David Keil: Yoga Anatomy - DVD Review: Volumes 1 and 2

Thank you Christine for recovering the post I thought I had lost and that Google never recovered!


I watched both DVDs from David Keil over the weekend.  The subject, anatomy, is dry unless you are into it, but David finds a way to make it meaningful from the perspective of a yoga practitioner and or aspiring or current teacher. He covers a huge amount of territory.

I thought, looking at the cover, that it would have humor in it, but in reality the DVD is very serious and other than the occasional and rare joke (yes looks like the skeleton has his skull empty), it is a very focused and a valuable resource for practitioners that want to know more about what goes on inside the body.

David points out that there is a lot of elements in anatomy, but, just like in yoga, it is important to gather them all together, they are not separate systems, they are all very interrelated, and throughout the lecture you get the sense of how each part connects with the other.

I found the first DVD in the series valuable in the way of learning the basic terminology, i.e.: "distal and proximal" "lateral vs. medial" "rotation" etc.  The explanation is clear. As well as some formulas he makes to remember some names (bone name + letter "O" + Joint name).

I do not pretend that I have learned and I am now versed on all terms and nuances. Anatomy is a profound subject, but I feel I have a go to place, and I will probably watch it again, and again, when necessary.

DVD II opens with the psoas, which is the “center of gravity that controls our center of movement, and that is why it gets to be included in what is known as "core" (psoas, abdominal muscles etc)". 

A large chapter talks about back pain and addresses disks herniation, then gives ideas on how to treat back pain on which he separates two specific lines of thoughts, those who think that to treat it:

a) The abdominal muscles have to be strengthened, and 

b) those who think that the abdominal muscles need to be released.   

He believes that the releasing of the abdominal muscles may help those who sit for most of the day as the tissues will tend to shorten due to posture and the ribs and pubic bone become closer together (hunching, -my word-). Overall, of course he points you need to look at each individual,ala Krishnamacharya, to see what is happening in their organism before making any recommendations. It is a great talk.

He then talks, among a few other chapters, about the diaphragm and has an exposition on similarities between the lower and upper body.

David Keil

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I would say it is interesting to see anatomy in this form, meaning conversation rather than book, although I wish there were more drawings and animations, never the less as it stands the video is a pretty good resource to have around.

Not so long ago David actually took the time to answer my nutation question, for which I am grateful, and that post continues to be on the "most read" list.  I guess there is quite a bit of interest in anatomy out there.

For David's website go here

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