Yoga Poses by Anatomy

Donkey kicks are common as you learn this challenging but ultimately graceful pose.

Dial in to the details for greater integrity in your forward folds.

These stretches can help.

Sage Rountree presents two key stretches for the shoulders.

Let music move you through this chakra-focused, confidence-boosting flow.

Feel ease and increase flexibility in your hips with three propped hip-opening poses.

Free yourself from ordinary back pain by doing these five simple poses each day.

Road tripping? Leave stiff muscles behind with these poses targeted at car-bound bodies.

Move toward advanced backbends while keeping your shoulders safe and supported.

Try out this twisting sequence to rejuvenate your spine and boost energy.

Stave off back and neck pain with better posture.

Learn one simple alignment technique and three common poses to ensure pain-free backbends.

Learn key actions to open tight spots and enjoy Shoulderstand.

Find steadiness inside and out with this powerful leg-strengthening sequence.

Sage Rountree takes on the bane of athletes and yogis everywhere: tight hamstrings.

A combination of stretching and strengthening through yoga asana can balance sore and tired lower legs.

A student's question in class brings up an important discussion about protecting the knees in Fire Log Pose.

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Check out YJ Editors's author page.

Check out YJ Editors's author page.

Twister, anyone? The pose that ties you up in knots also loosens up your mind, as you ride the wave of wobble.

Alignment is essential for the health of the knees. Unfortunately, practicing Triangle Pose too often without its counterpose can create an imbalance in the joint. Lean how to stay safe.

Grit your teeth and curse your teacher or give your body the support it needs to get more out of the pose.

Strengthen your lower back, free yourself from back pain in seated poses, and skillfully deepen your forward bends.

Free yourself from ordinary back pain by doing these 5 simple poses each day.

Learn to pay more attention to how you come in and out of Uttanasana and less to where you end up.

Check out Katherine Griffin's author page.

Learn the grounding and backbending actions of Fish Pose for focus, energy, and a mood boost.

Stretch your hamstrings without straining your spine. Learn the basics of Supta Padangusthasana.

Strong and supple pelvic floor muscles help you stay high and dry.

Take a playful approach to building strength and flexibility in your torso with arm balances.

Yogis do it better—yet again. Trade your slouch for a squat to strengthen your ankles and abs and extend your spine.

Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

Liberate your upper body for better backbending by focusing on your latissimus dorsi muscles.

Put your feet through basic training for a strong, light, and lifted Warrior 1.

Take a spin in Bharadvaja's Twist to massage your abdominal organs and stretch your spine, shoulders, and hips.

There's a great divide among yoga teachers about the correct way to use the glutes in backbends. Get the backstory.

To enjoy all the benefits a forward bend has to offer, find just the right amount of rounding in your back.

Once you find balance in Half Moon Pose, radiate and extend in all directions to strengthen your legs, hips, and core.

The best preparation for a big backbend is a baby one. Locust Pose works the actions and strength needed for bigger bends.

Learning the fundamentals of this key yoga pose sets a strong foundation for the rest of your practice.

Keeping your hip points squared straight ahead may not always be best in twists.

One poetic translation of Camatkarasana means "the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart."

Stand strong and avoid injury by learning how to prevent hyperextension of this vulnerable joint.

Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

Prepare for inversions by strengthening your arms and core in Dolphin Pose.

One of yoga's most versatile backbends, Bridge Pose can fire you up or cool you down depending on what you need.

Frustrating as it can be, Parsvottanasana is key for increasing hamstring and shoulder flexibility. Learn how to work it.

Use your breath to open your chest and backbend mindfully into Upward-Facing Dog Pose.

Try this simple Kundalini practice to maintain focus and improve memory.

These muscles are the target of all those hip-openers you do. But they need more than just stretching.

Forget destination and let Upavistha Konasana take you on an inner journey. Here are your directions, enjoy the ride.

Help even your stiffest students get the most from sidebends.

A toned backside is a beautiful thing, especially when you learn to relax your posterior hip muscles.

…and get the maximum benefit from this hip opener.

The perfect microcosm of yoga, Downward-Facing Dog Pose can change your entire practice—maybe even life.

Learn how mastering the subtle actions of the rotator cuff in a Down Dog each day can keep painful injuries at bay.

Learn the fundamentals of how to safely come into Marichyasana III.

Don't let tight quadriceps keep you from one of yoga's most relaxing poses: Supta Virasana.

This side-reclining pose stretches the backs of the legs, the sides of the torso, and tones the belly.

When you practice Standing Splits focus on the stretch in your quad and hamstring, not how high you can lift your leg.

This arm balance, Bhujapidasana, relies more on precise positioning than on strength, making it more accessible for students beginning an arm balancing practice.

This pose gently brings a greater awareness to the hip joints.

According to Hindu lore, the Peacock symbolizes immortality, love, and patience. Peacock Pose, called Mayurasana in Sanskrit, works to lovingly strengthen the core while stretching the palm side of the wrists.

"Four-Limbed Staff Pose" says it all. This pose becomes much easier when the rest of your body pitches in. Learn how to get the most out of this challenging pose.

Low Lunge, or Anjaneyasana in Sanskrit, stretches the thighs and groins and opens the chest. It provides recovery post-workout, and boosts energy while consciously working to improve posture.

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II allows you to stretch the entire front body and deep into the hip flexors to strengthen your back and improve posture.

Prasarita Padottanasana is not only the perfect prep for standing poses but for your cool-down, too.

This variation of High Lunge, sometimes called Crescent Pose, is a great preparation for the full version of Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose).

While neck rolls and stretches can be great for calming stressed students, they're not safe for everyone. Here, discover the two things you should be wary about, and how to teach yoga exercises for the neck safely to your students.

Richard Rosen tells the story of Virabhadra and how you can use Warrior II to improve balance and build strength.

Find length in front body before forward folding in Ardha Uttanasana.

Urdhva Hastasana translates to "Raised Hands Pose," but it is also sometimes called Talasana, the Palm Tree Pose.

Counteract the effects of Modern-Day Sitting Syndrome by lengthening your hip flexors in High Lunge.

According to Reuters, recent studies conducted in Sweden and India show that yoga can reverse biochemical changes associated with high blood pressure, obesity, and high blood sugar. Waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglycerides were significantly lower, and "good"...

Help your students fully experience the benefits of Corpse Pose (Savasana), through the exploration of their anatomy.

Check out Timothy McCall MD's author page.

Forget crunche, have you met Urdhva Prasarita Padasana? It's a key yoga ab toner and back strengthener.

Check out YJ Editor's author page.

Check out YJ Editors's author page.