Scott Lamps Yoga
  • Home
  • Journal
  • Calendar
  • About
    • About Scott
    • Books
  • Contact

Corrections and Assists

6/19/2014

0 Comments

 
Every teacher has a different approach to the postures of their students. Some believe "I say Warrior 2, it is the student's responsibility to meet me there." Some believe that wherever we may land in a posture is the "perfect posture for that day." Some are meticulous about verbal cue-ing, telling the students specific bodily instructions like "rotate the hip slightly inward and push down through the outside corner of your back foot." 

Each teacher also has a different philosophy about whether to do "hands-on assists" on the students. Some will push rather forcefully to get a student deeper into a posture. Others massage or lightly touch the students to help them relax or direct their focus. My personal philosophy is to do corrections, sometimes hands-on, but never assist. 

It is difficult or impossible to tell where a student is at in their practice. Where are they focusing? Are they tight, sore or injured today? Are they trying something new? If we (teachers) assist their posture, we take them out of their own practice and demand that they do ours. Their focus gets drawn away from where they were and necessarily to where we are pushing or stretching them. I consider this to be contrary to the goals of teaching.

On the other hand, if a student is executing a posture in a way that will be damaging to his or her body, it is our duty to correct their form. We should insist upon correct technique and alignment to the best of the student's ability. (Sometimes weakness or tightness makes proper form impossible. In those cases, we can help steer the student in the right direction.)

I think the largest amount of responsibility for each person's practice lies within themselves. A teacher can illuminate new paths and guide the student away from pitfalls, but the work must be done by the student.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    This journal honors my ongoing experience with the practice, study and teaching of yoga.

    My Favorites

    - Lessons From Tony
    - Lessons From Tony, 
    Part 2

    - This Complete Stillness
    - Truth Is a Pathless Land

    Popular Posts

    1) Sridaiva Yoga: Good Intention But Imbalanced
    2) Understanding Chair Posture
    2) Why I Don't Use Sanskrit or Say Namaste
    3) The Meaningless Drudgery of Physical Yoga
    5) Beyond Bikram: Why This Is a Great Time For Ghosh Yoga

    Categories

    All
    Community
    Ghosh Study In India
    History & Theory
    Kolkata
    Meditation
    Physical Science (Anatomy/Mechanics Etc)
    Postures
    Practice
    Pranayama
    Pratyahara
    Spirituality
    Sun Salute
    Teaching
    The Mind
    Tony Sanchez Advanced Practice

    Archives

    November 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    RSS Feed

©2016 by Scott Lamps. Madison, WI. All rights reserved.
Classes | Journal | About | Contact
  • Home
  • Journal
  • Calendar
  • About
    • About Scott
    • Books
  • Contact