Online Dissection and Biomechanics in Motion: Anatomy through the Lens of Zoga Movement®

By combining real-time dissection of unembalmed cadavers with the practical application of Zoga Multidimensional Movement®, this module bridges the gap between theoretical anatomy and functional biomechanics.

Anatomical Exploration: What Will You See and Experience?

Supine Position (on the back):

• Anterior rectus sheath & Semilunar line – Key stabilizers of the abdominal wall essential for core integrity and force distribution.
• External and Internal abdominal oblique muscles – Critical for rotational control and lateral trunk stability; dysfunction often causes asymmetries and back pain.
• Transversus abdominis & Parietal peritoneum – The “internal corset,” regulating intra-abdominal pressure and spinal support.
• Abdominal aorta – The body’s primary arterial pathway, vital for understanding blood flow and systemic connections.
• Psoas major muscle – A deep stabilizer influencing lumbar alignment and pelvic mobility; crucial for addressing lower back pain.
• Iliolumbar ligament – Connects the spine and pelvis, maintaining structural integrity under stress.
• Nervous pathways:
  •  Iliohypogastric, Ilioinguinal, Genitofemoral, and Lateral femoral cutaneous nerves – Essential for sensory-motor function in the abdomen, groin, and thighs. Lumbosacral trunks & Ventral surface of lumbar vertebrae – Key to spinalstability and neural connections, offering insights into lumbar function.

Side-Lying Position (on the side):

• Latissimus dorsi muscle & Thoracolumbar aponeurosis – Explore their stabilizing role in spinal and shoulder function.
• Posterior cutaneous branches of spinal nerves – Sensory pathways critical to back tension and discomfort.
• Superior cluneal nerves – Often overlooked contributors to lower back and hip dysfunction.
• Erector spinae muscles (lumbar region) – The primary extensors and stabilizers of the lumbar spine.
• Quadratus lumborum – A core lateral stabilizer; its dysfunction affects posture, spinal mobility, and breathing.

Prone Position (on the front):

• Multifidus muscle (lumbar region) – Deep spinal stabilizers essential for segmental control and preventing instability.
• Rotatores muscles (lumbar region) – Small but vital muscles for rotational alignment of the vertebrae.
• Intervertebral discs (lumbar region) – Key to shock absorption, movement flexibility, and spinal health.
• Lumbar vertebral body (cancellous bone) – Understand its internal structure and role in weight-bearing.
• Sacroiliac joint – A central connection influencing pelvic stability and lower body movement.

Why Is Module 1 Essential?

This module takes you far beyond textbook anatomy, offering a functional understanding of how deep anatomical structures interact and influence movement. Through the Zoga Movement® approach, you will:

• Identify and release tensions in critical stabilizing areas.
• Enhance spinal and pelvic stability, addressing common sources of lower back pain.
• Improve movement patterns by understanding the interplay between nerves, muscles, and fascial layers.

With the relative motion concepts of Zoga Movement®, you will experience how targeted interventions in one region can influence the body’s entire biomechanics.

What You Will Take Away:

• A profound understanding of core anatomical structures and their biomechanical relevance.
• Practical tools to identify, address, and resolve movement dysfunctions.
• A new perspective on functional anatomy and motion that you can immediately apply in your professional practice.

See – Experience – Apply

Module 2: Pelvic Girdle Dynamics in Relation to Low Back Pain & Integration Through Zoga Movement®

Anatomical Exploration: What Will You See and Experience?

1. Bony Structures:

• Sacrum and Coccyx: Understanding the keystone role of the sacrum in load transfer between the spine and pelvis, and its connection to sacroiliac joint stability.
• Ilium, Ischium, Pubis (Innominate Bones): Visualizing the pelvic ring and how asymmetries in these bones affect posture and gait.
• Acetabulum and Hip Joint Articulations: Key for understanding hip mobility and its impact on lumbar mechanics.
• Sacroiliac Joints: Exploring their ligamentous support, stability under load, and role in force transmission.

2. Ligamentous Structures:

• Sacrotuberous and Sacrospinous Ligaments: Critical for pelvic stability; restrictions here often contribute to sciatic-like symptoms. 
• Iliolumbar Ligament: Linking the lumbar spine to the pelvis, crucial in maintaining lumbopelvic integrity. 
• Anterior and Posterior Sacroiliac Ligaments: Stabilizers of the sacroiliac joint, often involved in low back and pelvic pain syndromes. 
• Inguinal Ligament: Serves as a landmark for neurovascular structures and plays a role in pelvic alignment.

3. Muscular System:

• Deep Core Muscles:
  • Iliopsoas Complex (Psoas Major, Iliacus): Dual role in hip flexion and lumbar stabilization; hypertonicity here often mimics or contributes to back pain.
  • Quadratus Lumborum: A key lateral stabilizer affecting lumbar curvature and pelvic tilt.
  • Multifidus and Rotatores (Lumbosacral Region): Deep spinal stabilizers essential for segmental control.
• Gluteal Group:
  • Gluteus Maximus: Power generator for hip extension and external rotation, with fascial connections influencing the lumbar spine.
  • Gluteus Medius and Minimus: Lateral stabilizers critical for pelvic alignment during gait and single-leg activities.
• Pelvic Floor Muscles:
  • Levator Ani (Pubococcygeus, Iliococcygeus) & Coccygeus: Often overlooked in back pain discussions, yet central to core stability and intra-abdominal pressure regulation.
• Hip Rotators:
  • Piriformis: Its proximity to the sciatic nerve makes it a key player in pelvic and lower limb dysfunctions.
  • Obturator Internus/Externus, Gemelli, Quadratus Femoris: Stabilize the hip and influence sacroiliac mechanics.

