Yoga Anatomy

Muscular joint actions

Spine

To calibrate concentric and eccentric contractions and to maintain neutral alignment of spine:

Spinal extensors and flexors

Upper limbs

Top arm Bottom arm

Concentric

contraction

Passively

lengthening

Concentric

contraction

Passively

lengthening

To upwardly rotate

scapula:

Serratus anterior

To adduct scapula:

Rhomboids

To externally rotate

shoulder:

Infraspinatus, teres

minor

To flex arm over-

head:

Anterior deltoid

To pronate forearm:

Pronator teres

Triceps brachii, latis-

simus dorsi, teres

major, pectoralis

minor

To downwardly

rotate and adduct

scapula:

Lower trapezius,

rhomboids

To internally rotate

shoulder:

Subscapularis

To internally rotate

and extend shoul-

der:

Teres major, latissi-

mus dorsi

To extend arm:

Triceps brachii (long

head), posterior

deltoid

To flex elbow:

Biceps brachii

To supinate forearm:

Supinators

Biceps brachii (long

head), pectoralis

major, serratus

anterior, upper

trapezius

Lower limbs

Concentric contraction Passively lengthening

To externally rotate hip:

Obturator internus and externus, quadratus

femoris, piriformis, superior and inferior

gemellus

To externally rotate and flex hip and knee:

Sartorius

To flex knee:

Hamstrings

To flex and adduct leg:

Adductor longus and brevis

Gluteus medius and minimus

Gomukhasana (continued)