Myofascial Book Series
Get on the cutting edge of understanding the myofascial body – particularly yours! The book series unwinds the material in The Myofascial System in Form and Movement book with author and instructor, Lauri Nemetz.
Join Lauri Nemetz, MA, BD-DMT, EYT500, LCAT, CIAYT
by Lauri Nemetz
I have always been fascinated with the body, whether through studying dance, art, yoga, or anatomy. In all these different seemingly diverse disciplines, I sought the connections between one thing in relationship to another. Several decades ago, I began my college studies as a double major in art history and French. Whether it was the connection of an artist reaching out in expression or a language that helped me access new ideas, I was fascinated by the concept of these interweaving threads, whether cultural, intellectual, or on a felt level. When I speak a different language, it can open me up to new ideas and connect me to other people. After dappling in modern dance, I was curious about people’s deep drive to express themselves through movement in connection with folk dance or how we might give each other space when passing on a crowded street. I went on to my master’s degree in dance/movement therapy, an alternative form of psychotherapy based on the body. While I found the work fascinating, I found that my early studies in anatomy didn’t match my observations of my clients, and I had a profound desire to learn why individuals vary so greatly in the way life shapes their anatomy and what it means for them on a physical and mental level. I began to study anatomy much more deeply, both as the Western based naming of parts, but having a drive to see how it connected.
During those years, I also found myself practicing yoga, which at that time was far from mainstream. Since then, it always felt like coming home to myself, particularly during times of healing from a car accident or negotiating through new stages of life. So, in the many years that followed, several of my studies started to come back as themes in my life, but the constants were yoga, art and anatomy. Seemingly at odds with traditional anatomy, I chose to focus on the connections in studying fascia.
When I began to pursue anatomy quite seriously, felt a similar familiarity to studying art history which is also visually rich. In addition, both subjects look at the relationship between the parts and seeing a larger picture becomes important. I eventually started teaching anatomy and became an anatomy dissector, eventually lead my own dissections. Even in lab, I am always amazed at the beauty and creativity in any body. A surgery or a body posture often shows up in interconnected ways. The broken shoulder may have affected the opposite hip, or vice-versa, and particularly through the interconnected web of fascia. While separation with a scalpel may seem random, I often follow separations in between places where movement occurred in the living body. I also can reveal a way of seeing structures together or apart
How Does Fascia Fit In?
Fascia has been gaining attention in the mainstream media, as a type of connective tissue permeating throughout all the body. Interestingly, it was a previously overlooked area of anatomy, and in recent times, something that most medical schools discarded in favor of more recognized structures like muscles and bones. Despite learning isolated and specific functions for muscles the body works in connection. By looking at the myo (muscle) and fascia (a type of biological tissue) together we have a much more accurate view of how the body works together. Creating healthy qualities of movement (think in terms of words like slide and elasticity) we can train the body for better health and resiliency at any age of life. This is part of the reason it matters, whether you are a surgeon looking at how to be mindful of your work in the body, or a yoga student looking to make sure you can pick up your grandchild or walk without pain. *Image courtesy of Handspring Publishing
The Book: The Myofascial System in Form and Movement
I wrote this book to help others interested in movement and fascia find out the latest from the science and the people working with it on many levels. I designed the book to be visually rich, using a combination of photographs and art as well as having several guest writers who give the reader a taste of their work and ideas. It is meant to be a feast of ideas and is meant to spark conversation into this fascinating world.
Also, it is really meant for anyone with a body. I wanted the reader to have access to the latest research and thinkers. You can skim the pictures or read cover to cover, as you’d like.
From the book publisher: The field of myofascial science is changing rapidly. In The Myofascial System in Form and Movement, Lauri Nemetz invites readers into the rich dialogue around movement, delving into anatomy, concepts of space, and the many other disciplines that are taking interest in the myofascial universe. Nemetz uses insights from our spatial relationship with the world to examine the human body, giving voice to the ideas and work of leaders in this area and prompting readers to develop their own ideas, as well as offering application suggestions to discover in your own body or with others. With an extensive background in art history, myofascial movement, anatomical dissection and more, Nemetz uses her wealth of experience to weave together the many facets of this evolving area in a visually rich and thought-provoking book.
