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TUNE IN FOR FREE ABMP WEBINARS WITH THOMAS MYERS WHEN HE'LL EXPLORE HIS BODYREADING THE MERIDIANS SERIES. VISIT ABMP.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION. The best way to build these skills is to practice on your clients or friends, via looking at them or through photos if you take client photos for your records. In developing this talent, go for the obvious anomalies; if you have to get out your micrometer to measure the differences between one hip and the other, it probably is not a significant functional problem, so let it be. Next time, we will include some refinements to these basic skills, and start taking our analysis into the soft-tissues. This young woman has obviously trained her core to be strong, and has good tone throughout, but the right tilt of the shoulder girdle and the left tilt of the pelvis tell a different story of structural imbalance and insecurity. Such tilts and bends are often the handmaidens of rotations, which we can see in her right lower leg (A). The real rotational story, however, is seen when we look down on the body (B), where we can clearly see the right rotation of the pelvis on the feet, the left rotation of the ribs on the pelvis, and a right rotation of the shoulders on the ribs. sides, and back. But understand that this can be very confrontational, especially in this culture where we are judged and found wanting if we don't measure up to the cover of Allure or Men's Health (and none of us do). You can take the sting out of this process—and turn it into an involving piece of client education—by standing them in front of a full-length mirror. Stand behind and to the side of clients, so you can see their image in the mirror, as well as seeing them. Right away, you are on their side, and you are both looking in the same direction, at that person in the mirror. This makes it much easier for you both right away. Gently lead clients through their strengths first, "See how open your chest is," or "You feel very grounded." Then you can guide them into some of the aspects you hope to correct: "Can you see one shoulder is higher than the other?" and let that guide you into the other details. Most clients start by being reluctant to look at themselves, and they have a long list of things they don't like, but many get fascinated when they start seeing these structural asymmetries, especially if they are introduced to them with the nonjudgmental language we have just set out. Let's practice the basic assessment vocabulary on some real people: (You can cover the analysis below each picture with your hand to see what you see before you read what we have written. These analyses only point out a few of the more obvious patterns in each photo.) Trains. He studied with Drs. Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, and Buckminster Fuller, and has practiced integrative bodywork for more than 30 years in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He incorporates many movement and manual disciplines in his work. For more information, visit www.anatomytrains.com. Thomas Myers is the founder of Anatomy NOTES 1. Judith Aston, Aston Postural Assessment Workbook (San Antonio: Therapy Skill Builders, 1998). W.H. Sheldon, The Varieties of Human Physique (New York, New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1940). Stanley Keleman, Emotional Anatomy (Berkeley, California: Center Press, 1985). R.M. Alexander, The Human Machine (New York: Columbia University Press, 1992). 2. M. Morrison, "Structural Vocabulary," Rolf Lines (Winter 2001). 3. Thomas Myers, Anatomy Trains (Edinburgh, United Kingdom: Elsevier, 2009). This book also contains an expanded version of this method with a number of examples. 4. J. Sultan, "Toward a Structural Logic—The Internal- External Model" Notes on Structural Integration 86:12–18, 1986. (Available from Dr. Hans Flury, Badenerstr 21, 8004 Zurich CH). Stanley Keleman, Emotional Anatomy (Berkeley: Center Press, 1985). Judith Aston, Aston Postural Assessment Workbook (San Antonio: Therapy Skill Builders, 1998). Leopold Busquet, Les Chaines Musculaire, Tome 1–1V; Freres, Mairlot, Maitres et Cles de la posture. 1992. 5. Malcolm Gladwell, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (New York: Back Bay Books, 2007). earn CE hours at your convenience: abmp's online education center, www.abmp.com 83