Book: Yoga Asana Physiology by Dr. Hermann Traitteur

A comprehensive and richly illustrated guide to the physiological effects of asanas. Written for yoga practitioners, yoga students, yoga teachers and aspiring teachers, as well as those working with yoga therapy, the book explains how asanas influence the body’s organs and physiological systems, combining medical knowledge with the teachings of Iyengar Yoga.

About the Book
Yoga Asana Physiology is a unique guide that bridges the worlds of physiology and yoga in a clear, practical, and accessible way.

The book explores the physiological effects of asanas on the body's major organ systems, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, reproductive, immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. Each chapter examines the anatomy and function of the relevant organs, their regulation and control, and the influence of the musculoskeletal system upon them. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding how individual asanas and sequences affect physiological processes throughout the body.

More than one thousand specially created illustrations help make complex concepts easy to understand and directly applicable to practice. The book distinguishes between classical asanas and supported asanas using props, demonstrating how different approaches can influence physiological responses.

Written in an accessible style, the book is suitable for readers without a medical background as well as experienced yoga teachers and healthcare professionals. Its particular value lies in its integration of modern physiology with the teachings of Iyengar Yoga, offering a systematic exploration of how yoga supports the health and functioning of the body's organs and systems. The final chapter broadens this perspective by presenting physiology through the lens of Āyurveda.

About the Author
Dr. Hermann Traitteur is a physician with an orthopedic background, yoga therapist, and long-time Iyengar Yoga teacher. For decades, he has combined medical expertise with yoga practice and has taught anatomy and physiology in Iyengar Yoga teacher training programs. He is a co-founder of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Berlin and a regular student of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India, where he continues to deepen his studies with the Iyengar family.

His first book, Yoga Asana Anatomy, established itself as a respected resource for understanding the musculoskeletal foundations of yoga practice. With Yoga Asana Physiology, Dr. Traitteur extends this work by exploring the effects of yoga on the body's organs and physiological systems, bringing together scientific knowledge and decades of practical experience in Iyengar Yoga.

Foreword: Abhijata Iyengar
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 455
Dimensions: 8.3 × 11.8 × 1.4 in

Proofreading and editing support: CIY House of Yoga Director, Sharoni Fixler.