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222 of 224 found the following review helpful:
 A RNs review from a patient/practioner's prospectiveMar 27, 2003
By Jackie Whitebread
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.
250 of 269 found the following review helpful:
A work of true genius, and lots of sweatOct 05, 2001
By Julio Kuperman, MD
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.
48 of 49 found the following review helpful:
Bodyworker's BibleAug 27, 2004
By Julius E. Daniels
"kickatree"
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.
25 of 25 found the following review helpful:
A New, Global View of the bodySep 12, 2005
By Earl S. Hinds
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.
16 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Excellent!Dec 02, 2006
By Ilona
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!
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