anatomy class

you use your body every single day. you exercise it, feed it, rest it, and occasionally break it. and yet you probably know more about your car engine than you do about the system of muscles, bones, and organs keeping you alive.

the body you don't understand

most people exercise by mimicking what they see others doing at the gym. they do bicep curls because someone on instagram does bicep curls. they run because running seems healthy. they have no idea which muscles are actually firing, which joints are at risk, or why their left shoulder always hurts.

this is like driving a car without knowing what any of the dashboard lights mean. you can get by, but when something goes wrong, you're completely lost.

why basic anatomy changes everything

when you understand that your hip flexors shorten from sitting all day and that's why your lower back hurts, you stop treating the symptom and start addressing the cause. when you learn that your rotator cuff is four separate muscles and only two of them are strong, you understand why your shoulder clicks during overhead press.

anatomy knowledge turns exercise from guesswork into strategy. you stop doing random workouts and start targeting specific weaknesses. you prevent injuries instead of recovering from them. you understand why certain stretches help and others are a waste of time.

how to learn without going to med school

you don't need a degree. you need a few hours and curiosity:

• youtube: channels like athlean-x break down anatomy in the context of exercise, making it immediately practical
• apps: complete anatomy or visible body let you explore 3D models of the human body
• books: "becoming a supple leopard" by kelly starrett is a masterclass in understanding how your body moves

start with the areas that bother you most. sore back? learn the lumbar spine and hip complex. bad knees? understand the relationship between your quads, hamstrings, and IT band.

know thyself, literally

spend one hour this week learning the anatomy of one body part you use during exercise. just one. the knowledge compounds fast, and your workouts will never feel random again.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.