Anatomy + Yoga = True Love

Taking Human Anatomy has changed my life. And now I’m going to write about it. Don’t worry, I won’t be writing about my powerful experiences with dead people. Instead, I’m going to discuss a much more important topic: yoga.

You see, I do a lot of yoga. Well, not a ton, maybe 3 or so classes a week. I find that it is a great way for me to exercise and reduce stress. Since I’m sure you’re dying to know, I prefer Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga (with maybe a little Hatha yoga thrown in for good measure). Anyway, ever since Anatomy has started, my yoga practice has soared to new heights.

It started with a general increased self-awareness. After seeing muscles and bodies in the Anatomy Lab, I began to think more about my own muscles. As in I became aware that they actually existed. This might sound silly, but to me, muscles have been things that get bigger or stronger if I exercise or work on them. I had never really given much thought to them otherwise. Fine. I’ve always known they existed. But now I’m aware of their total existence as a network of muscles, with tendons, nerves, actions, antagonists. My body is a system, with multiple components. As I breathe and move from posture to posture, I am aware of that system, both in isolated segments and as a whole.

Next there came a translation and application phase. Simple phrases such as “rest on your Sit Bones” became instantly translated to technical terms: “Sit Bones, huh? Don’t you mean ischial tuberosities?!” As I tried to lift my leg, I thought, “Hmm… I think my iliopsoases are weak.” Just FYI: Iliopsoas – flexion of the hip, femoral nerve (iliacus) and L1, 2, and 3 (psoas major) (I know you were wondering).

In literally every posture, I could go through and name the muscles, nerves, arteries (okay, and veins, even though we all know those aren’t as exciting) involved in my movement. Isn’t this distracting, you ask? Not really. It’s not like I’m quizzing myself as I move through my yoga practice. Instead, I feel that in knowing these new details about my body, I’ve become more connected to it.

Now, instead of almost falling asleep during Final Relaxation, I go to a new place in my own body. As I lay on the floor, eyes closed, deeply breathing, I can feel the air enter my lungs. My heart is beating and I begin to imagine blood flowing through my arteries. I follow this path as I move deeper and deeper into relaxation.

another anatomy poem

What treasures do I

hold? Each day they peer into

me expectantly.

It is beautiful,

they say. Textbook example.

It's gorgeous, in fact.

What is it? I muse.

What could possibly be so

stunning about me?

I am just an old

woman. My stiff body is

tired and worn out.

At my age, beauty

is a distant memory.

A remnant of youth.

But they keep coming

back, continue to prod, dig.

Keep on exclaiming.

Now, I understand.

I am more than aged parts;

more than guts and bones.

It's as if every

time they look into me they

unlock a world of

knowledge. My nerves, veins,

tendons, muscles. Me. Inside

of me, beauty lives.

The Embrace

First day jitters.

We enter the room

anxiety, excitement,

formaldehyde in the air.

Act cool,

nobody wants to be the one who barfs.

It all happens so fast.

We pair up, position ourselves around a table

with a white-cloaked mass on it.

We confidently remove the cover, lift back the cheesecloth.

Let's do this.

Step 1: roll your cadaver over.

Huh.

"Umm...

Okay, I watched the video. Let's turn him over like a

real patient."

For a few moments, we circle around

trying to gain strategic positioning.

We scoot him to the edge of the table,

roll him on his side.

There are four of us

but he's so heavy!

At 93, he was no frail man.

We can't flip him over; his arm is stuck.

(Oh God, what if it breaks off?)

Suddenly, my arms are around him, lifting.

My chest is against his,

his free arm is inches from my face.

Despite scrubs, lab coat, and gloves,

his cold, yellow skin touches my wrist.

And now that he's over,

lying comfortably on his stomach,

relief rushes over me.

I can do this, I thought,

I just hugged a dead guy!

And so we begin.