Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff lets you literally see under the skin of common yoga poses. But the strength of this book lies in how it infuses lessons on anatomy with a core focus on breath and gravity. Through wonderfully detailed illustrations and easy-to-understand text, Yoga Anatomy depicts the skeletal and muscular anatomy of many common yoga asanas.
From breathing to standing poses, Kaminoff (with illustrator Sharon Ellis) helps you see how each muscle is used--and how slight alterations can enhance (or reduce) the effectiveness of a pose. With these images and explanations, it becomes clear how the spine, breathing, and body position are all fundamentally linked in the journey to find a balance point between breath and gravity.
Author Leslie Kaminoff is a recognized yoga expert and teacher in anatomy, breathing, and bodywork. He is the founder of The Breathing Project, New York City's premiere yoga studio dedicated to the teaching of individualized, breath-centered yoga practice and therapy.
Sharon Ellis, the medical illustrator on the project, has created crystal clear illustrations for Yoga Anatomy.
Some of the illustrations depict some rather unusual angles. These accomplished by shooting pictures of the models from below, using a large sheet of plexiglass suspended by two ladders.
 | Yoga Anatomy - by Leslie Kaminoff, Amy Matthews, Sharon Ellis (Illustrator) |