I am intrigued lately how we acquire a new individual skill or movement pattern and "make the decision" to assimilate or reject it.
How we learn and how we perform are related of course, but one is done more consciously than the other. There is a theory that our conscious input is extremely minimal while skiing....and that conscious decision making happens for larger, more global moves (like changing a line or skiing around an obstacle) while all the other thousands of functions that need to happen in order to make that decision occur take place on the subconscious level.
What stands out to me is that we seem to operate subconsciously through complex "programs" or groups of movement patterns that then allow us to begin to anticipate changes in terrain or pitch or react more fluidly to our situation at any given moment.
versatility through experience, I guess. (learn by doing)
In teaching we intuitively (and through training) try to introduce one thought or movement pattern at a time then take that thought or movement to different terrain or conditions so that we can expand versatility and confidence. I like to call these things "tools" . I try to choose them wisely so that they are still useful LATER...when I am not around.
When an idea or movement or exercise is introduced we must interrupt the flow of performance with that idea. Performance goes down due to that interruption. The conscious mind "gets in the way" and slows things down....probably for our survival....I think its here that we decide through the experience and conscious thought process on just how to use the new exercise. Or find out if it does not work.
as we assimilate the idea and movements to our subconscious programming it is ultimately rejected or accepted. or, in my case put on the back burner for further reflection or rejection. (sometimes Im just not ready to use it, but dont ultimately reject the idea in case I have missed something or do not have a fully formed movement pattern that can use it yet.)
Some things, of course, take more time than others. The more skilled we are, the more adept we are, the more accomplished.....the harder it is to have breakthroughs and reach new heights.
A very intuitive or experienced instructor or friend may show you something that works well on many levels. It just seems to click. It also fits your style of skiing. BUT when this happens, it goes pretty deep. There are gaps in our movement patterns, like missing pieces of a puzzle. choose the right piece and the picture begins to suddenly emerge. Then more pieces fit and the picture gets bigger and more well defined. Or....choose the wrong piece and the picture blurrs...the piece does not fit...and we have to search for another piece. conscious to subconscious to conscious.......the loop continues. If the piece fits, we test it and revel in it and smile a lot!
the right piece will fill missing gaps in SEVERAL movement patterns in our subconscious, which is why, I think, we have breakthroughs once in a while. It may take several cycles of both successful and unsuccessful exercises to equate to an overall feeling of accomplishment, but eventually, we reach saturation and something has to give, one way or another.
This is a bit "stream of consciousness", so I apologize if its a bit dry.......(but to me its fascinating).....
I may have a question forming....but it goes beyond simply asking for a coaching cue that works for you....but more like what teaching/coaching process worked best with your learning style, preference or mindset. What approach to the lesson/clinic resonated with you and stuck with you the most?
JP
How we learn and how we perform are related of course, but one is done more consciously than the other. There is a theory that our conscious input is extremely minimal while skiing....and that conscious decision making happens for larger, more global moves (like changing a line or skiing around an obstacle) while all the other thousands of functions that need to happen in order to make that decision occur take place on the subconscious level.
What stands out to me is that we seem to operate subconsciously through complex "programs" or groups of movement patterns that then allow us to begin to anticipate changes in terrain or pitch or react more fluidly to our situation at any given moment.
versatility through experience, I guess. (learn by doing)
In teaching we intuitively (and through training) try to introduce one thought or movement pattern at a time then take that thought or movement to different terrain or conditions so that we can expand versatility and confidence. I like to call these things "tools" . I try to choose them wisely so that they are still useful LATER...when I am not around.
When an idea or movement or exercise is introduced we must interrupt the flow of performance with that idea. Performance goes down due to that interruption. The conscious mind "gets in the way" and slows things down....probably for our survival....I think its here that we decide through the experience and conscious thought process on just how to use the new exercise. Or find out if it does not work.
as we assimilate the idea and movements to our subconscious programming it is ultimately rejected or accepted. or, in my case put on the back burner for further reflection or rejection. (sometimes Im just not ready to use it, but dont ultimately reject the idea in case I have missed something or do not have a fully formed movement pattern that can use it yet.)
Some things, of course, take more time than others. The more skilled we are, the more adept we are, the more accomplished.....the harder it is to have breakthroughs and reach new heights.
A very intuitive or experienced instructor or friend may show you something that works well on many levels. It just seems to click. It also fits your style of skiing. BUT when this happens, it goes pretty deep. There are gaps in our movement patterns, like missing pieces of a puzzle. choose the right piece and the picture begins to suddenly emerge. Then more pieces fit and the picture gets bigger and more well defined. Or....choose the wrong piece and the picture blurrs...the piece does not fit...and we have to search for another piece. conscious to subconscious to conscious.......the loop continues. If the piece fits, we test it and revel in it and smile a lot!
the right piece will fill missing gaps in SEVERAL movement patterns in our subconscious, which is why, I think, we have breakthroughs once in a while. It may take several cycles of both successful and unsuccessful exercises to equate to an overall feeling of accomplishment, but eventually, we reach saturation and something has to give, one way or another.
This is a bit "stream of consciousness", so I apologize if its a bit dry.......(but to me its fascinating).....
I may have a question forming....but it goes beyond simply asking for a coaching cue that works for you....but more like what teaching/coaching process worked best with your learning style, preference or mindset. What approach to the lesson/clinic resonated with you and stuck with you the most?
JP
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