Yoga Anatomy

Skeletal joint actions

Spine Upper limbs Lower limbs

Cervical and upper thoracic
flexion, lower thoracic and
lumbar extension

Scapular adduction, down-

ward rotation, and eleva-

tion; shoulder extension

and adduction; elbow

flexion; forearm supination;

wrist dorsiflexion

Hip extension and adduction,

knee extension, ankle dor-

siflexion

Muscular joint actions

Spine

To calibrate concentric and eccentric
contractions to support spine:
Spinal extensors and flexors

Eccentric contraction

To resist flexion from weight of body:

Cervical spinal extensors

Upper limbs

Concentric contraction

To adduct, elevate, and downwardly rotate
scapula:
Rhomboids, levator scapulae
To stabilize shoulder joint and prevent
protraction of head of humerus:
Rotator cuff

To extend and adduct shoulder joint:

Triceps brachii (long head), teres major,

posterior deltoid

To flex elbow and supinate forearm:

Biceps brachii, brachialis

To support rib cage:

Flexors of wrist and hand

Lower limbs

Concentric contraction

To resist leg falling toward face:
Hamstrings, gluteus maximus
To extend, adduct, and internally rotate hip:
Adductor magnus, gracilis

To extend knee:

Vastii

(continued)