Customer Reviews

Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists, 2e

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow! I thought I'd ordered the wrong book for my needs, which are 1.more knowledge of the process of myofascial release and 2. more understanding of places/points of anatomy. It has been a long while since I've been in school and a long time since I worked at a top teaching hospital in the Bay area in California.

I read a few paragraphs, taking care not to damage the book, because I thought I'd probably return it. HOWEVER, after a few sentences I was immediately caught up in the beauty and clarity of this work. NEVER has physiology been made so interesting. Finally, I understand so many things that were just a jumble of memorized facts in preparation for exams. This book has rekindled my love of physiology and is even undoing my dislike of anatomy. Anatomy didn't make sense to me - it was boring - it was memorization. Now I am understanding why my body is so damaged from the stresses I subject it to, but better, I understand how I can undo some damage and prevent more.

I worked on a Sports Medicine unit where famous athletes came for surgery. So much surgery can be avoided with corrective measures for chronic stressors. The medical community needs to be aware of this important material.

So bravo for such a readable work. What depth of historial findings, beautiful graphics, excellent grammar and text. I feel as though I'm in school again, but this time it is for pleasure and for pain relief.

After a few pages I tried to find out more about the author and was surprised not to see a Ph.D. by his name, although I'm not sure a Ph.D. makes one any wiser.

I totally concur with the first review.

Don't buy this book if you are looking for a simple, trendy approach to bodywork. This is so much more.

I am a Board Certified MD Neurologist, with osteopathic training, a Yoga Practitioner of 25 years, and have been teaching Yoga in the Ashtanga and Iyengar styles for 10 of those years. I was familiar with Tom Myers' work for some time. Needless to say I was awaiting this book's release with an anticipation that was not disappointed.

Myers is that rare bird who can convey his insights in a way that is not only accessible but also enjoyable. As is often the case, the revelations in his book (and all of his previous articles) will, I predict, have a profound effect in the Medicine of the XXI century, and have come from "outside" the mainstream of the profession.

The style is agile and yet precise (I particularly enjoy his command of Latin) The book's design is ideal both for straight-through reading and for focusing on particular interests the reader (manual therapist, yoga instructor or practitioner, etc) may have. The illustrations are awesome (to use that tired adjective, for once, in its true etymological sense) although my edition lacked the one facing page 93 (Superficial Front Line) due no doubt to a printing snafu.

The basic idea, that tensegrity ()tension integrity) patterns and structures undergird function at a macroscopic level, while not new, is presented here with clarity, scientific and anatomical rigor, and esthetic sense. It is, above all a practical book, a veritable "Instruction Manual for the Human Body" whether our own or that of the fortunate human that is a reader's cliant.

The few errata (Myers should have specified that piezoelectricity is a property of some materials, having to do with their molecular conformation and disposition; specific glial cells are called "oligodendrocytes" not "oligodendrytes"; the mesoderm, rather that the endoderm, gives origin to endothelial cells in page 36) are minor, and do not detract at all from the overall quality of this work.

I imagine that Myers is already hard at work, perhaps taking this to the next level of visceral manipulation, all the way (who knows) to the manipulation of cytoskeletal and trans-cellular elements. There again, yogis and yoginis have been manipulating microtubules and integrins for millennia...

Make no mistake, there is nothing "New-Agey" or "woo-woo" about this book, though. It is as concrete, flesh, blood and sinew as they come. I could not recommend it more heartily.

Having had significant recent exposure to Tom and his school, I would like to add my cudos. The writing is supurb and entertaining. Presentations are clear, concise, and his writing is as animated as any I have ever read.

I believe that this book was written for bodyworkers to explain the dynamics of the myofascial system and how it may be manipulated to help correct improper joint and connective tissue alignment. His metaphor "anatomy trains" is a beautiful description of the layers of contiguous or nearly contiguous myofascial layers that run along the human form.

His use of a variety of illustrations old and new is amazing. I realize that he has a vast personal library so it is easy to see where spent many hours gathering just the right images that conveyed exactly what he wanted to say.

This should be rightly called a "reference textbook" and sit close to your Netter or Clemente.

I have been a professional body therapist since 1979. Anatomy Trains is one of the best books I have seen in my entire career spanning 36 years. This is a great book for all kinds of body therapy styles and forms. The book clearly states and I agree that a detailed knowledge of human anatomy is necessary to follow and understand the book.

I am a yoga teacher who has been interested in myofascial meridians without knowing it! I have been exploring Kundalini Yoga which tends to get into the tissues to release patterns of tension. The information in this book was just what I needed to further my studies.

This book does a great job of explaining the fascia along with excellent exercises for release.

This book may be a difficult read for a lay person but if you are in any kind of movement therapy work - this is a must!

Probably the most brilliant piece of work in 500 years of anatomy studies. You will never think of the body in the same way ever again. HIGHLY recommended!

As I read this book, I get the "eureka!"-feeling at nearly every turn of page. It all seems so logical when Myers lays it out. This book has really sparked my interest for Structural Integration therapy and I am going to order all of the Anatomy Trains DVDs - the first three are already on the way. I can also heartily recommend Ida P. Rolf's books on Structural Integration - she's the originator and (or should that be "but") is easily understood, just like Myers.

Reading Tom Myers book Anatomy Trains has taken my deep tissue treatments to the next level. This book combined with a hands-on class (Structural Integration continuing education) and deep tissue videos (Art Riggs) are making my clients very happy!
Myer's explanations are clear and concise.

Those of us in the physical therapy, personal and performance training, coaching, strength and conditioning, and other physical activity related fields know the importance of continuing education, and Anatomy Trains provides a refreshing look at how things actually work in comparison to half-of-the-story as provided by most text books.

Anatomy is taught in isolated motion. No one moves strictly in isolated motion in anything pertaining to every day life. This book provides the theory as well as dissection evidence to give credibility to the arguement that those of us in our field need to be more open minded to treatment outside the realm of strict anatomical interpretation. The problem there lies more in America's fixation with treating the problem, but not addressing the cause. Its not just the professional's fault for this, but the client's uneducation or miseducation.

When a client comes in to get a massage because they're back is tight, a massage therapist treats the back. It doesn't matter if the cause is actually a tight lower SFL causing anterior pelvic tilt then causing compensation in the SBL for the back pain; the back is still what the professional treats. Most of the time, it isn't the professional's fault for not knowing; it isn't taught in most schools.

Anatomy Trains is a great tool to show the benefits of progressive thought and prehab to prevent injuries in our clients and do a better job. Knowing how to fix is what we know, but knowing how to prevent is what we SHOULD know.

Anatomy Trains is an accesible and comprehensive overview of the myofascial system of the body. This key to understanding the role of fascia in healthy movement should be required reading of anyone who works in the bodywork field.
It may be a bit ponderous to someone who is more physically inclined but do not be put off. You will find you absorb much through just forging through as I did.