Friday Book Report: Yoga Anatomy

I have read quite a few anatomy books.  Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews approaches the subject from a yogic perspective without neglecting the science.  They give an overview of the skeletal and muscular systems, discuss the anatomy of breathing, and then analyze what is happening anatomically in yoga poses.  One thing I particularly like about their take is this attitude toward improvement:  “Increasing flexibility and strength is a process of reeducating the nervous system through conscious attention and practice as much as it is about stretching and repetitions” (p. 63).

There is more detail than most people who show up to yoga class probably want, but there has been much food for thought for me as a movement professional.  I see lots to apply and ponder in this book.

Also, there are great illustrations.

Cardio therapy

When my younger son was little, he had some trouble controlling his temper.  Walking was one of the only things that helped him.  (Sadly, he had no sense of direction, so he could not go walk alone, which was what really helped, but that’s another story.)

I know he’s not the only one who finds exercise, and cardio in particular, a balm for the emotional upheaval of life.  Running from our problems may not work, but running may help solve them.

Take that heartache on a hike, that frustration to the gym, that anger to dance class.

Blow Them Up

A lot of things in my life weigh more than 15 pounds.  Fifteen pounds is not a lot of canned goods or books.  It’s a big load of laundry.  My dog lifts herself, but even she weighs more than 15 pounds.

Fifteen pounds is also the limit of what I am supposed to lift for the next week.

Limits can be hard to accept.  (Or understand, if we happen to be studying calculus.)  Unfortunately, they also exist.

Here’s the plan.  We accept that there are limits.  And then, as soon as we can, we blow them up.  We grow and change and attack new limits.

I’m looking forward to next week.