are the illustrations. Full-color, detailed, and showing muscles and skeletal structures in action within each pose – they are simply phenomenal. I spent ages just poring over them, finally understanding why my hamstrings scream in certain forward folds or why my shoulders feel a particular way in Chaturanga. It breaks down complex movements into understandable visual information.

    But it's not just pretty pictures. The accompanying text is clear, concise, and incredibly insightful. It explains the principles of breathing, the relationship between the spine and movement, and how slight adjustments in a pose can completely change its effect. It empowers you to move beyond just mimicking shapes and truly understand what's happening inside your body.

    This book has profoundly impacted my personal practice. I approach poses with more intelligence and awareness. I can make modifications that genuinely serve my body, rather than just following general cues. It's also given me so much more appreciation for the incredible complexity and adaptability of the human form.

    Whether you're a seasoned practitioner, a budding yoga teacher, or just someone who wants to understand their body better while on the mat, "Yoga Anatomy" is an invaluable resource. It's detailed without being overwhelming, impactful in its clarity, and has made my yoga journey so much richer and more informed. Consider it your body's new best friend on the path to deeper understanding.
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  • Anita Dee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Helpful
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I have been doing yoga on and off for several years and still consider myself a beginner. I know many of the basics and intermediate poses and stretches for a good session. I recently noticed I was not getting the normal feeling/ "burn" from my sessions and wondered about if I was still doing poses correctly. I was screwing around on Amazon for a new yoga book and came across Yoga anatomy. I was curious so I bought it. This book is information heavy but it does make up with images you can easily study and visualize later as you move into poses. I think in my case I was doing the poses correctly but I was not moving in anslower and more mindful pace that worked the muscles that should be utilized in each pose. This was a surprisingly helpful book that has help me get more out of my sessions.
    One person found this helpful
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  • stephen g. felling
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you're interested in yoga and anatomy, this is the great place to start
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic. Book bought it over 12 years ago. Still look at it.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Elodie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Très beau et bon livre !
    Reviewed in France on December 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A condition d'être anglophone, cet ouvrage de Leslie Kaminoff est une référence pour l'anatomie du yoga. Les images et schémas sont de très grande qualité, on apprend beaucoup sur les systèmes du corps humains (musculaires, ligamenteux, osseux...) et l'on y trouve de très bonnes idées de postures pour varier les pratiques en fonction de nos besoins physiques.
    Seul bémol à noter (même si ce n'est pas le but de l'ouvrage), il aurait été encore - plus - parfait si l'auteur précisait les adaptations aux postures en cas de contrindication ainsi que la meilleure façon d'entrer ou de sortir de l'asana pour préserver les articulations.
    Report
  • ashu satvika goyal
    5.0 out of 5 stars knowledgeable book
    Reviewed in India on February 27, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    knowledgeable book
    Report
  • Laura B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Completo e ben fatto
    Reviewed in Italy on April 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Spedizione e condizioni del prodotto impeccabili.
    Il libro è in lingua inglese, e tratta di vari argomenti come:
    Respiro, sistema muscolare e scheletrico, varie posizioni.
    Le immagini sono veramente ben fatte.
    Per ogni asana vengono indicati i muscoli interessati e la loro azione.
    Customer image
    Laura B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Completo e ben fatto

    Reviewed in Italy on April 21, 2020
    Spedizione e condizioni del prodotto impeccabili.
    Il libro è in lingua inglese, e tratta di vari argomenti come:
    Respiro, sistema muscolare e scheletrico, varie posizioni.
    Le immagini sono veramente ben fatte.
    Per ogni asana vengono indicati i muscoli interessati e la loro azione.
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    Report
  • Kikyo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Yes ha Anatomy
    Reviewed in Singapore on September 27, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book contents are very useful.
    Report
  • Gisela Dias
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ilustrativo e esclarecedor
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 31, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    O guia e perfeito para a compreensão de cada Asana. Amei pela abordagem da respiração, inovadora e esclarecedora quanto a respiração diafragmatica , pois não conseguia conceber como alguma respiração não envolveria o diafragma! Entende a respiração como uma mudança de formas espaciais me foi bem útil.
    Report

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