Is learning anatomy helpful?

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Jessica Santascoy (who once upon a time came to me for Alexander Technique lessons because I gave an introductory talk in high heels…but that’s another story) asks, “What do Alexander Technique teachers think of teaching anatomy?”

I think it’s helpful. Anatomy helps a directional thought (like “head forward and up”) arrive at the right address. Understanding the reality of structure can free up a lot of tension. It allows us to trust our bones to hold us. At the same time, anatomy can be a chimera like anything else. It’s helpful to remember that seemingly solid structures like bones, are teaming with life, movement, electricity and elasticity. Anatomy is crucial, but don’t get hung up on anything that looks like a platonic truth.

Jessica recommends the iphone ap: Muscle System Pro III for $3.99 – which offers 3D visualization of anatomy.

And she comments:

“I remember my AT lessons with you, when you would bring out the skeleton and use it to show me how the body works at its optimum. It brought such clarity.”

 

Anatomy Book Recommendations

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  1. Albinus on Anatomy This is my favorite book to use for teaching. The illustrations are beautiful.
  2. The Anatomy of Movement, by Blandine Calais-Germain. It is frequently sold with The Anatomy of Movement: Exercises book by the same author. This is a great resource for both gazing at bones, and learning about the functional anatomy of movement.
  3. If you’re looking for more hands-on learning, try the Anatomy Coloring Book, by Wynn Kapit & Lawrence M. Elson. I think this is how I learned my anatomy. Also, research shows that coloring help you relax and focus!
  4. How to Learn the Alexander Technique, a Manual for Students, by Barbara Conable is an excellent resource for dispelling myths about your body (for example, your ankle joints aren’t big round circles), and helping improve your movement patterns through educations about actual joint anatomy. The pictures aren’t too great though, so I would recommend getting this with another anatomy book.
  5. If you want to go deeper and learn about fascial lines, nothing beats Thomas Myers’ Anatomy Trains.