We often hear yogis complaining of injuries after their yoga sessions. There could be many reasons but the basic cause is the lack of knowledge of anatomy among the trainers, and this is not a healthy trend. Though there are some who does not think the study of anatomy is necessary yet it is one of the main subjects in yoga teacher training program. Experts opine that you need not have a deeper understanding of the anatomical science but you should have the basic understanding of the muscles, joints, and bones. This understanding helps him to better fulfill the needs of the students and prevent their back pain.
Let us see how the study of the different inner body parts helps in teaching yoga safely.
Working on the Bones
There are 206 bones in the body but a yogi needs to understand of only the major bones of the legs and arms. He should know about the structure of the spine as it is the backbone of the skeleton. An understanding about the bones would help yogis to understand which asanas can be ap which anatomical part of the body and which bones can cause injury during the yoga practice.
Working on the Muscles
Along with the bones, yogis should also have the understanding of the origins and insertions of the muscles to the bones. As muscles are arranged as per the function they perform, learning about these muscles as per the asanas gives yoga teachers an idea of which asana to teach. For instance, people suffering from shoulder dislocation will be taught asanas which would give strength to the surrounding muscles.
Joints of the body
Joints between the bones are most vulnerable parts of the body. For a yoga teacher, it is very important to understand the moment of the main joints, especially which are around arms and legs as well as the degree to which they rotate. The knowledge of the joint moments like the extension, rotation, and flexion helps yoga teachers to understand which moments would be safe in asanas.
Structure of the Spine
Spine supports the human skeleton and in many meditations poses as well as asanas its proper position is very important. A yoga teacher should knowabout the bones, discs as well as the nerves that pass through the skeleton. This knowledge would help teachers to properly guide students who are suffering from the chronic back problem.
Besides a good yoga teacher have a better understanding of the different movements in each yoga asana and how the way body integrates these structures. The basic movements include extension, external or internal rotation and flexion and so on. Shoulder blade or scapula also has the different type of movements like elevation, protraction, retraction, medial rotation and lateral rotation. A good yoga teacher should have knowledge of these movements while performing different asanas, as one mistake or overstretch or prolonged stationary position can cause strain or sprain.
It is very important to know about the potential risks that are associated with different asanas if they are not performed correctly. The knowledge of joint movements can help in assisting the beginners to avoid injuries which can be caused by overexerting the single joint.
With the knowledge of anatomy, a yoga teacher helps people who need rehabilitation after pregnancies, or if they are suffering from an ankle sprain, spinal deformities, dislocated shoulders etc. It also helps yogis to assess the problem area quickly and double the yoga’s beneficial effects.