Exam Qs Flashcards
When standing on one leg in a pose what is the queue for the pelvic girdle?
Firm the outer hip in toward midline
What is the definition of Sutra?
Thread
Name 2 alignment points for Sirsasana
External rotation of the upper arms, root down through the outside edge of the hands and the forearms.
Name the 3 elements of Kriya Yoga
Tapas, svadhyaya, ishvara pranidhana
What is an example of a repetitive stress injury and a pose?
Chaturanga, shoulder injury
What does root and rebound mean?
Ground down and energetically lift up
What is the best pose to start a beginner class with?
Savasana
What is a pelvic girdle queue for handstand?
Spin the inner thighs in and back as you release the frontal hip points down toward the ribs.
What is Sutra 2.46 in Sankskrit and English?
Sthira sukham asanam, Asana is a steady, comfortable posture.
The only sutra that mentions asana.
What types of poses do you queue the wheels of motion?
Backbends and asymmetrical neutrals
How can you know when a student is ready to invert in inversions with shoulder extension and scapular downward rotation?
They can draw their arms behind them
They can interlace their fingers behind them without dragging shoulderblades down or hyperextending elbows
They can externally rotate their upper arms
They can move their upper back/good degree of thoracic mobility
They can hold their body up against gravity
What are some benefits of ujjayi pranayama?
Internal heat, calms the mind, boosts mood and brings consciousness to breathing.
Two benefits of forward poses
stretch back body
strengthen front body
relaxing/calming
counter backbends
What actions do you instruct for the torso in paschimottansana to maintain a long spine?
west side intense stretch pose - lengthen from the pubis to navel, navel to sternum
Two benefits of twisting poses
Wringing out and soaking cells w/new blood and oxygen.
Massaging internal organs and glands
Strengthen postural muscles
Aids in digestion and elimination
Two conditions that indicate you should avoid twists
herniated discs
pregnancy
recent abdominal surgery
back issues
Looking at the body from the side, which four body landmarks align vertically in standard Tadasana or Sirsasana alignment?
ankles
hips
shoulder
ear
Describe the two thoracic wheels and pelvic wheel.
They are used to give queues that protect and elongate the spine in backbends and asymmetrical neutrals.
What are the two main hip extensor muscles?
Glute Maximus and hamstring
What is the correct sequence of actions that safely instruct how to tilt the head to look up in upward facing dog?
Draw the thoracic spine forward
Lift the top chest
Tilt the head back slightly
Which areas of the body are at risk if we repeatedly sit in Dandasana and forward bends w/out proper support under the hips and w/out proper actions in the body?
hamstrings, si joint, lower back
In bent leg poses, where is the weight shifted to and why?
heel, protect the knee joint, activate hamstring
In straight leg poses, where is the weight shifted to and why?
ball of the foot, offset tendency to hyperextend
For straight leg poses, what asana point would you teach to emphasize external rotation of the thigh?
Wrap the front buttock under
What is the neutral curvature of the thoracic spine?
It curves which way toward the sternum?
kyphotic
back (posteriorly)
Four joints make up the shoulder girdle, which TWO are we focused on?
Glenohumeral
scapulothoracic
Define carrying angle and which angle is best to view a student in AMS for excessive carrying angle?
What action can you queue for excessive carrying angle?
When your arms are held out at your sides and your palms are facing forward, your forearm and hands should normally be about 5 to 15 degrees away from your body.
- From the side
- lift the forearms
Which is a true joint - ulna and wrist or radius and wrist?
radius and wrist
Which movements of the gleno-humeral joint occur in Salamba Sarvangasana?
Extension and external rotation
Why do we use blankets in shoulderstand?
To protect the natural curves of the cervical spine, to avoid overstretching delicate blood vessels and nerves
Which muscles rotate the spine in twisting poses?
internal and external obliques
Which of the following structures of the spine are at risk with twisting poses?
a. ligaments around SI joints
b. intervertebral discs
c. lower back muscles
d. all of the above
all of the above
Name the two planes through which knee movement occurs and the three movements of the knee joint
sagittal and transverse
extension, flexion and some rotation
Name the four abdominal muscles from surface to deepest
rectus abdominus
external and internal
transverse abdominus
For someone with very flexible hamstrings and gluteal muscles, what instructions would you give in Uttanasana?
Release the sitting bones down toward the heels
What does Vinyasa Krama mean and what is the relevance to the asana practice?
It is a step by step approach that is progressive and methodical.
By linking poses together consistently through a constant practice you develop skills and build strength.
List two benefits of backbends
heart opening
counter the typical seated position at a desk