I have been studying anatomy again. This time, I am taking a 20-hour online training course with Tom Myers for yoga teachers. Each time I study anatomy (this is round four), I learn updated anatomical information that helps me with my dance, my yoga, and my pedagogy.
A new way to think of posture
Did you know that the back four flat bones of your skull grow out of the same stratum of the embryo as your vertebrae? We tend to think of the body as a machine, made up of parts, but we are an organism that grows and develops. Looking at how the body grows can help you have a new understanding of how you can move in a way that is healthy for your body.
What if you think about your spine snaking up the back of your skull and to the top of your head? I have seen amazing adjustments to neck posture in the past month as I work with this idea. Every student who has tried the image while dancing or doing yoga has improved the stack-up of their neck and head. I see less neck tension, fewer jaws jutting forward and more elegant lines for posture.
Try it!