the demo
Tuesday, May 22, 2012 The demo is an important part of teaching. I have a lot of beginners in my classes and I can't just sit there and say "warrior two" and expect everyone to know what the fuck I'm talking about. So, I lead my classes. It just works for me. I might lead one side and then skip the other side in favor of giving verbal adjustments (I'm not much of a toucher).
And, of course there is that fine line between demonstrating a pose (this is where we are headed) and showing off in a pose (this is tittibhasana motha fuckers! oh, and you should move so i don't kick you in the face). Charlotte Bell has a great post on this at Hugger Mugger.
But, the asshat who made me get out of my pose to demo a pose that NO ONE in the class was even close to getting got me thinking about my own motivation when I demo those poses. Is it for the sake of teaching or for the sake of ego? Honestly, probably both.
A pose that I have all my students working toward (note: toward) is eka pada koundinyasana II.
Photo from Yoga Journal
This is a great pose to work up to bit bit. Little bit by little bit and then holy fuck: you're there! It might take a few years...but that is the part of yoga that I like to show my students. It is possible.
Obviously, this is a pose that I won't be able to get everyone into. But there are stops along the way that are huge victories. Maybe it is with the back knee down and just rocking that front foot. Believe me, that feeling of accomplishment when the front foot lifts for the first time, even if it is barely off the floor, is HUGE.
So, what are my reasons to demo this pose? If no one is even close to the pose do I still demo it?
My reason for demoing this pose would be to show where we are headed. This is a hard one to verbally explain, "so then we'll be balancing on the hands and the right leg will be headed toward me and the left leg will be headed to the back of the room!". Does that even sink in? WTF? Maybe it is better to just show it.
If no one is close? Well, I've never told anyone to move so I don't kick them in the face...
Self study is a son of a bitch.
Yup. I've demoed it when there is no way that anyone is getting there. My intention behind it? Probably to serve myself. In what way? I don't know. I feel like a moron.