4. Fascial Connections:

• Thoracolumbar Fascia: A central tension hub connecting the upper and lower body; influences spinal stability and force distribution.
• Iliotibial Band (ITB): Understanding its role beyond the hip and knee, as part of the lateral fascial line affecting pelvic alignment.
• Perineal Fascia and Abdominal Fascial Layers: Their tension relationships impact pelvic floor function and core stability.

Integration Through Zoga Movement®

While observing the dissection, participants will simultaneously engage in Zoga Movement®
sequences designed to:

• Demonstrate the functional relevance of each dissected structure through guided movement.
• Explore fascial tension patterns and how they influence pelvic alignment and spinal mechanics.
• Apply relative motion concepts to understand how addressing restrictions in one area can have systemic effects on posture and movement.
• Experience biomechanical corrections in real-time, observing how subtle adjustments can release tension, improve range of motion, and enhance stability.

Led by Wojtek Cackowski, Zoga Movement® founder, these sessions transform passive observation into an active, embodied experience. You won’t just learn what the structures are— you’ll feel how they function.

Why Is Module 2 Essential?

• Provides an in-depth look at the pelvic-lumbar connection, a key region in most cases of chronic low back pain.
• Teaches how to identify and address structural imbalances through both manual and movement-based interventions.
• Enhances clinical reasoning by integrating anatomical knowledge with functional biomechanics.
• Offers tools for immediate application in therapeutic settings, whether with clients or for self-care.

Who Should Attend?

• Manual Therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Movement Specialists
• Sports Therapists
• Health and Wellness Professionals

This module is part of a 3-part series, though each module can be attended independently. However, completing all three offers the most comprehensive understanding of the complex interrelationships within the human body.

Module 3: Shoulder Girdle Dynamics in Relation to Low Back Pain & Integration Through Zoga Movement®

Anatomical Exploration: What Will You See and Experience?

1. Bony Structures:

• Clavicle (Collarbone): Structural bridge between the axial skeleton and the upper limb, influencing thoracic and cervical mechanics.
• Scapula (Shoulder Blade): Dynamic stabilizer, crucial for upper body mobility and postural control.
• Humerus (Upper Arm Bone): Articulations at the glenohumeral joint affect both the neck and lower back.
• Sternum and Rib Cage: Connect to breathing mechanics and thoracic spine mobility; indirectly affect lumbar stability.
• Thoracic Vertebrae (T1–T12): Thoracic stiffness or hypermobility influences lumbar compensation patterns.

2. Ligamentous Structures:

• Acromioclavicular and Coracoclavicular Ligaments: Provide shoulder joint integrity; instability leads to spinal tension.
• Glenohumeral Ligaments: Stabilize the joint while allowing wide motion.
• Costovertebral and Costotransverse Ligaments: Rib-to-spine connectors; crucial for thoracic mobility.
• Sternoclavicular Ligament: Base stabilizer for shoulder complex; influences head and neck posture.

3. Muscular System:

• Rotator Cuff (Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, Subscapularis): Shoulder stabilizers with fascial connections to the spine.
• Serratus Anterior: Enables scapular mobility; dysfunction may cause lumbar extension compensation.
• Rhomboids & Levator Scapulae: Affect shoulder and neck tension.
• Trapezius (Upper, Middle, Lower Fibers): Bridges cervical spine, thorax, and shoulder; involved in posture.
• Pectoral Muscles (Major & Minor): Affect breathing, thoracic outlet, and upper body alignment.
• Latissimus Dorsi: Connects shoulder girdle to lumbar spine; links upper and lower body.
• Deep Cervical Flexors and Extensors: Key to head posture and spinal alignment.

4. Fascial Connections:

• Superficial and Deep Fascial Layers: Restrictions affect spinal mechanics.
• Brachial Fascia: Runs neck to arm; impacts movement strategy.
• Anterior and Posterior Fascial Lines: Tension continuity from head to pelvis.
• Sternal and Costal Fascial Attachments: Influence breathing and thoracic mobility.

Integration Through Zoga Movement®

As you observe the dissection, you will actively participate in Zoga Movement® sequences designed to:

• Demonstrate how upper body mechanics influence spinal alignment and lumbar stability.
• Explore the relationship between breathing, thoracic mobility, and low back pain.
• Apply fascial tension release techniques to improve upper body mobility and reduce compensatory patterns in the lower back.
• Understand the global impact of shoulder positioning on pelvic mechanics and gait patterns.

Guided by Wojtek Cackowski, Zoga Movement® founder, these practical sessions ensure that anatomical insights translate into real-world applications for both personal movement practices and client interventions.

Why Is Module 3 Essential?

• Reveals the hidden connections between shoulder mechanics and chronic low back pain.
• Teaches strategies to identify and correct postural compensations originating from upper body dysfunctions.
• Enhances clinical skills by integrating anatomical dissection with functional biomechanics.
• Provides tools for addressing complex pain syndromes through a whole-body approach.

Who Should Attend?

• Manual Therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Movement Specialists
• Sports Therapists
• Health and Wellness Professionals

While this module can be attended independently, completing the full 3-part series offers a comprehensive understanding of the body’s interconnected systems, empowering you to address dysfunctions from a truly holistic perspective.