Why everyone should study human anatomy
Have you ever tried to assemble a piece of furniture without reading the directions, reached a dead end, and then looked at the directions and gone, oh, right, I get it now!
Learning human anatomy is like reading the directions.
When you learn about your body, you can use it more intelligently, all the time. It’s an opportunity!
Here’s the thing: You already have ideas about how you are put together, and it’s already affecting how you move.
How you think you are made is how you will move.
Our thinking and moving are inextricable. (You can read more on that in my blog post “All of you is at the party”.)
How we conceive of our parts our shape, our function affects how well those things work.
In the Alexander world, this is called Body Mapping, a term coined by William Conable. Learning accurate anatomical information is a way to update your understanding of how you move. This in turn affects the quality of your movement.
If you don’t know much about your anatomy, you are not alone! About 90% of my clients have never studied any anatomy, or have learned just enough to fix a particular problem.
Now, can you get along without learning anatomy? Yes! You’ve done amazing things so far, even just today! The thing about us is that we basically work really well. Learning or updating your ideas about your physical structure will help you work even better.
Learning anatomy is empowering!
Here’s why:
To actually look at the moving parts, admire the shape of the bones, see where the joints are, you can start to translate that info for your own improved use.
You may be wasting energy in your day to day activities without even knowing it.
This is a way to get to know your actual body, a key aspect of overall self-awareness.
How you think you are made is how you will move.
You don’t have to wait for something to go wrong to learn more about the human body.
Want to learn more but wondering where to start?
I recommend starting with the bones, our structure, and then moving on to the muscles, which move the bones.
Look at that spine! This is artist Sebastian Kaulitzki’s rendering of a portion of the front of a spine, showing the amazing, weight-bearing, honkin’ vertebral bodies, the ribs nestled in there ready to move with your breath, and the inside of the scapula ready to take a ride on that breath.
Here are a few ideas to start:
Fact check the anatomical information you hear. Sometimes anatomy is used as creative imagery to effect a change. Examples are: “breathe into your belly” or “straighten your spine” both of which are not possible.
Start with the head and spine. Here are a few highlights to research:
The head sits on top of the spine between your ears-ish.
The curves of the spine. Everyone’s spine has curves. It’s part of the basic design.
The weight-bearing part of your spine is at the front, in the middle of you. The pokey-outy’s at the back? Those are not weight-bearing.
Buy a book. Here are a few I recommend:
The starter anatomy book I recommend for every home is Albinus on Anatomy, available from Dover Press, because it is simple and has beautiful engravings. Note: Remember that even “accurate” anatomical imagery is not you. Every body is different and no book of anatomical information is you.
For more on Body Mapping:
Work with me! When we work together, you’ll be shown the key highlights that I’ve found help people move a little better, plus we can deep-dive into any areas you have questions about. Book an inquiry call with me to see how this amazing process will help you in your amazing life.
Thanks for reading! If you got curious and looked something up or found a book I should know about, let me know!
