Yoga Medicine Final Exam Questions

Question 1

All of the following poses activate or strengthen the gluteus maximus EXCEPT ______.

Answer 1

Uttanasana (standing forward fold)

Question 2

As a teacher, when teaching the chakras, it is key for you to have your students take the time to notice where they are starting from.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Bandhas & mudras support & direct the flow of energy during yoga practice.

Answer 3

TRUE

Question 4

Contraindications for Eka pada rajakapotasana (pigeon) include ______.

Answer 4

Hip labral tears, , Knee pain or injuries

Question 5

Drishti means ______.

Answer 5

point of visual or mental focus and intelligence and wisdom

Question 6

Garudasana (eagle) requires:

Answer 6

Flexion of the hip, adduction of the hip, &; adduction of the arms

Question 7

In Anjaneyasana (crescent lunge), the following cues all aim to support the lumbar: sacrum lengthens toward floor; cinch waist;front ribs back toward spine.

Answer 7

TRUE

Question 8

In Ardha chandrasana (half moon pose), the standing leg/hip rotation

Answer 8

standing leg’s hip in external rotation

Question 9

In backbends, the pelvis should be

Answer 9

anteriorly in backbends

Question 10

In Chaturanga (low push up) the biceps are

Answer 10

Concentric Contractions (Muscle Actively Shortening)

Question 11

In general, when cueing you will inhale and exhale with which movements.

Answer 11

Inhale when opening the front of the body. …

Exhale while compressing the front of the body. …

Question 12

In Indian philosophy, the Vedas & Upanishads are considered to be of lesser authority than the Bhagavad Gita.

Answer 12

FALSE

Question 13

In order to stabilize the shoulder, you must stabilize the ______.

Answer 13

Scapula & the humeral head

Question 14

In Upavistha konasana (wide-angle seated forward bend), which of the following is lengthening/stretching the most?

Answer 14

Semimembranosus & semitendinosus

Question 15

In Utthita trikonasana (extended triangle or triangle), you are looking for Tadasana alignment in the torso.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

In Vasisthasana (side plank), it is important to:

Answer 16

A - ?

Question 17

In Virabhadrasana A (warrior 1), the feet are on a heel-to-heel intersection, or on a tightrope.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

In Virabhadrasana B (warrior 2), the front leg is internally rotated & the back leg is externally rotated.

Answer 18

FALSE

Question 19

In Virabhadrasana B (warrior 2),

Answer 19

The front knee flexes, the front hip flexes, the back hip extends, the back foot rotates internally, the torso extends, the arms abduct, the forearms rotate internally.

Question 20

In Vrksasana (tree), the bent knee should be pointing:

Answer 20

To the side only as much as
you can while keeping the
pelvis facing forward.

Question 21

Incorporating visualization techniques into your meditation or yoga practice taps into which chakra?

Answer 21

Ajna - the 6th chakra

Question 22

Many schools of Indian philosophy contrast two aspects of existence: Purusha & Prakriti; Purusha is described as being changeless & eternal, consciousness, non-doing or witnessing.

Answer 22

TRUE

Question 23

Parsvottanasana (pyramid) will primarily stretch ______.

Answer 23

Semimembranosus &

semitendinosus

Question 24

Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, which lead progressively to liberation, include ______.

Answer 24

The Yamas, the
Niyamas, Asana & Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana,
Dhyana & Samadhi

Question 25

Poses that stretch Gluteus Medius include ______.

Answer 25

Supine twist, Gomukhasana (cow face), Ardha matsyendrasana (half lord of the 􀃘shes or seated twist)

Question 26

Starting with the deepest layer, which of the following are the layers of the joint?

Answer 26

Bone, cartilage, joint capsule, ligaments, tendons, deep muscles, superficial muscles

Question 27

Tension in which muscle will be the LEAST likely to be a limiting factor for students in backbends with the arms overhead, like dancers or wheel pose?

Answer 27

Latissimus dorsi

Question 28

Tension in which of the following muscles will affect respiration the LEAST?

Answer 28

lats

Question 29

The benefits of meditation include:

Answer 29

f) All of the above

Question 30

The diaphragm is the primary muscle of relaxed breathing.

Answer 30

TRUE

Question 31

The essence of Patanjali's Sutra, the "two wings" of yoga practice, are ______.

Answer 31

Diligent practice & nonattachment

Question 32

The fascia creates a continuous web of support that connects & covers every muscle, nerve, blood vessel, bone & organ from head to toe.

Answer 32

TRUE

Question 33

The gluteus maximus must vigorously contract in backbends.

Answer 33

FALSE

Question 34

The hyaline/articular cartilage has very little direct blood supply & no nerve innervation.

