Anatomy - Yikes!

[mike parra]

Hello Michelle (et. al.),   In yesterday’s lecture you expressed enthusiasm to begin anatomy study now rather than wait for Meg’s introduction of the topic. Terrific, but where to begin? It’s a big book, the Trail Guide to the Body, and a huge subject. I may have more experience with it than most, and I have a few suggestions about how to approach this daunting project.   First, know that the text functions more like a dictionary than a novel, not the kind of book you read cover to cover but one that gets tattered and frayed with age as you look up just one body part at a time. It’s the habit of looking it up, the frequency that helps. I like letting my curiosity drive my anatomical learning. I look up a part of the body that hurts or could use improvement, then put the book down.   Since we’re talking specifics here (where to begin), I’d start with what Tony and Karl have called The Groins. Look up the muscle “psoas major”. It is literally pivotal as far as the pelvis is concerned. Since we started with standing poses you could also check out a couple of important feet muscles: “tibialis anterior” and “peroneus longus and brevis”, and since both our teachers insisted we “pull up the knee cap”, you might investigate the quadriceps, specifically the “vastus medialis”. Since our next asana module is about twisting, you could prepare for it by researching the muscles of spinal rotation: “inneral and external obliques”, “erector spinae” and “quadratus lumborum”.   Second, I recommend bringing the Trail Guide with you to lecture. If you open it as we’re talking about a pose, chances are you’ll excite others to take a look too; and it’s great to see the internal workings right when we’re examining a pose or challenge.   Third, difficult and embarrassing as it might be, remember that you have to talk the walk. Anatomical speech is a language and as such improves with practice only after you get through the very awkward phase of learning vocabulary. We all sound foolish at first and we hear/understand the references long before we can name the parts ourselves. You have to be willing to reveal your ignorance…ugh.   Fourth, get allies! Feel free to partner with me in your anatomy quests. I find the subject fascinating.   Cheers, Michael www.volitionfitness.com

[Becky Patel]

Hi Michael, Thanks for this information, it's really helpful. I like your suggestion of dipping into the book, briefly but consistently, to build the knowledge with repetition. This feels like a good approach to me. Thanks, Becky --- On Sun, 10/4/09, mike parra <maestro...@yahoo.com> wrote:

[Narasu Rebbapragada]

Yes...thanks Michael for the suggestion, and thanks Michele for asking the q.
I'll bring the book too and will try practicing using the vocab...as soon as I learn my right from my left...
:-)

Btw on an unrelated note. I'll be at the Bluegrass Festival today, for sure at Rooster Stage to see Billy Brag at 1:15. Text if you're in the vicinity.
415-425-4836
n

[Michele]

Thanks for the ideas Michael. Sounds like a good approach

And now I have a real world oportunity b/c   I strained a muscle in the hamstring region yesterday in class! Still trying to fig out which one even tho I looked at the big anatomy book last night.

M

Sent from my iPhone

[myog...@aol.com]

Hi all,

 

Hope everyone is well.  It's great to see you all engaged and excited about what you are learning and what is coming up for you.  I have a couple of study "tips" to add about Anatomy and a couple of logistical things to add about this coming wekend with Sophia.

 

I'll start with the Pschology module.  As I mentioned in our orientation, I don't suggest the whole running the studio and teaching bit if you can help it as something is bound to slip through the cracks.  For me, it is often the pesky linear details.  That said, there's been a couple of errors in times and things on your schedules.  Nothing too big but still needing clarification.  This weekend, for the Psychology module, both days are 12:30pm-6pm (not only til 5pm on Sunday as your schedule says) so hopefully that won't cause any issues. 

Also, Sophia asks that you read the articles in your binder throughout the weekend so if you want to start now, feel free.  Also note that Saturday's class does not include much movement so you all may want to do your Asana or other physical activity before class.  The Sunday class brings much of the theory into an Asana practice.

As for Anatomy, to me, the study of the body is like the study of yoga, you need to be in it to understand it rather than reading about it and applying it or impos ing it on top of or through the mind.  So, thank you  Michael for all the suggestions and yes, start looking at your books now.  At the same time, I would add, it's not about memorizing but connecting with the parts as they exist in you and understanding their function from a practical, as it really is kind of place.  And most importantly, I think we eventually embody the parts by understanding and feeling how they relate to the whole.  This means, that those places that get injured or that are tense seem to get much attention and understanding while the places that are dense and asleep tend to get unnoticed so we end up having a fragmented understanding until everything wakes up, integrates and starts illustrating the big picture in us and for us  This takes time, patience and exploration.  And that's why we study...why we practice...to open to what we don't know.

To be continued.

See you all this weekend.

Meg

-----Original Message-----
From: mike parra <maestro...@yahoo.com>
To: yoga-loft-teache...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sun, Oct 4, 2009 9:21 am
Subject: Anatomy - Yikes!

Hello Michelle (et. al.),

In yesterday’s lecture you expressed enthusiasm to begin anatomy study now rather than wait for Meg’s introduction of the topic. Terrific, but where to begin? It’s a big book, the Trail Guide to the Body, and a huge subject. I may have more experience with it than most, and I have a few suggestions about how to approach this daunting project.

First, know that the text functions more like a dictionary than a novel, not the kind of book you read cover to cover but one that gets tattered and frayed with age as you look up just one body part at a time. It’s the habit of looking it up, the frequency that helps. I like letting my curiosity drive my anatomical learning. I look up a part of the body that hurts or could use improvement, then put the book down.

Since we’re talking specifics here (where to begin), I=E 2d start with what Tony and Karl have called The Groins. Look up the muscle “psoas major”. It is literally pivotal as far as the pelvis is concerned. Since we started with standing poses you could also check out a couple of important feet muscles: “tibialis anterior” and “peroneus longus and brevis”, and since both our teachers insisted we “pull up the knee cap”, you might investigate the quadriceps, specifically the “vastus medialis”. Since our next asana module is about twisting, you could prepare for it by researching the muscles of spinal rotation: “inneral and external obliques”, “erector spinae” and “quadratus lumborum”.

Second, I recommend bringing the Trail Guide with you to lecture. If you open it as we’re talking about a pose, chances are you’ll excite others to take a look too; and it’s great to see the internal workings right when we’re examining a pose or challenge.

Third, difficult and embarrassing as it m ight be, remember that you have to talk the walk. Anatomical speech is a language and as such improves with practice only after you get through the very awkward phase of learning vocabulary. We all sound foolish at first and we hear/understand the references long before we can name the parts ourselves. You have to be willing to reveal your ignorance…ugh.