Applied Anatomy & Physiology of Yoga
Understand Your Body. Transform Your Practice.
A bridge between ancient yoga and modern science — this comprehensive guide reveals how posture, movement, and breath work together to build strength, calm, and longevity.
Created by physiotherapists and researchers Simon Borg-Olivier and Bianca Machliss, with more than 35 years of experience, Applied Anatomy & Physiology of Yoga has become a trusted reference for teacher trainings and yoga-therapy programs worldwide.
Whether you’re deepening your own practice, guiding students, or working with the body therapeutically, this book helps you move smarter, teach safer, and connect more deeply to every breath.
Why It Matters
Most yoga injuries are preventable.
Knowing where the muscles and joints are is one thing — understanding how to use them safely is another.
This book shows you how to:
Protect your joints through the Nine Bandhas — the yogi’s “suit of armour.”
Build strength without tension and flexibility without strain.
Improve circulation and immunity through intelligent movement and breath.
Integrate modern anatomical science with the timeless wisdom of yoga.
What You’ll Learn
Yoga-specific anatomy and physiology explained in clear, practical language.
Injury-prevention strategies every practitioner and teacher should know.
Nine Bandhas & co-activation principles for joint safety and energy flow.
Breath, posture, and focus techniques to enhance strength, calm, and recovery.
Adaptations for individual bodies — age, experience, or limitation.
What’s Inside
Twelve detailed chapters and eight practical appendices covering:
Shoulder, hip, knee, spine, and all major joint complexes.
Nervous, circulatory, digestive, endocrine, and immune systems.
Yogic physiology, pranayama, mudra, and bandha applications.
Anatomical reference charts, Sanskrit and technical glossaries.
Movement and stretching principles drawn from physiotherapy and traditional hatha yoga.
Used in yoga teacher trainings, physiotherapy programs, and by health professionals worldwide.
What You’ll Gain
Twelve detailed chapters and eight practical appendices covering:
A deeper understanding of how your body works in yoga.
Confidence to teach and practice safely for the long term.
Tools to enhance strength, flexibility, breathing, and overall wellbeing.
Knowledge to use yoga therapeutically for recovery and resilience.
Trusted by Experts
This text presents a wealth of knowledge for yoga practitioners and teachers as well as anyone interested in understanding the impact of yoga on the physical body.
Professor Marc Cohen, Professor of Complementary Medicine, RMIT University
The depth of information and knowledge in Applied Anatomy & Physiology of Yoga is breathtaking. Highly recommended.
International Yoga Teachers Association Journal
A valuable resource that demonstrates how, with knowledge of applied anatomy, yoga can be used effectively as a therapy.
Melanie Gallagher BSc, Physiotherapist
Choose Your Option
Book Only
$47 USD
What's Included
A complete 460-page reference with full-colour diagrams, explanations, and practices.
Book + Online Course Bundle
$197 USD
Go beyond the pages with Simon Borg-Olivier’s in-depth online course.
Learn directly through video demonstrations, guided practice sessions, and integration techniques that bring the principles of the book to life.
What's Included
Full digital copy of Applied Anatomy & Physiology of Yoga
20 hours of video lectures and guided practices
Lifetime online access
Certificate of completion
“Exercise is optional — movement is essential.
When you understand how your body really works, every practice becomes medicine.”
— Simon Borg-Olivier
About the Authors
Simon Borg-Olivier
BSc BAppSc MSc Physio
Simon Borg-Olivier is a physiotherapist, movement scientist, and internationally respected teacher with nearly six decades of experience in yoga, qigong, martial arts, and physiotherapy.
He now leads the Health, Happiness & Longevity online platform and teaches worldwide, helping people cultivate strength, calm, and vitality through intelligent movement and breath.
Bianca Machliss
BSc BAppSc MSc Physio
Bianca Machliss is a physiotherapist, researcher, and educator who co-authored the original text. She has extensive experience in anatomy and movement education and continues Yoga Synergy to teach in Australia and internationally.
Their combined work laid the foundation for Applied Anatomy & Physiology of Yoga — a guide that continues to shape the way yoga is taught and practiced around the world.
Ready to Deepen Your Understanding?
Discover how applied anatomy and physiology can transform your practice from the inside out.
Whether you’re a student, teacher, or health professional, this essential guide will help you move safely, breathe intelligently, and live with lasting strength and vitality.
Meet Your Teacher
Simon Borg-Olivier
Simon Borg-Olivier is a physiotherapist, certified yoga therapist, and co-creator of YogaSynergy. With over 40 years of teaching experience, Simon has guided thousands worldwide to improve their health, movement, and breathing through a unique fusion of traditional wisdom and modern science.
He combines his background in physiotherapy, yoga, and biomechanics to create accessible practices that foster strength without tension, flexibility without pain, and energy without overexertion. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or a curious beginner, Simon’s methods can help you achieve balance, vitality, and longevity.
Read More About Simon
Simon Borg-Olivier, MSc BAppSc (Physiotherapy) APAM c-IAYT, has been practicing traditional forms of posture, movement, breathing, and mental control for 50 years. He has been teaching for 40 years and has been a registered physiotherapist for 25 years.
Simon works as a research scientist and a University lecturer. He has been regularly invited to teach about lifestyle, posture, movement, breathing, and meditation at conferences, festivals, and intensive teacher training courses internationally since 1990.
He is also co-director of YogaSynergy, one of Australia’s oldest and most respected yoga schools, which has a style based on a deep understanding of modern medical science and traditional forms of exercise and therapy from all over the world.
Simon has studied with great traditional masters from Tibet, Japan, India, and China. Along with his business partner and fellow physiotherapist, Bianca Machliss, Simon has co-authored many books and scientific articles including ‘Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga’, which is the textbook for two courses they teach at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
Currently, Simon conducts intensive training courses in India, Bali, Europe, and Australia. He also teaches many online courses on the applications of posture, movement, and breathing for fitness, internal health, wellbeing, and longevity.
PRICES:
The price for the Online 200-hour teacher training is €1250 or AUD$1950
For the prices for 200-hour in-person trainings depend on the venue but are usually calculated at the price of €14.5 per hour of training for 200 hours which is €2900 excluding accommodation and food
The price for the 300-hour teacher training includes the in-person price for the 200-hour course plus €625 or AUD$975
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