ExperientialAnatomy:MovingfromtheBodySystems

This is a series of improvisational exercises that teaches basic anatomical principles and accessesdifferentqualitiesofmovementbythinkingabouttheirspecificbodysystems.SkeletonHave students point to or name any bones that they might know and then begin to add to theircomments.Dependingontheleveloftheclassandresourcesavailableyoumayshowapictureoftheskeleton. As you are talking, demonstrate by touchingwhere these bones are in your own body andhavethestudentsdothesame.Somekeypointstomentionabouttheskeletonare:

• Theskeleton issplit intotwosectionstheaxialskeleton(head,spine,ribs,andpelvis)andtheappendicularskeleton(armsandlegs)

• Bonesareheavybutmostofthemarealsohollow• Therearemanydifferentshapedkindsofbones

o Longboneslikeinyourarmsandlegso Smallsquarebonesinyourhandsandfeeto Bigflatboneslikeyourskull,thebackofyourpelvis(illium),andshoulderbladeso Oddlyshapedboneslikevertebrae

• Bonesareconnectedtoeachotheratthejointso Some jointscanmove inmultipledirections (shoulder,hip,wheretheheadmeetsthe

spine)o Somejointscanonlymoveinonedirection(kneesandelbows)

Onceyou’vetalkedaboutsomeorallofthesequalitiesoftheskeletonhavestudentsgetinlinesononesideoftheroom.Playsomemusicthat isupbeatandhasarhythmandaskthemtodanceacrossthefloorfourorfiveatatimethinkingaboutallofthewaystheirskeletonsareabletomove.Remindthemwhichjointscanmoveinmultipledirections.Remindthemthatboneshaveweight.Seeiftheycantaketheseskeletoninspiredmovementsupintotheairordownintothefloor.Movement quality – loose, not super extended or contracted, minimal effort, linear and specificdirectionallyMuscleHave students point to or name any muscles that they might know and then begin to add to theircomments.Dependingontheleveloftheclassandresourcesavailableyoumayshowapictureofsomemuscles.Asyouaretalking,demonstratebytouchingwherethesemusclesare inyourownbodyandhavethestudentsdothesame.Somekeypointstomentionaboutthemusclesare:

• Somemusclesarereallybigandyoucanseetheminaction(musclesofthearmsandlegs)• Somemusclesarereallysmallandyoucan’tseethemfromtheoutsideofthebody(allofthe

musclesofthefaceorbetweentheribs)• Musclesarestretchytheycangetreallylong(extension)orgetreallyshort(flexion)

Onceyou’vetalkedaboutsomeorallofthesequalitiesofthemuscleshavestudentsgetinlinesononesideoftheroom.Playsomemusicthat isupbeatandhasarhythmandaskthemtodanceacrossthefloorfourorfiveatatimethinkingabouttheirmuscles.Remindthemthatmusclesarelikerubberbandswhichcanstretchreallyfarandalsogetreallyshortbringingyourbodypartsclosetogether.Whatisthedifferencebetweenthinkingandmovingfromaboutbigmusclesandlittlemuscles?Movementquality–moreeffortfulthantheskeleton,morecarvingandlesslinearshapes

NervesAskstudentsiftheyknowanythingaboutthenervoussystemandthenbegintoaddtotheircomments.Depending on the level of the class and resources available youmay show a picture of the nervoussystem.Somekeypointstomentionaboutthenervoussystemare:

• Thenervoussystemstartsandthebrainandradiatesthroughoutthewholebody• Thecentralpartofthenervoussystemisinthespineandiscalledthespinalcord• Therestofthenervesradiatefromthespinalcordlikerootsofatree• Thebrainsendselectricalimpulsestothenervestomakeyourbodymove

Onceyou’vetalkedaboutsomeorallofthesequalitiesofthenervoussystemhavestudentsgetinlinesononesideoftheroom.Playsomemusicthatisupbeatandhasarhythmandaskthemtodanceacrossthefloorfourorfiveatatimethinkingabouttheirnerves.Electricityorthefeelingofstaticshocksisagoodimagetoaccessthisbodysystem.Movementquality–sharp,quickinterruptionsOrgansHave students point to or name any organs that they might know and then begin to add to theircomments.Dependingontheleveloftheclassandresourcesavailableyoumayshowapicture.Somekeypointstomentionabouttheorgansare:

• Theyareprotectedbyyourbonesandyourmuscles• Theymovearoundthroughoutthedayandyourlife• Some of them are muscles (heart, lungs, stomach, intestines) but you cannot control their

movement,theymoveontheirown• Theyareconnectedbyliquidandconnectivetissue

Onceyou’vetalkedaboutsomeorallofthesequalitiesoftheorganshavestudentsgetinlinesononesideoftheroom.Playsomemusicthat isupbeatandhasarhythmandaskthemtodanceacrossthefloor fouror fiveata timethinkingaboutall theirorgans.Askthemtomovehowthey imaginetheseorgans theycan’t controlmove.Remind themof thewateryconnectionsbetween theorgans tohelpthemaccessmorefluidqualityofmovement.Movementquality–fluid,connected,softNotesAsstudentsbecomecomfortablewitheachofthesesystemstheycanstartdancingwithmorethanoneinmindatatimeorswitchingbetweenthemasyoudirectthemtoorastheywishdependingontheirlevel.Somesimpleimagesforeachbodysystemcanbefoundonthefollowingpages.Feelfreetousetheseortofindyourown.

Skeleton

Muscles

NervousSystem

Organs