Movement terms that I learned during yoga teacher training
Joints, muscles, limbs and their anatomical movement terms
Started on November 19, 2025
| Term | Is this a dynamic or static word? | What it describes | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexion | Dynamic | Joint angle decreasing (bones getting closer) | Bending elbow, folding forward at hip |
| Extension | Dynamic | Joint angle increasing (bones moving apart) | Straightening elbow, rising from forward fold |
| Concentric | Dynamic | Muscle shortening while contracting (powering movement) | Quads shortening to rise from chair pose |
| Eccentric | Dynamic | Muscle lengthening while contracting (controlling movement) | Quads lengthening to lower into chair pose |
| Isometric | Static | Muscle contracting with no length change (holding position) | Quads engaged while holding chair pose |
| Adduction | Dynamic | Limb moving toward body's midline | Squeezing inner thighs in chair pose |
| Abduction | Dynamic | Limb moving away from body's midline | Lifting leg out to side in warrior 2 |
Key Insights
- Eccentric requires the contraction (engagement) of a muscle while lengthening the muscle at the same time
- Flexion/Extension = what the joint is doing (direction of movement)
- Concentric/Eccentric/Isometric = what the muscle is doing (type of contraction)
- All require derivative ≠ 0 except isometric (derivative = 0)
- The same muscle can work eccentrically during flexion OR extension depending on its role
- Example: Triceps work eccentrically during elbow flexion in chaturanga (controlling the bend)
- Example: Triceps work concentrically during elbow extension when pressing up (creating the straightening)