Essential Yoga Body Parts
Don't know what you're supposed to do when you're told to lift your sternum? Check this list out, and you will never hesitate on body part or muscle names again! If it is a hyperlink over the name it is possible for you to go deeper learning about the body part.
Core: usually thought of as the abdominal muscles or the muscles in the torso, but should really be considered as all of the inner muscles that stabilize your body, from the top of the head to the inner arches of your feet. Learn more.
Fascia: connective tissue, the tissue in between internal organs and muscles that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates them
Glutes/Gluteus maximus: the main extensor muscle of the hip (basically, the muscle that makes up your bum)
Hams/Hamstring: the muscle on the back of the thigh, between hip and knee
Hip flexor/ Iliopsoas: the muscles at the upper front of the thigh, close to the hip joint
Lats/Latissimus dorsi: the muscles that extend from the middle of the back, out towards the sides and up to the armpits
Oblique muscles/Obliiqus externus abdominis & Obliiqus internus abdominis: the muscles on the sides of the abdomen
Quads/Quadriceps femoris: a large muscle group including the four main muscles of the front thigh
Sit/Sitting bones: the two bony protrusions on the back of the pelvis, most easily felt when sitting on a hard surface
Sternum: the breastbone, the long narrow bone that runs vertically down the center of the chest
Sacrum: the triangular bone at the base of the spine, close to the tailbone
Tailbone: Coccyx: the small bones at the end of the spine
Torso: the upper body, excluding head and arms
Trapezius: the back muscles that extend from the base of the skull, over the shoulders and down over the shoulder blades to meet where the rib cage ends (so that it resembles the form of a trapezium/trapezoid)
