YogaWorks Final Exam

Question 1

Give three cues for legs for feet and legs in Adho Mukka Svanasana

Answer 1

Press thighs back; release heels to the floor; feet hips distance apart and parallel; reach back evenly with the inner and outer thighs; lengthen the toes; second toe in line with the center of heel; press down evenly through the feet

Question 2

Name and show three planes of anatomical movement

Answer 2

Saggital - Flexion/Extension; Coronal - Adduction/Abduction; Transvers - Rotation

Question 3

Name 3 benefits of Salamba Sarvangasana

Answer 3

“Queen” of asanas; cooling, caliming, soothing to the nervous system; balance functioning of the endocrine system; reduces fluid retention (edema) in the legs and feet; regulates elimination

Question 4

Define Vritti. What are the 5 vrittis?

Answer 4

Vritti - Mental modifications that disturb the peace; Memory, imagination/verbal delusion, deep sleep, misconception/illusion, knowledge.

Question 5

*Name or show 1 transitional pose for Urdhva Dhanurasana

Answer 5

Jathara Parivartanasana; any twist

Question 6

What is the difference between Sprain and Strain?

Answer 6

Strain - Pull or overstretch of the tendon or muscle; Sprain - tear or overstretch of the ligament

Question 7

Explain why linking 5 poses or more on one side might be injurious?

Answer 7

Tiring to one side; send the body out of balance; you lose alignment and make it difficult to stabilize

Question 8

*What’s at risk in Badha Konasana?

Answer 8

Knees; Lower back

Question 9

Name one asana to assess whether a student is ready for sirsasana? What are you looking for?

Answer 9

Dolphin; Looking for strength and openness in the arms/shoulder; Openness of thoracic spine

Question 10

Define Avidya.

Answer 10

Ignorance.

Question 11

What simple chant comes from the Mandukya Upanishad?

Answer 11

Aum

Question 12

Describe how to assist someone in AMV.

Answer 12

Sit against the wall, squeeze legs on their shoulders, lift hips;

Question 13

In YogaWorks style sequence, which comes 1st: Parivrtta Trikonasana or V2?

Answer 13

V2

Question 14

What does RSI stand for?

Answer 14

Repetitive Stress Injury

Question 15

What does Upanishad mean?

Answer 15

To sit near; sitting down near

Question 16

Provide English translations for AMS, Vrksasanda, Sukhasana.

Answer 16

Downward Dog, Tree Pose, Contented space / easy pose

Question 17

Define in Sanskrit and English Sutra 1.1

Answer 17

Atha Yoga Anushasanam - Now begins the instruction of Yoga.

Question 18

Define in Sanskrit and English Sutra 1.2

Answer 18

Yogas Chitts Vritti Nirodhah - Yoga is the ceasing of the modifications of the mind.

Question 19

What is the non-anatomical name for Ischial Tuberosities?

Answer 19

Sitting bones

Question 20

What kind of a twist is not appropriate for pregnant women?

Answer 20

Closed twists.

Question 21

What muscle if tight prevents the hips from squaring in V1?

Answer 21

Psoas, hip flexor;

Question 22

Name 3 Kleshas in Sanskrit and English.

Answer 22

Avidya- ignorance; Asmita- ego; Rajas- attachment/desire; Dvesa- dislike/aversion; Abhinivesa- source of fear/attachment to life.

Question 23

What’s at risk in Parivrtta trikonasana?

Answer 23

Lower back

Question 24

Which has greater range of motion, hip or knee?

Answer 24

Hip

Question 25

Define Simple Action. Give an example.

Answer 25

An action that does not throw the body out of balance. Ex: Firming the hips in

Question 26

In a YogaWorks sequence, which comes first? V1 or Utthita Trikonasana (excluding sun salute)?

Answer 26

UT

Question 27

Define RICE.

Answer 27

Rest Ice Compression Elevate

Question 28

Define Complementary Action, give example.

Answer 28

An action that moves the body in the same direction as another action and reinforces the effect of that action. Lift the frontal hipbones and drop the buttock flesh down.

Question 29

Name 3 contraindications for inversions.

Answer 29

Eye problems; Menstruation; Wrist/shoulder/neck problems; History of Stroke; high blood pressure; serious osteoporosis; weakness; pregnancy

Question 30

Name 3 gunas and define them.

Answer 30

Rajas, Sattva and Tamas. Sattva- balances; Tamas- decreased/inertia; Rajas - increased/energized

Question 31

What are the 3 things that shoulders are doing in Sirsasana?

Answer 31

Reaching away from the ears; externally rotating; pressing shoulder blades into the back ribs; broaden collarbones.

Question 32

Name two prep poses for Urdhva Dhanurasana.

Answer 32

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana; Salabhasana

Question 33

What’s at risk in Prasarita Padottanasana? Name 1 body part.

Answer 33

Outer ankles, hamstrings, lower back.

Question 34

What are the 3 platforms in the body and what do they protect?

Answer 34

Feet protect knees, pelvic protect lower back, shoulders protect neck.

Question 35

What 3 general actions need to be done at every platform?

Answer 35

Align, Stabilize, Elongate

Question 36

Name a pair of counteractions in the pelvis and legs in Tadasana.

Answer 36

Press the thighs back, release the tailbone to the floor.

Question 37

In Salamba Sarvangasana, upper arms root down and what is rebounding?

Answer 37

Everything above it; thoracic spine

Question 38

List Patanjali’s 8 limbs

Answer 38

Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi

Question 39

Define Klesha

Answer 39

A mental state that clouds the mind, providing an obstacle to Purusa (there are 5).

Question 40

What kind of joint is the knee? Name all movements at knee and and in relation to the anatomical planes.

Answer 40

Modified hinge / condyloid. Saggital: flexion and extension. Transverse: rotate.

Question 41

What do the biceps and the triceps do?

Answer 41

Biceps: supinates the forearm; flexes the arm at the elbow; Triceps: extends the arm at the elbow.

Question 42

What do the quads and hamstrings do?

Answer 42

Quads flex the leg at the hip and extend the leg at the knee; The hamstrings flex the knee.

Question 43

Name 2 counterposes to sirsasana.

Answer 43

Tadasana; salamba sarvangasana

Question 44

Define Citta.

Answer 44

Mind/mind-stuff

Question 45

How loud should Ujayi breath be?

Answer 45

Your neighbor may hear you, but not across the room.

Question 46

What is the root cause of suffering?

Answer 46

Ignorance

Question 47

What kind of joint is the hip? Name all movement of the hip in relation to anatomical planes.

Answer 47

Ball and socket. (hip and shoulder). flexion/extension in saggital plane; ab/adduction in coronal; rotation in transverse; circumduction in all three.

Question 48

What are arms and shoulders doing in AMS? Name 3 things

Answer 48

forearms internally rotate; externally rotating shoulders; shoulders away from ears.