Last Week - Reflection

These past 8 weeks have flown by way too fast. As I was reading some of my previous posts, I realized how much knowledge I’ve acquired about Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates. The path that got me here involved several different learning concepts and theories. When I began Bodyflow class, I really struggled with my breathing technique, which can make it a lot more difficult to hold poses. I learned that as my breathing got better, so did my stance and stamina in various poses in Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. This is what led me to the most valuable takeaway from this whole experience, and that’s knowledge transfer.

I learned a lot about different transfer in Bodyflow class.  I found knowledge transfer in breathing to be foundational for Bodyflow class because the breathing technique can vary for each pose or stretch. This really requires an individual to have enough knowledge about breathing and stretches and poses to know how to utilize the appropriate breathing technique.  I am getting a lot better at breathing, but 

I am still fine-tuning my breathing schema as I continue to learn more.

Transfer in Bodyflow class is particularly important within Tai Chi, Yoga and even Pilates because some of the smaller moves are incorporated in to larger movements. I have an easier time learning and memorizing larger movements because of my existing knowledge of the smaller moves being incorporated in to it.

In learning about breathing, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates, I was able to learn through a variety of learning processes that included a Zone of Proximal Development, working with an expert, and through social learning.

When I attended Pilates class, I was able to work with another girl in the class, my friend and the instructor where we could freely ask questions and learn amongst each other by creating a Zone of Proximal Development.

My Bodyflow instructor was such a great resource. She truly was an expert in Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. She gave me great advice in breathing and I felt that she efficiently “chunked” topics as she was teaching us new moves or breathing styles.

I watched the breathing techniques videos almost once a week to help fine-tune my breathing skills through social learning. These videos were great because I could pause or replay a section as needed, and they were available to me on-demand.  

And lastly, in my post from week 2, I wanted to be able to do the Flip the Dog Move.

See a video of me doing Flip the Dog below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D27RCzceqHc

Week 7 - Breathing: Learning & Transfer

I’ve been in BodyFlow class for about 8 weeks now. This week I’ve been doing some thinking about the most important element between Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s breathing. Breathing technique is one of the most transferred skills in BodyFlow class. Each pose or movement can be affected significantly by one’s breathing. This week we are reading about Learning and Transfer from the book, How People Learn, and I’m relating transfer to breathing in BodyFlow class.

I am still watching the breathing videos I described in my first blog post, and they help me understand better breathing techniques. I consider this learning social learning about breathing to be initial learning for breathing with Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. The text indicates that “without an adequate level of initial learning, transfer cannot be expected.”

The text also notes the importance of giving feedback in learning. Students need feedback about the degree to which they know when, where and how to use the knowledge they are learning. With breathing, I know how to do the techniques, but not always when to apply them. The instructor’s feedback on when and how to breathe throughout different poses has helped me to fine tune the times in which I apply certain breathing techniques.

When I learn about different breathing techniques online or from other sources, and then apply them in class, I can better learn how and when to breathe and can stretch deeper in to poses or hold them for longer periods of time. The text from this week about Learning and Transfer discusses that learning is most effective when people engage in “deliberate practice” that includes monitoring of ones experiences. This has been true for me because I have been able to learn more about breathing in class when applying the skills I’ve learned.

The last relatable note I’ll make about the readings this week is that it takes time to learn. When I consider my breathing skills 7 weeks ago, they were fairly poor compared to how I was breathing in BodyFlow class this week. By spending time over the past 7 weeks on breathing, I have been able to better my skills. The more time I can spend on my breathing skills, the better I hope they become.

References

Bransford, J., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. R. (1999). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.