Annotated Bibliography

Barnes, J. F. (1988) The Elasto-Collagenous Complex. Physical Therpay Forum. 25

April 1988

Barnes, J. F. (1996) Cellular Consciousness and Healing. PT Today. 5 Feb. 1996

Barnes is one of the leading teachers of myofascial release. His articles, such as these, show up in many physical therapy and body work publications and are often rich with the latest findings in fascia research.

Burns, C. (1999). The active role of the baby in birthing. In G. W. Miller, P. Ethridge &

K. T. Morgan (Eds.), Exploring Body-Mind Centering: An anthology of experience and method. (pp. 21-40) Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

As the title suggests, this is an articulate piece about the active role of the infant in birthing and the consequences of emergency procedures that inhibit an infant's participation in this vital process.

Chan, A. Handouts for Body Optimalization workshop. (2011). Workshop taken in

San Jose, CA.

Chan's Body Optimalization technique is a method of structural integration that combines influences of Thai Yoga Massage with traction, anti-gravity massage, and held stretches. The moves and information from this handout integrate current physical therapy theories with therapeutic applications.

Chan, A. Handouts for Secrets of Sciatica workshop. (2012). Workshop taken in

San Jose, CA.

This workshop emphasizes postural analysis as an important first step in addressing Sciatica. From there Chan offers Deep Tissue, Muscle Energy Technique, Craniosacral approaches, and stretches to address Sciatica.

Clay, J. H., & Pounds D.M. Basic clinical massage therapy: Integrating anatomy and

treatment (2003). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

The highlight of this well organizd book is the illustrations which overlay transparencies of the musculo-skeletal system onto actual photographs of the body. This helps cultivate the x-ray vision that is helpful in therapeutic contexts.

Elson, L. M., & Kapit, W. Anatomy coloring book (2002). San Francisco, CA: Benjamin

Cummings.

This is a classic of every massage program. Taking the time to color in the bones, muscles, and organs is a clever way to integrate them into memory while understanding the relation between the parts.

Faust, F. The Axis Syllabus: Universal motor principles (2011). blurb.com.

This is the core publication expressing the theories, perspectives, training ideology, , and classification systems of the Axis Syllabus. It's attractive and articulate illustrations are a helpful compliment to highly technical and dense text. The book manages to communicate the joy of movement and the grace of the anatomical structure while setting down clear suggestions about use of our bodies for injury prevention, efficiency and longevity.

Feitis, R., & Schultz, L. The endless web: Fascial anatomy and physical reality

(1996).  Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

While it is clear that this book is being written from a Rolfer's perspective, the information about fascia is clear and rich.

Holmgren, D. Permaculture: Principles & pathways beyond sustainability (2002).

Hepburn, Victoria, Australia: Holmgren Design Services.

This book is the bible of Permaculture Design Principles. Many of the principles of permaculture are relevant when looking at sustainability within the organic ecology of the body as well.

Juhan, Deane. Job's body: A handbook for bodywork (1987). Barrytown, NY: Station

Hill Press.

Job's Body takes us on a tour of all the Skin, Connective Tissue, Bones, Muscles, Nerves, and Sensory Apparatus of the human body. This anatomical tour-de-force is dense with information relevant to our work as body workers while remaining easy to read.

Keleman, S. Emotional anatomy (1985). Berkeley, CA: Center Press.

This beautifully illustrated book weaves together Keleman's theories on the body as a complex system of tubes within tubes. It looks at how the body stores insult and experience in its structures. Keleman looks at a number of different character types and the underlying tension patterns that perpetuate them.

McKenzie, M. O. CranioSacral therapy I workbook (2009). Corte Madera, CA:

Institute of Conscious Body Work, Alive & Well.

A great simple straightforward manual on the subject.

Milne, H. The heart of listening: A visionary approach to Craniosacral Work. Vol. 1

(1995). Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

Milne, H. The heart of listening: A visionary approach to Craniosacral Work. Vol. 2

(1995). Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

Together these two volumes from Milne comprise the core of his Visionary Craniosacral work. They are full of impecably intricate anatomy as relevant to the craniosacral system. Every bump and ledge of every cranial bone is covered in its technical intricacy. The books also offer helpful suggestions for cultivating intuition and clear therapeutic vision and listening. They support the blend of anatomical specificity and intuitive listening that I desire in a body worker.

Myers, T. Anatomy trains: Myofascial meridians for manual and movement therapists

(2001). New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone. 

This book explains the basics of fascia as the primary support structure of the body operating on tensegrity principles similar to the sculptures and architectures of Buckminster Fuller. It describes the sol-gel nature of the fascia and the ways fascia participates in the changing of our shapes based on how we use them. It also covers the embryological development of fascia and how the location of the tissues at certain points in development determine the kind of tissue they become.

Once a strong basic understanding of fascia is delivered, Myers moves on to his personal theories of effective therapeutic treatment via addressing myofascial “meridians.” His theory challenges the typical origin/insert explanation of the musculo-skeletal system, where the muscles operate like pulleys on the levers of the bones. Instead, he illustrates a view of continuous tissue pathways that operate in simultaneous, mechanical coordination. Dysfunction at one point in these “trains” can cause dysfunction in a distal part. By understanding the pathways of these functional myofascial meridians, the manual or movement therapist can offer more specific and effective treatment.

This information is clear and the consequences are fairly revolutionary. However, I consider his outlining of the meridians as they apply to movement to be incomplete. Were his work to be married with research such as Axis Syllabus, that explores the most efficient functional patterns in the body, some missing trains, or missing aspects of the theory, may come to light.

Olsen, A. Body stories: A guide to experiential anatomy (1998). USA: Station Hill

Openings, Barrytown Limited.

This book on experiential anatomy gives information, exercises, images, and stories to give ways for ideas about the body and anatomical understandings to be grounded in experience.

Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. Structure & function of the body (2004). St. Louis,

MO: Mosby.

A physiology textbook explaining the macro and micro workings of the systems of the body.

Sills, F. (2004) Craniosacral biodynamics volume 2: The primal midline and the

organization of the body. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books.

This is one of the two volumes that form the core of the literature about biodynamic craniosacral therapy.

Todd, M. E. The thinking body (1937). Brooklyn, NY: Dance Horizons, Inc.

This is one of the early writings on mechanical force, developmental movement patterns, and anatomical structures as relevant to dance and movement studies. It is a contributing forbear to the work of Body-Mind Centering and Axis Syllabus.

Additional Class Manuals from:

Monterey Institute of Touch:

Massage Certification Manual, Hand Wrist Forearm, and Soft Tissue Release (Lower Body)

Twin Lakes College of th Healing Arts:

Intrinsic Touch 1 & 2, Deep Tissue, Acupressure