Mastery Intu-Flow® Questions

[Coach Heins]

For anyone who might be able to assist and shed some light:

For the shoulder circles, going in the opposite direction is not covered. Any particular reason, or should it be assumed that we go in the opposite direction as well?

Same as above but for the elbow circles. And if for either of the these the answer is no, don't bother, why?

Lastly, just curious as to the reason for the control pause in the final breath/movement sequences. I believe I understand working thru the levels of our breath in Beg. to Adv., but the reason for the control pause is not covered.

Thanks a Bunch,
Shane.

[john.sifferman]

Hi Shane,

I'm not a CST Instructor, so maybe one can shed some more insight about this.

I would definitely go in the opposite direction with the master level shoulder movements. You'll be able to get deeper into specific shoulder ROM. I find it valuable to go a little slower when doing the advanced and master level exercises, at least at first (building up speed as I go). Let me clarify, though, speed is not important when it comes to joint mobility wellness, but I find that going slowly at first helps me ensure that I am actively seeking out the furthest range of motion possible. After a few circles, I will continue to build speed until at a comfortable rhythm for abating tension.

Regarding the control pause, I KNOW that someone else can cover this better than I. I understand the Intu-Flow practice of the control pause as building a skill for the future. The control pause is exactly the moment when fine motor patterns can be executed. The control pause allows for more precision than when inhaling or exhaling (which naturally move the body). I see it as a way of concentrating explicitly on my movement without fear.

[Coach Heins]

Thanks for your response John. Was feeling the same and but it wasn't specified, so wanted to get others thoughts as to what they thought was inferred.

Are you planning on getting your CST instructor in the near future;)?

Thanks Again,
Shane.

[john.sifferman]

No actually. I wanted to do it this August, but it just isn't happening this year. I've spent a lot of time with the CST materials for the past 3 years, and have incorporated so much of CST into my own practice. For now, I'll simply enjoy the education, health, and training benefits - while waiting for the time when I can refine it with a weekend seminar.

[Coach Billew]

Shane,

John made some excellent points. In terms of the shoulder and elbow circles, you certainly can do them in both directions, but I think the feeling is that by changing direction mid stream and coupling them with the shoulder screws you are covering the full range of motion anyway. I usually make that decision from day to day based on time, when I am working the mastery level.

The control pause is what Mastery level is all about. If you do a search here on the Breath Mastery Scale you will see a diagram of the way we chart the development of mastery. When you can consistently and more importantly unconsciously perform a movement on the control pause then you have reached mastery of that movement. Note that I said "of that movement" this development is movement specific it is also incremental. One of the dangers of it is thinking of it as a goal. My preference is to think of it as something to be observed and noted. If I am consistently performing a given exercise at Mastery level breathing then I need to move on to other exercises and goals. For Intuflow those exercises serve as way to prime you for working in the control pause in other activities, and also as a way to work on extending the pause.

[Coach Heins]

Shane,

The control pause is what Mastery level is all about. If you do a search here on the Breath Mastery Scale you will see a diagram of the way we chart the development of mastery. When you can consistently and more importantly unconsciously perform a movement on the control pause then you have reached mastery of that movement. Note that I said "of that movement" this development is movement specific it is also incremental. One of the dangers of it is thinking of it as a goal. My preference is to think of it as something to be observed and noted. If I am consistently performing a given exercise at Mastery level breathing then I need to move on to other exercises and goals. For Intu-Flow® those exercises serve as way to prime you for working in the control pause in other activities, and also as a way to work on extending the pause.




Slade, thanks very much for the notes on the control pause. Makes a little more sense now. And this is where the breath mastery scale finally rears it's head. I've heard ot thrown around, but with so much to learn, I'm trying to take it one step at a time. I'll start looking into it in greater detail as it appears I've now reached an area of my learning where it would be important to be knowledgable about it (at least on a theoretical level;)).

Thanks again guys,
Shane.