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Spine & Back Anatomy Self-Assessment — Yoga Teaching Knowledge Standards

Introduction

Quickly assess your knowledge of Spine & Back Anatomy and Posture, and identify gaps in your education. See below for assessments on these subjects:

  1. Spinal Regions & Vertebrae
  2. Back Muscles
  3. Spinal Functions
  4. Spinal Movements

Purpose

Offer a series of free quizzes for yoga teachers to:

  1. Provide an effective way to assess knowledge of each of the Teaching Knowledge Standards.
  2. Make it easy to self-assess privately, on your own time.
  3. Help teachers who identify educational gaps to bolster their knowledge with accessible and practical lessons.

More Self-Assessments

For more self-assessments, see the Standards & Self-Assessment Hub.

Spinal Regions & Vertebrae

Teaching Standard

Become proficient in the anatomy of the spine including each of the five regions, the spinal curves and the vertebrae.

Assessment

Vocabulary Mix & Match
BACKBONE | Another name for the spine
CERVICAL SPINE | A term used by anatomists to underscore the importance of the four spinal curves
COCCYX | Another name for the spine
LUMBAR SPINE | Plural of “vertebra,” specialized bones that make up the spine
NORMAL CURVES | Five fused vertebrae that make up the base of the spine and the back of the pelvis
SACRUM | Another name for the spine
SPINAL COLUMN | Top region of the spine, labeled C1-C7
SPINE | Low back region of the spine, labeled L1-L5
SPINOUS PROCESSES | Made up of 33 specialized bones called vertebrae, houses the spinal cord which provides communication between brain and body
THORACIC SPINE | Middle region of the spine, labeled T1-T12
VERTEBRAE | Three to five fused vertebrae with a tip that typically points straight down
VERTEBRAL COLUMN | The bony projections from the vertebra that  you can feel when you palpate your spine; they provide attachment points for muscles and ligaments
Questions
  1. What are some other names for the spine?
  2. What regions make up the spinal column? How many vertebrae are in each region? Which are fused?
  3. How are vertebrae labeled/numbered?
  4. Where do we experience the most movement in the spine, and why?
  5. What is the shape of each curve?
  6. What is the sacrum?
  7. What are the “primary curves” and why are they given that name?
  8. What are the “secondary curves” and why are they given that name?
  9. How can Savasana be used to identify spinal curves?
  10. What are vertebrae?
  11. Describe the general structure of an individual vertebra.
  12. What are intervertebral discs?

Back Muscles

Teaching Standard

Learn the anatomical terminology and function of superficial, intermediate and deep back muscles, plus poses that strengthen and stretch them.

Assessment

  1. Describe two ways that back muscles may be categorized.
  2. List the muscles in each category and their primary association.
  3. Where are superficial back muscles located? What actions are associated with them, and what asanas strengthen and stretch them?
  4. Where are intermediate back muscles located? What do they do, and what asanas stretch and strengthen them?
  5. Where are the deep back muscles located? What actions are they responsible for?
  6. What is the relationship between deep back muscles and the core?
  7. Describe the erector spinae and their functions.
  8. Provide asana examples for strengthening and stretching the erector spinae.
  9. Describe the quadratus lumborum (QL) and its functions.
  10. Discuss potential issues with the QL and a type of strengthening that can help support it.
  11. What do multifidus muscles do and how can knowledge of them help students?

Spinal Functions

Teaching Standard

Learn the functions of the spine and the attributes of a healthy spine.

Assessment

  1. What are the functions of the spine?
  2. In what two complementary ways is the spine designed to function?
  3. Explain how the curves of the spine work.
  4. What are the attributes of a healthy spine?
  5. What is the function of the spinal cord? Provide a metaphor to describe it.
  6. Give examples of areas of the body supplied by the nerves in the spine, and potential conditions associated with nervous system issues.

Spinal Movements

Teaching Standard

Become proficient in using accurate terminology related to spinal movements and how to apply knowledge of the movements to inform teaching of the various categories of asana.

Assessment

  1. What are the six directions of spinal movement?
  2. What two additional types of spinal movement are we concerned with in yoga?
  3. Give an asana example for each of the types of spinal movement.
  4. What is the objective of spinal / axial extension poses?
  5. What is compression and when is it usually desirable?
  6. What are some teaching considerations related to spinal alignment in forward bends?
  7. What are some teaching considerations related to spinal alignment in backbends?
  8. What are some teaching considerations related to spinal alignment in lateral bends?
  9. What are some teaching considerations related to spinal alignment in twists?
  10. What are some teaching considerations related to spinal extension?
  11. What are some teaching considerations related to spinal alignment in inversions?

Next Steps

  1. To view more self-assessments, go to the Standards & Self-Assessment Hub.
  2. To bolster your knowledge and be recognized as a YTC teacher, enroll in the Yoga Teacher Central Study Program (details below).
  3. Members, view clear and concise lessons:

In a Nutshell

  • The enrollment fee is $25 and is open to Yoga Teacher Central members, past members and non-members.
  • Members receive current membership benefits plus additional benefits listed below.
  • Enrollment in the Study Program qualifies you for lifetime YTC Teacher status.

Benefits

Enrolling in the Study Program gives you:

  1. A downloadable Knowledge Standards Lesson Guide to walk you through a structured study path toward certification.
  2. Selection of 5 downloadable lessons of your choice (from a library of nearly 500).
  3. Recognition as a YTC Teacher (for life; no expiration).
  4. Professional marketing kit for highlighting your YTC Teacher status on social media and your website.
  5. Excellent preparation for taking certification exams.

Members

  • Your current membership gives you online access to not only thousands of pages of organized study and teaching knowledge, but also sequence breakdowns and teaching notes, theme plans, injury cheat-sheets, and so on.
  • When you enroll in the Study Program, you get these additional benefits: a Knowledge Standards Lesson Guide, selection of 5 downloadable lessons of your choice, and a professional marketing kit for highlighting your YTC Teacher status on social media and your website.

See here for information about exams, badges and certification. Get links for each exam, and for a no-risk trial exam.

We think you’ll enjoy taking the exams. The questions are well-thought-out and the subject matter is quite engaging and significant for teachers. You’ll get an inspiring teaching after answering each question. At the end of the exam, you see a summary of wrong answers and the relevant teachings,  giving you a personal study guide targeted to your needs.

This is an hour well-spent!

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