How can even a basic working knowledge of anatomy inform and enhance someone’s yoga practice?
It keeps you interested and more sophisticated in intention and action. Skillful action is lining up what we do, say, and think. With asana, shifting from the automatic placement of arm, leg, and breath into a creative witnessing and a more nuanced appreciation of the exquisite and intricate architecture of the body makes it easier to access wonder and awareness. You’re not just going through the motions but expanding the frontiers of awareness while also honoring the body on its own terms. You’re getting into the body in a deeper, more involved way. You’re asking questions like: What is a knee? Why does it care which way it’s lined up? Can you recommend a simple, practical exercise someone can do at home to have an experience of embodied anatomy? Test your flexibility by doing a simple standing forward fold and note the distance between you and the floor. Then, sitting down, do a self-massage of the inner thigh using your elbow or thumbs. Most people will find “trigger points,” or pat
