The Somatic Anatomy article series was originally published in the Massage and Bodywork Magazine in 2006. It is designed to bring the study of anatomy alive with body-based exercises that help readers to integrate the study of anatomy with practical posture and movement applications. Each article has a “wheel of motion” to outline that anatomy lesson. The “hub” of the wheel reflects the central idea of the article; each “spoke on the wheel develops that central idea.

The Somatic Anatomy series presents traditional studies of anatomy within a holistic paradigm in which the student's body becomes the learning laboratory. As your read and learn anatomy, you learn exercises to embody the study in a way that will improve your posture and ease of movement, plus help you improve the body-mind connection. If you want to get more in touch with your body, and learn how anatomy is a living process, you will want to read this series. Enjoy!

Somatic Anatomy #1: Spatial Concepts
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/FebMar2006/SomaticAnatomyFM06.pdf

Somatic Anatomy #2: Body Systems
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/AprilMay2006/SomaticAnatomyAM06.pdf

Somatic Anatomy #3: Cells, Molecules, Atoms, and Energy
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/JuneJuly2006/SomaticAnatomyJJ06.pdf

Somatic Anatomy #4: Listening Hands and Tissue Palpation
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/AugSep2006/SomaticAnatomyAS06.pdf

Somatic Anatomy #5: Muscles and the "Postural Flute"
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/OctNov2006/SomaticAnatomyON06.pdf

Somatic Anatomy #6: Visualizing Bones in Body Mechanics
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/DecJan2007/SomaticAnatomyDJ07.pdf

Other articles by Mary Ann Foster

Somatic Education, Movement Therapy, and Massage
This article discusses how you can integrate somatic movement therapies into your massage practice.
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/OctNov2004/somatic.html

13 Tips for Stretching Sanity
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/OctNov2005/Stretch.html

Your Birthright: A Case for the Human Stance
This article debates that logic of using the horse stance as opposed to a natural upright as a ground for body mechanics in massage.
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/AprilMay2005/humanstance.html