Hey

Happy Wednesday!

A few months ago, I overheard a Pilates teacher say to a student: 

"A fresh, new routine every week makes our brains work better!"

Does it, though? 

Skip the drop-in. Stick with the basics.

, by now, you are familiar with my teaching philosophy and know that Satori Yoga doesn't offer drop-in classes. Here is another reason I skip the drop-in.

Novelty - new things, new experiences or even a new yoga routine -  is incredibly attractive to humans. Why is that so?

The answer lies in a dopamine molecule, a tiny evolutionary driver that compels us to pursue new experiences. This neural pathway is hard-wired into our brains. Some evolutionary biologists argue that this pursuit of fresh new experiences helped us survive as a human species when the going got tough.   

Marketers know this well. 

Social media experts, new product designers, web developers, and phone companies are all exploiting this hard-wired dopamine drive. We aimlessly scroll through Facebook or get excited about a shiny new phone (or a new movement routine, as it goes).

Does this "dopamine drive" apply to movement practice? 

Yes, you bet, as evidenced by the Pilates student's excited comment about yet another "shiny" new routine.

Like anyone, I get a thrill from trying out a new, more complex movement, a yoga magazine pose, or a fun, fresh routine. But I know that the rush of dopamine is short-lived. I understand that I need to put in the work - for weeks, often months, and sometimes years - to build awareness, functional movement patterns, and strength to progress toward those exciting, big moves. It is the discipline and commitment, not novelty, that truly make a difference in our practice.

Is it possible to find a balance between our fatal attraction to "shiny new things" - the temptation to constantly change our routines, exercises or modalities - and the necessary actions we must take to see improvements in our fitness and well-being?

Rather than introducing a new "shiny" routine every week, Satori yoga classes consistently focus on basics and incremental progression to develop a healthy, functional foundation for everyday movement. This small but significant shift in perspective leads to a more meaningful and fulfilling practice and long-term progress. 

It wasn't always this way. Early in my yoga teaching career, I also taught a new sequence every week. You might have heard me say,

"I never teach the same class twice!"

Back then, I was afraid that students would get bored repeating the same movements week after week and lose interest in classes. I didn't yet know how to structure movement progression in a fun and functional way. 

Having apprenticed with various movement teachers over many years, I've come to value a well-designed arc of progression. I know how frustrating it could be to learn a new routine every time you step onto the mat. How could anyone ever hope to master anything with this approach? 

Join me next week. I'll show you exactly what I mean when I say movement progression. Remember, shiny might sell, but basics work, and they work for the long haul. See you next week - and see you on the mat!

Warmly,