Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews

Translated into 19 different languages to date, it’s a global bestseller. Often referred to as the book on yoga anatomy.

The text had great praise from readers and educators on release in 2007. And its reputation has steadily grown since. This has led to Yoga Anatomy becoming required reading on most yoga teacher training courses.

The popularity of this book is, in part, down to its stunning anatomical illustrations. These help you to understand the structures and principles underlying each pose. This isn’t an exhaustive study of human anatomy. It’s only the most valuable information for students and teachers.

See how breathing exercises, body positioning and muscle activation are all interlinked. The in-depth knowledge provided by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews shows the whole picture. It’s easily one of our best yoga books for beginners.

The first half of the text covers different elements of yoga, including the breath, the spine, skeletal system and muscular system. Asanas are covered extensively in the second half. From breathing to standing poses, these chapters show you how specific muscles respond to the movements of the joints.