Yoga anatomy glossary

An imaginary line around which movement occurs.

Also called: axes

Toward the front of the body.

Moving a body part away from the midline.

Moving a body part toward the midline.

The top of the pelvis tips forward and the sitting bones move toward the back of the body.

The outward and downward-releasing side of the breath cycle, associated with letting go and with the movement of the exhalation.

Also called: apana

A lengthening of the spine produced by reducing the primary and secondary curves at the same time. It does not occur on its own; it takes conscious effort.

Also called: axial extension, lengthening

Turning around the long axis of the spine. Different parts of the spine turn very different amounts, and the lower back turns least of all.

Involving both sides of the body.

A change in tone and orientation of the breathing structures that stabilises the torso. Often translated as a binding or a lock.

Also called: bandha, lock

The parts of the body in contact with the ground, through which weight passes down and support returns upward.

Also called: support base

The expanding, filling, heating half of a pattern. In breath terms it is associated with the inhale and with taking in.

On or affecting opposite sides of the body.

A circular movement combining flexion, extension, abduction and adduction.

Moving the chin toward the chest.

Tilting the head backward.

Turning the head to the right or left.

Bringing the ear toward the shoulder.

Moving the head forward relative to the trunk.

Moving the head backward relative to the trunk.

The muscle shortens while producing force.

Also called: concentric

Breathing described as a change in the shape of the thoracic and abdominal cavities, rather than only as air moving in and out.

Also called: shape change

Farther from the trunk or point of attachment; generally used for limbs.

Farther from the surface of the body.

In this lesson: the back of the hand or the top of the foot.

Bringing the top of the foot toward the shin at the ankle.

Also called: ankle flexion, dorsal flexion

Bad space, or difficulty. The paired opposite of sukha, which is good space or ease.

A movement that increases the angle between two body parts. At the shoulder, moving the arm backward is extension.

A bone turns outward at a joint, away from the body midline.

Also called: lateral rotation

Turning the sole of the foot away from the midline.

The muscle lengthens while producing force to control movement.

Also called: eccentric

Divides the body into front and back portions. Abduction, adduction and lateral flexion commonly occur in this plane.

Also called: coronal plane, coronal

A movement that decreases the angle between two body parts. The shoulder example needs its own reference demonstration.

Rotation of the forearm that turns the palm down with the elbow bent, or backward from anatomical position.

Also called: pronation

Rotation of the forearm that turns the palm up with the elbow bent, or forward from anatomical position.

Also called: supination

Flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation and axial extension. Most postures combine more than one.

Also called: spinal action

Extension beyond anatomical neutral. This is a movement description, not by itself a diagnosis.

Moving an arm away from the midline in the horizontal plane while the arm is held at shoulder height.

Moving an arm toward or across the midline in the horizontal plane while the arm is held at shoulder height.

Below or away from the head.

On or affecting the same side of the body.

A bone turns inward at a joint, toward the body midline.

Also called: medial rotation

Turning the sole of the foot toward the midline.

The muscle produces tension without visible movement at the joint in this introductory model.

Also called: isometric

A muscle contraction where the muscle changes length while the load stays the same. It covers both the shortening and the lengthening kinds.

The action associated with the throat and the vocal diaphragm.

Also called: throat lock

Bending the knee.

Straightening the knee.

The path of the knee relative to the hip, foot and toes during movement.

Farther from the midline of the body.

Side bending of the spine or neck.

Also called: side bend

The reducing, emptying, cooling half of a pattern. In breath terms it is associated with the exhale and with letting go.

The sagittal plane at the midline, dividing the body into equal right and left halves.

Also called: median plane, midsagittal plane

Closer to the midline of the body.

The action associated with the pelvic floor and the base of the torso.

Also called: root lock

A state of spine and breath that combines axial extension with the bandhas. It can be approached from seated, standing, supine and arm-support positions.

Also called: maha mudra

Toward the back of the body.

Closer to the trunk or point of attachment; generally used for limbs.

Referring to the palm side of the hand.

Also called: palm

Referring to the sole of the foot.

Lying face down.

Pointing the foot away from the shin at the ankle.

Also called: plantarflexion

The top of the pelvis tips backward and the sitting bones move toward the front of the body.

One side of the pelvis lifts.

One side of the pelvis lowers.

In this framing, the inward and downward-receiving side of the breath cycle, associated with taking in and with the movement of the inhalation.

Also called: prana

The curves present from birth, in the thoracic and sacral regions, which round in the same direction as the curled shape of early life.

Also called: primary curve

The muscular floor of the pelvis, the lowest of the three diaphragms described in this framing.

Also called: pelvic floor

A body region turns around an axis.

The dome of muscle between the thoracic and abdominal cavities, the principal muscle of breathing.

Also called: diaphragm, thoracic diaphragm

Divides the body into right and left portions. Flexion and extension commonly occur in this plane.

Also called: sagittal

Above or toward the head.

Closer to the surface of the body.

Lying face up.

The shoulder blades move away from the spine and around the rib cage.

Also called: shoulder blade protraction

The shoulder blades move toward the spine.

Also called: shoulder blade retraction

The shoulder blades move upward toward the ears.

The shoulder blades move downward away from the ears.

The shoulder blade rotates so the shoulder socket faces more upward as the arm rises.

The shoulder blade rotates so the shoulder socket faces more downward as the arm lowers.

The arm moves forward and overhead relative to the trunk.

The arm moves behind the body.

Steadiness. The quality of stability in a posture, held together with its opposite rather than instead of it.

Also called: steadiness, stability

Ease. The quality of comfort and openness in a posture, held together with steadiness.

Also called: ease, comfort

The cervical and lumbar curves, which develop as a child lifts the head and comes upright against gravity.

Also called: secondary curve

The usual position an unusual shape begins from: standing, sitting, kneeling, supine, prone or arm support.

Also called: starting positions

What a pose does in the room: forward bend, backbend, side bend, twist, balance. It describes direction in space, and it is not the same as what the spine is doing.

Divides the body into upper and lower portions. Rotation commonly occurs in this plane.

Also called: horizontal plane

Pelvic, respiratory and vocal. Their combined tone shapes how freely the torso can change shape when you breathe.

Also called: diaphragms

A principle rather than a structure. A breath is suited to a situation, so the same pattern can be useful in one shape and unhelpful in another.

Involving one side of the body.

The action associated with the abdominal region and the respiratory diaphragm.

Also called: upward lock

The structures of the throat and larynx, described here as the uppermost of the three diaphragms.

Also called: vocal folds, larynx

Bending the palm toward the forearm.

Bringing the back of the hand toward the forearm.