I prefer to watch the teacher demonstrate the poses. Why don’t you demonstrate in Kaiut?

Although from time to time it is helpful for a teacher to demonstrate a posture that works with more complex/new alignment, a teacher demonstrating a pose gives students a mental image of what that shape “should” look like. This means that students start to think their way into the shape rather than feel their way into it. This is where injury occurs.

Each individual’s system is unique, and that is to be respected. Forcing ourselves into a “correct” shape is an act of aggression on our system that leads to injury and impoverishes the benefits of the pose. Regardless of our best intentions as students, we tend to overdo things and disguise self-competition under the name of self-betterment.

Even if you are a visual learner, this doesn’t mean you can’t practice Kaiut. The other students in the class each have their own distinct shape in every pose. Look at the other folks in class (not just one person) to see the variety. Then use that information as a way to find a variation that optimizes the work for your specific system. If you are struggling, ask your teacher for clarification or help. 

This listening-focused way of presenting the sequences encourages students to practice their listening skills rather than relying heavily on visual referencing. Being in a live class rather than watching a recording allows students who have questions and/or are primarily visual learners to have personalized guidance from the teacher.

All Kaiut Special Topics, Slow Flow, and Yin yoga classes are demonstration based practices where the teacher is practicing while teaching.