Sunday, April 26, 2020

Kramas: Breaking Down Postures for Teaching and Sequencing

Kramas: levels

The concept of kramas (Indonesian for "castes") suggest that all things can be broken up into their significant parts

  • Human Society
  • Family
  • Supernatural (the hierarchy of understanding deities)
  • Matter (the nature of the universe)
This concept can be used to understand physical practice (somatic intelligence).
  • What is the skill required to perform this asana (posture, movement, etc.)?
  • Can I deconstruct (break down) this asana into its component parts?
  • Can I create levels that encourage both understanding and learning for my students?
  • Can I apply these krama to a good teaching pedagogy?
    • repetition
    • scaffolding (repeating a skill in different ways and in different contexts)
    • simplicity
    • creating an environment that is challenging but not frustrating for students
One figures out the kramas of a posture (asana) or movement in their own practice.
  • You will not find your voice in books
  • You will not find your voice imitating others
  • You will not find your voice in dogma
  • You will only find your voice by practicing and thinking about what is going on in your own body/mind
Examples: Sequencing Strategy #1: Master Posture
(1) eka pada baddha rajakapotasana (one legged bound pigeon)-class observation #1

  • What are the basic components of the posture?
  • How is it broken down?
  • What pedagogy strategies are used?
  • How are students encourage to continue practicing this advanced (difficult) asana?
  • What skills are needed (must be learned) to perform this posture?


(2) parivrtta galvasana (revolved flying pigeon)-class observation #2
  • What are the basic components of the posture?
  • How is it broken down?
  • What pedagogy strategies are used?
  • How are students encourage to continue practicing this advanced (difficult) asana?
  • What skills are needed (must be learned) to perform this posture?
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Embodied Movement: The Movement of Breath


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