Book Review: Yoga Anatomy

Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kiminoff and Amy Mathews will likely teach you more than you will ever need to know about yoga postures, movements and breathing techniques. It discusses various parts of the body and how their movements impact the internal organs, muscles and skeletal system. The book is for those who desire to take their yoga moves to the next level creating maximum flexibility. 

The book will only touch on some of the basics and will quickly move into medical terminology. It will discuss breathing, spine, skeletal muscle, muscular systems and the overall different types of poses and how they impact the body. It is probably way more than the recreational yoga enthusiast will ever need to know. 

For example, you may go into a lengthy description of how the muscles connect to the rib cage, how the lungs work and stretch as well as the different types of skeletal systems. After the general medical description there are also descriptions for each movement. Illustrations will show how the muscles and internal organs are impacted. 

As this book provides detail that recreational users will not need it is more for the yoga practitioner or those who desire to teach the activity. Most instructors do not have this knowledge and are unlikely able to answer these types of questions. However, if you are serious you can study how the entire body works in varying angles and postures. 

Why would someone want to engage in Yoga? Whether you play sports or are sitting in an office chair for most of the day it is beneficial to stretch from time to time. Maintaining your flexibility, retaining muscle tone, improving breathing, and reducing stress are some of the advantages. If you are into high activity sports this is one way to incorporate advanced stretching and flexibility.

Kaminoff, L. & Mathews, A. (2012). Yoga Anatomy. IL: Human Kinetics.

Kenpo as a Self-Defense and Fitness Sport

Kenpo is a street technique and self-defense sport. It has a number of benefits that include self-defense, agility, speed, and fitness. A healthy lifestyle includes being well rounded in a number of areas. This includes intellectual activities, artistic creation, spiritual engagement, sports, social engagement, civic engagement, and general fitness. This helps in fostering well rounded ability and perspective. 

We sometimes think that such things are for the very young but we cannot stop there. What we teach the youth is also important throughout our lives and helps us find a balance. We know that many people have a hard time staying committed to workout routines. There is some stress for people who have to go to the gym and find that exercise is boring. By incorporating various sporting activities you can engage in cross training.

The background of the sport is beneficial to understand. Kenpo was popularized by Ed Parker from Hawaii in the 1960-70’s. He adjusted the system from more ancient methods that date back a few hundred years.  It is believed that a Chinese monk brought the style to a Japanese monastery around the 15^th century. From there it has been adjusted and changed for Americans.  Modern practice is street oriented. 

The system seeks to create the fewest moves possible for defense. It is designed not to waste energy or motion and allow one to flee a difficult situation while immobilizing the opponent. I have engaged in the sport for some time and have learned that personality mixed with training is important. This is a sport for pure self-defense and fitness and should not be engaged by those who seek to intimidate others. 

Even though the video does show the basic moves it is first beneficial to understand the fundamental stances, blocks, and movements. Knowing the basics helps one to build the proper sequences that lead to flawless execution. If the basics are off then the rest of the sequences are likely to be misaligned creating a level of weakness in practice. Once incorporated into a poor habit it can be difficult to change.

The very first earned belt you will receive will be the yellow belt. You can get a feel for the sport in the video.