| ranked #5 out of 15 resources | rated 3.96 out of 5 | total 27 votes |
Scientific Keys Volume 1: The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga
Author: Ray Long MD FRCSC
Illustrator: Chris Macivor
Resource Type: Book
RRP: USD $48.00
Analysis:
- Written by a certified orthopedic surgeon who has studied hatha yoga for over two decades.
- The eyes of the skeleton is a little off-putting at first, but you soon get use to them. The content of this book is so detailed that it out-weighes this miniscule detail.
- Great illustrations of the skeletal and muscle framework in the context of yoga practice.
- Uses 3D, computer generated skeletal and muscle illustrations of asanas to show how yoga leverages bones, muscles and ligaments.
- The book is organized into 3 parts according to body sections (legs, truck and arms), then each chapter focuses on the major muscles in the body part.
- Very detailed explanation of the muscular system using scientific language.
- Details you can expect for each muscle description is: the origin and insertion of the muscle, the types of movements that can be made by the muscle, associated muscles that are antagonists and synergists.
- The scientific language is explained in the Terminology section of the book, which makes the book accessible to everyone, even those who have no clue about anatomy.
- It almost reads like a scientific anatomy book. This is a big bonus if you’re wanting to learn more about anatomy in an interesting context such as yoga.
- Beginners may not get much out of this book unless you have an expressed interest in anatomy.
- Advanced practitioners can expect to expand your asana understanding and possibly avoid injury using this book.
- Spiral bound, 165 pages, 400+ color 3D computer generated illustrations.
- This book has a 30 day money back guarantee.
Download a sample chapter (PDF format).
Compared to David Coulter’s Anatomy of Hatha Yoga:
Coulter’s illustrations are static drawings, similar to Gray’s Anatomy whereas Long’s illustrations are 3D computer generated images.
February 23, 2006 @ 9:39 am
Sue said,
Very detailed anatomy book, I was very pleased with it. It’s a very *dense* book in the sense of amount of content compared to amount of pages. The use of yoga asanas to illustrate points were well used.
I did notice an error with the description of Uddiyana Bandha, the book says it’s around the solar plexus area… maybe in other styles of yoga, but in Ashtanga it’s definitely about 2 inches below your belly button (navel).
I agree with the googly eyes thing… gives you the creeps, but you soon forget about it as you continue reading.
March 6, 2006 @ 4:48 pm
Kathryn said,
This book is great! I frequently refer to it while I teach stretch and strength classes. Students find the images extremely helpful for executing their moves correctly.
August 22, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
Patrick Stirling said,
In response to Sue’s comment: I think you’re thinking of Mula Bandha (pelvic floor lock). Uddiyana Bandha is the diaphragm lock and is level with the solar plexus, a bit above the belly button.
Anyway, this is a great book and is really helping me with my understanding of the muscles involved with each asana.