Where to find the book locally- I’m a big fan of Hudson Valley Books for Humanity, which is located in the historic Olive Opera House in downtown Ossining, NY. (https://www.hvbooksforhumanity.com)
Those of you who shop online can find the book readily available on Amazon, as well as some other online sellers. While both e-book and print are available, my own preference is for the print version which retains my original vision for layout, etc. and is satisfying to see photos and illustrations more clearly. The link is: https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Trains-Movement-Professional-Nemetz/dp/1912085798.
The Series
The book series will be all about unwinding the material in The Myofascial System in Form and Movement. As mentioned, don’t worry if you don’t know much about this topic- all bodies and backgrounds are welcome to explore…and there are a lot of pictures in this book! By going through the book together you have me both as a guide, as well the ability to ask the tough questions. I really hope that you will join me. There will be special pricing for Present Wisdom members as well as YTA members (Yoga Teachers Association). Credit hours for YA (Yoga Alliance) will also be available for those who need.
The upcoming series is divided into Part 1 and Part 2, which reflect the book as well.
April 4th-25th Thursdays 5-6:30 p.m. online via Zoom
- PART 1 – Myofascial Material
- April 4th Chapter 1-3 including fascia, shape, evolution, motion and emotion
- April 11th Chapter 5-8 including spirals, core and more
- PART 2 – Fascia and the Dynamic Body
- April 18 Chapters 9-11 including yoga, Pilates and weight training applications
- April 25th Chapter 12-13 including aging well, environmental space and how we use it
Booking & purchase options
- Series – $175* (save $25)
- Individual classes can also be purchased ($50 each) via our class schedule / calendar
*Discounted series pricing is available with Present Wisdom memberships or YTA members (Yoga Teachers Association), contact us for a code before purchasing.
Lauri Nemetz
Lauri is an Adjunct Professor at Pace University (NY), Visiting Associate Professor Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rush University Medical Center (Chicago), a licensed Creative Arts Therapist, a member of the American Association for Anatomy, a board-certified member of the Academy of Dance/Movement Therapists, a Yoga Alliance yoga teacher and education provider at the 500-hour level, a Stott Pilates instructor, certified yoga therapist (IAYT) and provider and former faculty for Anatomy Trains ® and Anatomy Trains ® Dissections. She was a Past President of the YTA (Yoga Teachers Association) and co-led several yoga teaching trainings with Susan Rubin of Sage Yoga. She has guested in many other teacher training programs, including Ananda Ashram, Westchester Academy of Yoga, Dew Yoga, and Mynah School of Yoga.
She is head dissector at Anatomic Excellence Labs https://anatomicexcellence.com and KNMLABS www.knmlabs.com (with Leslie Kaminoff, author of Yoga Anatomy) and guests internationally for dissection projects, including the Fascia Net Plastination Project. She is the author of The Myofascial System in Form and Movement (Handspring Publishing, 2023) and a contributor to The Anatomy of Yoga Coloring Book (Staugaard-Jones and Nemetz, North Atlantic Books, 2022), as well as numerous articles and book chapters. She has presented internationally, including at Harvard Medical and Oxford University, and conferences for the American Association for Anatomy and more. She is currently working on a Ph.D. in Contemporary Human Anatomy Education at EVMS (Eastern Virginia Medical School), looking at the relationship between art, anatomy, and perception. More information is available at www.wellnessbridge.com
When not teaching or writing, Lauri can most often be found on one of the local nature trails in all types of weather and seasons. She values curiosity, friendship, travel, the arts and good conversation. Communication, whether in yoga or in science is about finding common language and listening on a deep level.
Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception; the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things which exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and contexture of the web. ~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV
