Yoga Teacher Blind Spot: Anatomy

If anatomy is your blind spot, you're not alone. The way anatomy is taught in your average yoga teacher training doesn't easily translate to movement and different bodies. You might have only had 15 hours of anatomy in your training and much of that anatomy may have been learning the names of muscles and bones and what those muscles and bones are doing in yoga poses. 

This approach to anatomy gives you a limited understanding, not just of anatomy but also how to apply that to real life and real people. Anatomy education for yoga teachers needs to go beyond memorizing muscles and instead give teachers the tools to adapt, troubleshoot, and teach variations for all the different people who come to your classes. 

What if anatomy feels overwhelming?

When we're taught anatomy from a non-movement perspective, it can feel like you're back in school having to study for an important test full of information that you'll later forget because it's not applicable!

When in reality, some of the best yoga teachers don't have all the bones and muscle names memorized. What makes them stand out is their understanding of how the body moves. 

- Effective teachers have learned an approach to anatomy that gives them clarity around how joints need to move for optimal health and longevity. 

- They know the difference between active and passive stretches and how to apply them in different poses and for different abilities. 

- They know how to bring anatomy to life, to movement, to each of their individual students in their classes. 

- They learn anatomy from an embodied and functional perspective. 

- They've learned the foundations of movement, or what we at Heart + Bones call, Movement ABCs. The ABC's don't care if you know the difference between the Vastus Lateralis or the Vastus Medialis. The Movement ABC's help those body parts move the knee and hip better. 

So... it's not you, it's the way anatomy is typically taught to yoga teachers. 

How to improve your applied and embodied anatomy understanding

• Move and learn from an anatomy-informed approach to yoga. Go back into your beginner's mind, to that curious learner inside of you and start exploring the foundations of movements. 

• Find teachers or training that focuses on an anatomy-informed approach that makes your teaching easier, not more complicated.

• Feel it in your body. What do your hip joints feel like when they move? 

Integrating these three things are a game-changer for your teaching. You'll be able to feel more confident in who you are as a teacher, how you help people, as well as being able to teach more welcoming and inclusive classes. 

Ready to go beyond your typical yoga teacher training?

Our Heart + Bones Yoga Teacher Certification is designed to help you grow, not just as a yoga teacher, but as a confident, authentic leader in your community. Here’s how you’ll stand out:

1. Honour the tradition: Learn how to uphold yoga’s time-honoured teachings while offering classes that are inclusive and avoid cultural appropriation.
2. Teach sustainable practices: Gain a deeper understanding of the ‘why’ behind traditional cues and adapt them for accessibility, making your teaching more sustainable and safe for all.
3. Bridge theory and practice: Feel confident in applying movement education and anatomy to real-life classes, so you can offer variations that work for every body.
4. Master sequencing: Develop the skills to adapt poses and sequences in a way that is safe, accessible, and welcoming to all levels.
5. Build a connected community: Grow alongside like-minded teachers and mentors in a supportive environment that helps you refine your teaching and find your unique voice.

It’s time to expand your impact and teach in a way that feels aligned with your values—this is yoga teacher training, redefined.