The Difference Between Being Taught and Learning
The Difference Between Being Taught and Learning
Have you noticed from your experiences that when someone is trying to teach you something, are you able to process the information to understand, or is there still confusion, or do you give up, frustrated? In my learning process, instead of someone trying to teach me, more potency arrives from the instructor’s observations. Did they observe if I was getting what they were trying to communicate?
There’s a look of confusion when someone is not able to understand. How can I support and help their process? When people tell me I’m a teacher, I pause and think; for me, I’m an observer. From my observations of subtle details, the person shares, not just from what they tell me, but also from how they move, their breathing, coloration, and where they hold muscularly. I begin to communicate through movement, and then I continue to inquire if that makes sense so I can further clarify information to support their learning. Sometimes, there might be confusion and learning comes from that, too. I don’t tell them what to do, but I give them time to find their way to process what they don’t get. The most important thing for me is to help facilitate their own learning, as I support them in their process.
The best way to discover something new is to have your own experience. Let’s try – lie down, if possible, on the floor or mat, even your bed if that’s the most comfortable for you, or if you prefer, sit in a chair. When you feel comfortable, you are better able to sense and feel yourself. From this place, turn inwards and listen to your contact with the surface, where you touch and also areas where you sense the absence of support.
Now, this is an internal listening to yourself; be aware of your breathing. There is no need to do anything to affect your breathing; notice where you feel the sensations of your inhalation and then your exhalation. Compare if there’s a difference if your eyes are closed or open. Does one way help you tune into yourself better? Recognize the contact of your feet, whether your legs are long if on your back or your feet are in the standing position, with your knees oriented towards the ceiling whether on your back or sitting. Can you create an image of where your feet make contact and compare the difference between your right foot to the left?
Let your sense of feeling comfortable prioritize and notice when you honor this. Do you start to settle and relax a bit more on the surface? This is your learning, I simply shared information as to what to do with options and asked you to listen so you are more focused on what feels nice and better. I notice, and then I allow you to compare your habit to another possibility as an option.
It’s noticing differences instead of one way is right or wrong. They’re different, and I trust your intelligent nervous system will begin to awaken for you to find what makes sense and works best for you. This is your learning, and I simply helped guide and facilitate you to a position where you are comfortable to begin this internal exploration. You can awaken through your sensations to move into another position so you are free to compare or ask questions.
“To learn we need time, attention, and discrimination; to discriminate we must sense. This means that in order to learn we must sharpen our powers of sensing, and if we try and do most things by sheer force of will we shall achieve precisely the opposite of what we need.” Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
I invite you to experience the difference between being told what to do compared to learning what is working best for you. It’s all about how we learn, told to do or begin to compare differences. A difference in something being hard or finding ways to allow something to become easier and nicer. Somatic learning can be applied to any form of learning and when we make it easier to learn instead of being told to do it one way, a whole new world opens up.
Please join me for weekly Awareness Through Movement (ATM)® or explore private sessions with me whether like in person or virtual. Reach out whether to receive weekly class links or schedule a session. Usually I offer 4 afternoon ATM zoom classes: Tuesday at 3, Wednesday at 1:30, Friday at 3 and Saturdays at 12. All classes are Eastern Time and come with an audio file to download for your continued explorations.
I hope I’ve earned the privilege of your time and attention, and look forward to learning together soon.
Warmest,
Peggi
