103: Language Of Anatomy

Although yoga is ultimately a practice that addresses all layers of human experience (including the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual), we generally practice hatha yoga through creating shapes and movements with our physical body. Because the physical body is an instrument of the practice, it is important for us to have a robust understanding of functional movement. By learning anatomical language, we are able to more clearly see, understand, and describe human movement, which gives us a common language with other health professionals and sets a foundation for understanding anatomy.

Note for CE Credits: If you are a current teacher taking this course for Yoga Alliance CE credits, you may submit for 1 hour of credit in Anatomy and Physiology via the Yoga Alliance website. 

In this course, you will learn to:

  • Describe three reasons that understanding anatomical language is useful for a yoga teacher.

  • Demonstrate anatomical position and use anatomical language to describe postures.

  • Perform and identify the movements that are possible in the three planes.

Course Curriculum

103: Language Of Anatomy

    1. START HERE

    2. HOW TO TAKE THIS COURSE

    3. COURSE MATERIALS

    4. Q&A

    1. JOURNAL REFLECTION

    2. INTRODUCTION TO LESSON ONE

    3. OVERVIEW OF THE PLANES

    4. LESSON SUMMARY

    1. INTRODUCTION TO LESSON TWO

    2. THE SAGITTAL PLANE

    3. LESSON SUMMARY

    1. INTRODUCTION TO LESSON THREE

    2. THE CORONAL PLANE

    3. LESSON SUMMARY

    1. INTRODUCTION TO LESSON FOUR

    2. THE TRANSVERSE PLANE

    3. LESSON SUMMARY

    1. INTRODUCTION TO LESSON FIVE

    2. USING ANATOMICAL LANGUAGE

    3. REVIEW ACTIVITY

    4. CHAIR POSE: DECONSTRUCTED

    5. LESSON SUMMARY

About this course

  • $45.00
  • 23 lessons

Enroll Now

Student Reviews

5 star rating

Anatomy Language Made Easy

Gillian Bayley

From having a very limited understanding of anatomy and it's language, this has been a great start to getting my head around it. Very interesting and easy t...

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From having a very limited understanding of anatomy and it's language, this has been a great start to getting my head around it. Very interesting and easy to understand tutoring from a great teacher!

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5 star rating

Deepening my practice

Laurel Newnham

This course really helped me better understand how to describe movement and position in my body and for potentially teaching yoga. Rachel's descriptions are ...

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This course really helped me better understand how to describe movement and position in my body and for potentially teaching yoga. Rachel's descriptions are clear and full of opportunity for practice. Looking forward to continuing my studies of yoga anatomy on and off the mat.

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Meet Your Instructor

E-RYT 500, LMT, MFA, MS Rachel Scott

Teacher trainer, author and ERYT 500 instructor, Rachel has spent thousands of hours leading YTTs, mentoring teachers and helping students uncover and express their voice, passion and potential by building the pragmatic skills that they need to share their own teaching voice with confidence.

To build this robust and transformational YTT, she combined her extensive academic training as an educator (M.Sci Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies, BA Columbia University, Phi Beta Kappa) with her cumulative experience as a trainer, teacher, and mentor.

An anatomy nerd, Rachel is also a licensed massage therapist and has spent hundreds of hours in the cadaver lab. Her books include, "Yoga for Mind, Body & Spirit," "Living Yoga," and "Head Over Heels: A Yogis' Guide to Dating." Connect with her on Instagram and YouTube @rachelscottyoga.