Lessons of the Student Teacher

Thursday, 12/17 was a fun flow, with a class taught by Julie Snyder at Moving Mantra in the morning, a chance to practice in the afternoon and then a 5 student class at the Alexander YMCA.
The class with Julie provided me with a new format of teaching, based on body development. The progressions that a child makes in first reclining to rolling to crawling to pulling up to walking were themes behind the movements. Also woven in was progression from lower body/upper body dynamics to left/right, to front/back. This gently engaged all 3 planes, and more. I liked the Baby Cobra to lift up, not by the arms but, by the belly filling up with arm and the shoulder blades drawing back and down. This tiny lift requires a lot of focus and use of the pelvis.
The class at the YMCA contained four returning students and one new one. We worked up the spine to ultimately rolling across (massaging) the shoulders from Bridge Pose to mimic the gentle swinging of a hammock. One student felt anxious about falling due to a weak upper body. For her, the alternative base pose would be Half Bridge. Foot awareness is a big part of gaining stability in this movement. Another repeat student with fibromyalgia managed the class very well, and cited an improved level of comfort after class. That was satisfying.