
Explore the anatomy of yoga beyond muscles and bones by studying organ systems, including the respiratory and nervous systems, to enhance teaching and student wellness.
Learn to earn Yoga Alliance continuing education credits for this anatomy-based course by obtaining and uploading your Udemy certificate and recording training hours toward your renewal.
Explore how neurons, building blocks of the nervous system, use dendrites, a branching trunk, and myelin to transmit electrical signals that become chemical neurotransmitters across synapses.
Explore the central nervous system and brain structures, including the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, and their roles in movement, sensation, memory, and emotion, with neuroplasticity through yoga and mindfulness.
Explore the peripheral nervous system as nerves leave the spinal cord, with sensory information rising via afferent neurons and motor information descending via efferent neurons.
Explore cranial nerve ten, the vagus nerve, its role in the relaxation response, and how humming, slow breathing, chanting, and laughter stimulate it to calm digestion and visceral organs.
Discover how spinal nerves interact with the spine, fascia, and circulation, and learn neural tension concepts, carpal tunnel risks, and nerve glides to support safe yoga practice.
Explore how Meccano receptors and proprio scepters collect touch, vibration, stretch, and pressure from skin, fascia, joints, and muscles, shaping body awareness and safe movement in yoga.
Explore the anatomy and function of the respiratory system, from the diaphragm and intercostals to alveoli and gas exchange, and how breathing shapes the nervous system and yoga practice.
Explore the core muscles: rectus abdominis, obliques, and transversus abdominis, and learn how rib cage and pelvis stability enhances breathing and yoga alignment.
Explore the cardiovascular system, focusing on the heart as a pump, arteries and veins, blood flow, oxygen delivery, waste removal, and how breathing and yoga support homeostasis.
Learn how arteries move blood away from the heart, veins return it, and capillaries exchange nutrients, while exploring how stress affects digestion and venous health through yoga.
Learn about the heart's circulation circuits—pulmonary, systemic, and cardiac—and how heart rate and breathing interact to shift toward parasympathetic rest in yoga practice.
Explore how inversions and other yoga poses affect blood pressure, heart rate, and circulation, with practical safety tips for high or low blood pressure, hydration, and stress management.
Explore the lymphatic system's structure and function, including lymph, vessels, and nodes, and how yoga and manual drainage support immune health and fluid movement toward the subclavian veins.
Explore how the lymphatic system relies on breathing-driven pressure changes, spine movements, and yoga sequences to pump lymph, support circulation, and aid immune function.
Explore the urinary system's kidneys, ureters, and urethra, and how filtration and fluid balance influence waste removal and blood pressure, alongside pelvic floor and diaphragm coordination in yoga.
Explore how the endocrine and exocrine systems interact with the nervous system to regulate stress, digestion, and homeostasis, and learn how yoga techniques support rest, recovery, and balance.
Trace the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis and the cascade of hormones, from estrogen to cortisol, that shape energy, sleep, stress, and mood, while linking endocrine glands to yoga’s energy centers.
Trace how chakras map to endocrine glands and psychology, linking emotions of safety, power, love, and communication with Maslow, Eriksson, and positive psychology in yoga practice.
This is part 2 in the "Anatomy of Yoga" workshop series to cover the way that the practice of yoga interacts with the body systems - This is where we go beyond just the muscles and bones to understand the organ systems! The information in this course is the basis for progressing your skills to become a more effective yoga teacher.
This course was designed for Yoga Teachers looking to deepen their understanding of body science. This course can also be utilized in your Yoga Teacher Training program (along with part 2 and 3) to fill the required 30 hours of Anatomy and Physiology training.
If you are already a yoga teacher- this is a great way to "fill in the gaps" if the Yoga Teacher Training you attended did not provide in depth information about the body.
I am am certified through both Yoga Alliance and the International Association of Yoga Therapists as a continuing education provider. Continuing education credits (non-contact) can be earned through the completion of this course. Upon course completion you will get a certificate from Udemy that you can submit on the Yoga Alliance dashboard.
This course was recorded LIVE as it was delivered over Zoom- so you can hear the students asking questions in real time. I utilize clear visuals in the form of slides that are provided as a downloadable PDF at the beginning of each section. I also utilize the Complete Anatomy App for detailed "virtual dissections" of the body. The best part is that you can work at your own pace and go back to review any information as needed...an essential part to fully absorbing the complex topic of anatomy.
The Topics Covered in Part 2 of the "Anatomy of Yoga" workshop series are:
- How yoga interacts with the nervous system
- The structure of the Neuron - the building block of the Nervous System
- The Central and Peripheral Nervous system
- The Vagus Nerve and the Relaxation Response
- The spinal Nerves
- Sensory input- the Language of the nervous system
- The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System
- How to activate the Relaxation Response
- Introduction to Polyvagal Theory
- The Sensory System and Sensory Diet Techniques
- The Respiratory System and how it interacts with Yoga
- The Core Muscles
- The Digestive System & how it interacts with Yoga
- The Cardiovascular System and how it interacts with Yoga
- The Lymphatic System and how it interacts with yoga
- The Immune System and how Yoga supports proper function
- The Urinary system and how yoga interacts with it
- The endocrine System and how it relates to the Subtle Body and Chakra System
- Psychology as it relates to the endocrine system
- Yoga Injury Prevention
- Utilizing Exercise Science to build resilience
- Alignment considerations in Yoga Safety
- Common Yoga Injuries and how to Prevent Them
These videos total over 10 hours of coursework and include 5 slide shows as detailed downloadable PDF resources. The remainder of coursework for the "Anatomy of Yoga" workshop series will be covered in the next segments of the course.
Each topic is discussed with a focus on how it relates directly to yoga practice.
The information is conveyed in a way that is applicable to what you do as a yoga teacher and how you can utilize this information to better meet the needs of your students.
Thank you for your interest in my course- I look forward to sharing my love of Yoga & Anatomy with you!
I hope you will join me on this journey to creating a generation of confident, well-educated & effective Yoga Teachers!
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Questions? Reach out to me through Udemy & I will get back to you as soon as possible!