As human beings, we are very active creatures. It is very rare that we sit absolutely still, without any movement; in fact, it would be considered strange in most social contexts. These movements are not sporadic however, they are in fact highly controlled and practiced skills. Even when we remain relatively still, such as resting or sleeping, we have still learned the skills necessary to do so, whether it is knowing how to sit in a chair or lie down on a bed, these are very ordinary, everyday techniques that we use. taken for granted and seen as something natural, but they are often techniques that we have been taught to use. Marcel Mauss, in his work Techniques du corps (1934), is considered the first work to outline a systematic anthropology of the body (Synnott 1993). It aims to demonstrate that most everyday body techniques differ among people raised in different environments because they have a different lifestyle that requires a different skill set. According to Mauss, all ordinary activities such as walking, running, swimming, resting are not only techniques that we are naturally endowed with but are rather culturally acquired. The purpose of this article is to critically evaluate Mauss's argument that techniques of the body constitute culture. This will be done by examining what is defined as culture in the context to which Mauss refers. An analysis of the examples of “body techniques” given by Mauss in his article will then begin, while relying on current examples. Mauss' work will then be compared to other writers in the field of "the body" such as Elias and Goffman. The notion of culture to which Mauss refers is conceived as a body of knowledge and information which is transmitted from generation to generation through practical applications. (middle of paper ... its members who adhere to it could be established that it actually holds enormous influence over the way and nature in which we use our bodies. Culture through its system of symbols, which are structurally trained, through habitus, serve to teach us how to behave in order to become a full member of our given society. These symbols are further reinforced by the intuitions of family and education, of the media, of society. fashion and societal perception. This affects the many ways we use our bodies, from walking technique to sleeping, while also helping us classify our social identity based on our gender and age. It is only through learning, continuous practice and constant adherence to self-control that we are able to do so successfully, making every action we perform an "art of gymnastics, perfected." our days” (Mauss 1934:456).