“Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language, and the last, and it always tells the truth.”

— Margaret Atwood

Leonardo DaVinci

DaVinci dissected 30 human bodies in his lifetime. He wrote: “Man has been called by the ancients a lesser world, and indeed the name is well applied; because, as man is composed of earth, water, air, and fire…this body of the earth is similar.” He compared the human skeleton to rocks (“supports of the earth”) and the expansion of the lungs in breathing to the ebb and flow of the oceans.

Andreas Vesalius

Andreas Vesalius was a 16th-century Flemish anatomist, physician, and author of one of the most influential books on human anatomy, De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body). Vesalius is often referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy. He was born in Brussels, which was then part of the Habsburg Netherlands.

THE ARTIST: John of Calcar (John Stephen Calcar) (Netherlandish, Calcar, Cleves 1499–1546/50 Naples (active Italy)

Parts of this publication are on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

part of the "Oriental Woman" collection by Émile Vernet Lecomte

image credit @storia.dellarte

It is likely an image of Minnehaha, from Longfellow’s poem, Song of Hiawatha

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Frank H. Netter

One of my favorite anatomical artists is Frank H. Netter (1906-1991) who published An Atlas of Human Anatomy just years before his death.

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Andreas Vesalius, Male Torso with Intestines

From the Book: De humani corporis fabrica libri septem / Andreae Vesalii. (Basel, 1555) Galter Health Sciences Library, Special Collections, Northwestern University, Chicago.

Illustration by Phoebe Gloeckner for J.G. Ballard’s “The Atrocity Exhibition.”

J.G. Ballard wrote the book “Crash,” which was made into that 1996 psycho-erotic-thriller about car crash victims. Remember that? It was pretty out there.

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PAGE 28 OF ADRIAAN VAN DE SPIEGEL AND GIULIO CASSERI: DE HUMANI CORPORIS FABRICA LIBRI DECEM, VENICE, 1627

Male anatomical figure showing back muscles

about miriam nadia

Miriam specializes in pain relief by incorporating her knowledge of Western massage techniques— deep tissue manipulation, myofascial release (active & passive), and trigger point therapy— with Eastern techniques— acupressure, aromatherapy, cupping, energy balancing, sound/vibrational therapy.

Rather than focusing on age, race, gender, size, ability, or personal belief, Miriam concentrates on the restorative dynamic that occurs when both therapist and client tap into the collaborative powers of breath, compassionate listening, intention, and direct pressure.

Miriam is perinatal massage certified and loves working with clients of all genders across their life cycle. In 2025, she earned a Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and completed her clinical training as a speech-language pathologist at NYU Langone. She has a particular interest in the complex structures of the head and neck and in supporting speech, swallowing, mobility, and overall function.

In addition to her private practice, Miriam leads the practitioner training and development team at Bathhouse, where she teaches various workshops and supports the growth of new and experienced massage therapists.

She has been practicing licensed massage therapy in New York City since 2006.