What does a yoga teacher actually need to know about anatomy that has useful connections and practical applications to the reality of teaching?
I am very guilty of over learning, overly pursuing advanced anatomy, courses for physios and deep dives into fascia and cadaver work. Anatomy has become seen as a badge of knowledge in yoga, a beacon of superiority.
What we learned in yoga teacher trainings is pretty pointless but it is a great distraction and at the time we often feel it is something solid to lean on rather than explore the more esoteric self questioning and reflection aspects.There is often an incorrect over emphasis on avoiding injury and safety and practice through correction, adjustments, cueing and good form. We now know this is all disproven in many studies around movement, pain, exercise, form and posture.
Additionally, we often feel insecure or inadvertently invest in more and more courses that don’t change much for us or have any practical application they just feed our insecurities and vulnerabilities as teachers or have charismatic leaders and seductive marketing.
So what DO we need? What is helpful? If I had my time over I would take a look at understanding how to find things out and question them as a starting point and then these 16 points of focus below as a priority, in no particular order.
– What an injury actually is, its equation and understanding what it takes to damage tissue.
– The value of movements such as push, pull, press etc that are not just about going harder, faster or increasing numbers.
– How the body and its tissues heal and their timescales. If you are a teacher who touches people this one has massive impact.
– Active versus passive understanding.
– Differences and characteristics of both chronic and acute pain.
– Types of joints and what they do. Also the muscles roles.
– Ranges of motion, what is over extension, what is considered normal and should we correct or advise.
– Skeletal variability and uniqueness, does it matter and how we teach around it.
– The role of nervous system role and movement permission.
– Group class versus private class dynamic. How this impacts on learning and understanding the body for attendees.
– The limitations of the role of teacher, robust referral policies and the dangers of overstepping.
– Anti-fragility and movement optimism language.
– Instead of demonstrating expertise demonstrate understanding and permission, amplify agency.
– Basic pain science and understanding.
– Breath mechanics and its impact on the body systems and performance.
I would say the most impactful learning for me has been understanding pain education, pain science and its whole field. It isn’t just about teaching people with injuries but gives,in my opinion, the ultimate understanding of how we work as individual humans (not a random cross section in an anatomy book)and ties closer to the heart of the more philosophical teachings of yoga and indeed The Gita.