Ashtanga Teacher Training continues

Some more thoughts on the Ashtanga teacher training.

Every day we work through each pose: correct entry, correct breath, correct exit, adjustments.

Adjustments can be vocal, tactile, breath, visual. When looking at students, the key in adjustments is to adjust for dangerous positions first, tension in the body second, and last adjust for aesthetics.

Some adjustments are minor--just touch a spot gently to bring focus into that student's area. For instance, an outer side of the foot...swipe, like a credit card, under the foot, and say "press here". Sometimes, just walking by a student, breathing your ujjayi breath audibly can give them adjustment.

Other adjustments may be more involved--placing hands and hips on the student to move their lines of energy. Every day David says "think of the lines of energy in the pose."Opposing forces, lifting, lengthening, in both directions the body is moving while staying "still" in a pose. Six directions of these lines: up/down, left/right, forward/backward.

Adjustments: 0-10 rule
0 = no touch
10 = 100% of your force

Effort in pose "rule of thumb": Apply 85-90% effort in a pose.
This reduces strain and risk of over stretching. Allow the breath to relax the pose deeper.