I'm curious, where does it all come from, how does the instruction come about. Never really imagined SKPJ or Sharath saying that much, and let's face it there's not a lot of asana instruction in Yoga Mala and even less in Lino which basically just the count, the breath and the gaze. Is it all from assists in Mysore which then get transcribed somehow. Or is there a cultural leap from the instruction in Mysore to the instruction in the west. A way of looking at/thinking about asana. Does it become more technical, more anatomical?
I practiced along with Sharath's Primary DVD this morning (had a wondefful practice) which is basically just the count. Very different from Kino's, David's or Richard's, which are filled with instruction.
I remember in Japan that the traditional method of instruction in Iaido and Aikido was basically to watch and repeat, very different to how I studied it in the UK, where each movement was broken down and explained, even justified.
Here in the cybershala we're helping each other out with hints, tips and suggestions ( so helpful ), where do they all come from. We get them from teachers, work some things out ourselves, pass them around....
I was sent a video this week from someone who wanted me to look at their Jump back to see if I had any suggestions. I don't teach, not Ashtanga or any other style of Yoga. All I've done is spend the last year looking at the Jump back and analyzing it though my videos, does that qualify me? I had suggestions of course and was happy to offer them, though with the caveat that what I happen to think worked for me and my style of Jump back might not work for the style of jump back and Jump through that they themselves are developing/evolving.
Are there different schools of practice within Ashtanga. Mysore, West coast, East coast....a European school, a British school perhaps, sometimes it sounds that way. A school of practice that has built up or been disseminated from a particular teacher or group of teachers.
Just curios....normal video blogging will be resumed shortly.
5 comments:
Ah, such an interesting post! My professional background is in learning technology, so this is just the kind of thing I love to think about.
In "real life," my design team uses design models and subject matter experts to break down concepts and design them to create effective learning products (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructional_design).
This is all well & good, and interesting in a nerdy way (LOL!), and it can get pretty abstract and esoteric, but what I've always been most fascinated by is a more old-fashioned technology: an oral tradition where the teacher passes along knowledge from his or her teacher, and the student practices what he or she is learning in front of the teacher.
Kind of an apprentice model. The things I've most enjoyed learning have been via this mode: weight lifting, rock climbing, tai kwan do, zen, Ashtanga.
And it's interesting how the web plays into this: it's just chock full of all kinds of "case studies" from other people who are practicing. A great example of humans researching and sharing their results!
:-)
Apprentice, that's the word I was going to use.. I'm an apprentice now to Cary. Back before I started teaching, I mentioned the idea to my teacher/mentor at the time. She said she thought I'd be a good teacher, why? Because I'd teach from my own experience. I've always remembered that, especially when I find myself explaining things to students in terms no one has ever taught me... just my experience of what needs to happen... always a relief to see it written down somewhere, or hear another give the same instructions :)
I love how we all learn from each other's experiences. Because ultimately, we all have to do internalize our individual practices -- it *is* a practice born in a research institute, after all. =D
Very interesting! Both the post and the comments :)
Well thank you for stopping by miss bean and for commenting too.
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