Video Clips from Anatomy Workshops

Arches of the Feet: How to Grow if Low

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 14:36:07 -0400

This video was taken during Part I of the course. Having just covered all of the bones and arches of the feet, we begin to discuss:

• structural vs functional flat feet, and a simple test to assess the difference
• strengthening the intrinsic foot muscles to help grow the arches (using a towel)
• strengthening the boot strap muscles of the feet through both static and dynamic balancing exercises, which also help grow the arches

Muscles and Their Actions: Gluteus Medius

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 11:12:21 -0400

In this clip, I go over the location, attachments and actions of Gluteus Medius, and then share a few video snippets from the M4: Muscles of the Pelvis lecture.

Muscles of the Rotator Cuff: Where They Are and How To Strengthen in Yoga

Mon, 30 May 2011 11:09:13 -0400

Strengthening the muscles of the rotator cuff can help stabilize the head of the humerus in the shoulder socket and prevent all kinds of shoulder injuries. This video was shot during M5 of the Muscular System module...

Shoulder Biomechanics: The Impingement Interval

Sat, 21 May 2011 10:15:34 -0400

This video was shot during Part I (Bones, Joints & Common Injuries), and is a discussion of how laterally rotating the arms before abducting or flexing them can help prevent shoulder impingement syndrome, which is caused when the soft tissues between the head of the humerus and the acromion process of the scapula become compressed.

Relationship of Muscle Tone to Joint Stability

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:42:07 -0500

This video snippet from Part 1 of the ASFYT course (Bones, Joints and Common Injuries) illustrates how increasing resting muscle tone can help to increase joint stability. I don't really go into how to strengthen these muscles here... as we do that in Part 2 of the course, where we address all the major muscles in the body and how to strengthen them.

Factors That Effect Movement: Body Proportions

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:54:33 -0500

In this video, we explore how different body proportions effect the ability to press the palms down into the floor while sitting in Diamond pose. If there is a lot of distance between the palms and the floor, then the student will have to use up a lot of their trunk flexion ability just to get the palms down, and then they likely won’t be able to continue flexing the trunk in order to lift the legs off the floor (as when coming into Pendant pose)

Factors That Effect Movement: Injury (i.e., Supraspinatus)

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:58:45 -0500

Injuries can effect range of motion at a joint, and can also can some interested compensatory movement patterns. For example, the suprinatus initiates abduction of the arm at the shoulder joint before the larger deltoid muscle takes over to continue abduction. If supraspinatus is injured, a person might lean over to the side to initiate abduction... as demonstrated in the video.

Leg Muscles: Application to Yoga Asana

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:09:43 -0500

This video snippet is from Part 2 of the ASFYT course (Bones, Joints and Common Injuries). We have just covered all of the muscles of the leg, and in the video I’m reviewing the muscles and relating the material to yoga asana practice.

The Pelvis in Revolved Triangle

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 10:44:11 -0500

In this video, ASFYT students are exploring the benefits of allowing the pelvis to “go with the trunk” during Revolved Triangle (as opposed to keeping it level). Allowing the pelvis to go with the trunk decreases the amount of torque on the sacroiliac joint, creates more stretch for the lateral hip, hamstring and I.T. Band, and allows the trunk to turn enough so that the top arm can reach straight up with more ease.

Knee Safety in Pigeon: The Back Leg

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 11:04:50 -0500

In pigeon pose, it is common for the back thigh to laterally rotate causing the knee to turn out (likely because of tightness in the iliopsoas). This video demonstrates how letting the back knee turn out in pigeon pose (or splits pose) can put stress on the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the lateral meniscus. When practicing this posture, be sure to keep the back thigh facing the floor.

Serratus Anterior in Downward Facing Dog

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 10:41:55 -0500

In this video, ASFYT students are exploring which muscles are working in downward facing dog. So far they've come up with the serratus anterior, which is located on the side of the ribcage and attaches along the anteromedial border of the scapula. When serratus anterior contracts it upwardly rotates and protracts the scapula, and is active during the movement from Plank into DD. Endurance in Serratus Anterior is essential for postures like handstand, forearm stand and headstand, and we can build this endurance by holding DD or moving back and forth between DD & Plank.

Video Clips from Anatomy Workshops