Integrating yoga into anatomy and clinical medicine education: A holistic approach to learning

Anatomical knowledge is fundamental for success in clinical settings. Unfortunately, anatomy education within professional health programs has experienced a continual decrease in contact hours and curricular content over the previous two decades, leading to deficits and potential gaps in anatomical science knowledge. Additionally, there is a common misconception among students that anatomy education is simply a collection of facts that require memorization. Thus, there is a need for innovative teaching methods to help reinforce such knowledge and support students' wellness. This report outlines a series of novel yoga-based workshops in anatomy education with clinical medicine applications, embodied learning, and a holistic pedagogical approach which engages the mind, body, and spirit. Three yoga workshops focused on (i) musculoskeletal anatomy, (ii) spinal and peripheral nerves, and (iii) neuroanatomy and the neurological exam were developed. Each workshop included a warmup, sun salutations (a series of yoga poses performed in a continuous sequence), asanas (individual poses), a vinyasa (flow of poses), a cooldown, savasana (resting pose), and a closing meditation. The workshops also examined the etymology of Sanskrit and Latin that underpin anatomical and medical terminology. The workshops have been taught to medical students, physical therapy students, and medical residents. A pretest was administered before each session, while a posttest and wellness survey were distributed following the yoga workshops. These workshops offer a template for educators to provide an alternative approach to learners by offering a yoga session that reinforces anatomical knowledge, highlights relevant clinical correlates, and improves overall well-being.