Answer 34

True

Question 35

The ida & pingala nadis spiral around sushumna, crossing each other at each chakra. Through pranayama practices, such as alternate-nostril breathing, we can bring balance & equilibrium to the nadis & our energy bodies.

Answer 35

True

Question 36

The ligaments contain important sensory nerves to protect from over-stretching.

Answer 36

TRUE

Question 37

The lower arm in Gomukhasana arms (cow face) stretches what primarily?

Answer 37

Infraspinatus

Question 38

The primary function of the rotator cuff is to:

Answer 38

Stabilize the humeral head.

Question 39

The primary movement of the serratus anterior is ______.

Answer 39

Scapular protraction

Question 40

The psoas is the only muscle that connects the spine to the leg.

Answer 40

True

Question 41

To stretch the external rotators (including piriformis) you must take the hip into external rotation & flexion as you would in double pigeon.

Answer 41

True

Question 42

What are some qualities of Pitta?

Answer 42

Spreading, oily, hot, & | sharp

Question 43

What are the 3 major alignment cues for twisting standing poses?

Answer 43

Square hips, cinch waist, twist from thoracic spine

Question 44

What elements make up Kapha?

Answer 44

Earth & water

Question 45

What elements make up Vata?

Answer 45

Air & space

Question 46

What is the best modification for someone with wrist issues in Vasisthasana (side plank)?

Answer 46

Forearm on the floor

Question 47

What is the direct English translation of "Ayurveda"?

Answer 47

Life Knowledge

Question 48

What is the most refined state of Vata that animates & enlivens us?

Answer 48

Prana

Question 49

When teaching a class to balance Muladhara, the best poses to include in your sequence would be _____.

Answer 49

Hip openers

Question 50

Which is usually the most accessible stretch for the external rotators of the hip?

Answer 50

Figure 4

Question 51

Which muscle is of primary importance when transitioning through a sun salute to support/protect the lumbar spine?

Answer 51

Transverse abdominis

Question 52

Which muscle is primarily responsible for the action of knitting/drawing the front ribs back in something like crescent lunge or virabhadrasana A (warrior 1)?

Answer 52

Upper rectus abdominis

Question 53

Which muscle is the primary stabilizer of the pelvis when standing on one leg?

Answer 53

Gluteus medius

Question 54

Which muscle supports the lumbar spine & can be active through most of the practice because it is not dependent on the movement or position of the body?

Answer 54

Transverse abdominis

Question 55

Which muscles create the 3 pillars of deep support for the lumbar spine?

Answer 55

Quadratus lumborum, erector spinae & transverse abdominis

Question 56

Which muscles function to stabilize the scapula?

Answer 56

Rhomboids & serratus anterior

Question 57

Which of the following are the movements of the spine?

Answer 57

Flexion, extension, rotation, lateral flexion

Question 58

Which one of these is NOT an alignment principle for Urdhva mukha svanasana (upward facing dog)?

Answer 58

Tighten glutes

Question 59

Which pose is best to activate/strengthen piriformis?

Answer 59

Virabhadrasana B (warrior 2)

Question 60

Which muscle is the primary stabilizer of the pelvis when standing on one leg?

Answer 60

Gluteus medius

Question 61

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj", which means to yoke, join or unite.

Answer 61

True

Question 62

Backbends such as Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) facilitate spinal _______

Answer 62

Extension. Backbends extend the spine, while forward bends flex the spine.

Question 63

In Marjari Pose (the Cat Pose in Cat/Cow) what term describes the movement of the scapulas?

Answer 63

Protraction

Question 64

The head of the femur articulates with the _______ to form the hip joint

Answer 64

Acetabulum

Question 65

As you stand up from Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana) the hamstrings _______ contract, and as you fold down into Uttanasana the hamstrings _______ contract.

Answer 65

Concentrically, Eccentrically

Question 66

The _______ end of the humerus articulates with the scapula, and the _______ end of the humerus articulates with the radius and _______.

Answer 66

Proximal, Distal, Ulna. The proximal end (nearer to the body) of the humerus articulates with the scapula to form the shoulder joint, and the distal end (farther away from the body) articles with the radius and ulna to form the elbow joint.

Question 67

Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis are 3 of the 4 muscles that make up the rotator cuff. What is the 4th muscle?

Answer 67

Teres Minor

Question 68

What are the three main parts of the spine called

Answer 68

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar

Question 69

What four muscles make up the quadriceps?

Answer 69

Vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris

Question 70

Which quadricep muscle flexes the hips

Answer 70

Rectus femoris

Question 71

Which muscles create the 3 pillars of deep support for the lumbar spine?

Answer 71

Quadratus lumborum, erector spinae &; transverse abdominis