As both teachers and students if we develop sensitivity then we can better control both our body and the way we interact with other peoples bodies. In terms of basic principles this is part of the principle of tuning connections.

Most of you have either seen or heard the little Lesson where by the teacher pours tea into his apprentices cup until it overflows. The admonishment to the student is that if they do not empty their head of preconceived notions how to they expect to learn.

While beginners mind is an important concept just as important is the teacher having an open and sensitive mind and the ability to use their senses.

Practice Sensing and Control

The practice of using the senses can start while doing yoga Asana. We can practice feeling our body.

So that we can feel our body we can move it. For myself I find that smooth, slow rhythmic and repeated movements are best for developing sensitivity since if we move repeatedly the same sensations will continue to repeat themselves making them easier to notice. Also moving slowly and smoothly takes some concentration and this is more likely to make it easier for the practitioner to direct their senses accordingly.

In addition if they are moving slowly and smoothly they are as an added bonus practicing and developing control of their body. Not only do they develop the ability to sense change in the form of movement, they develop the ability to control it.

Teaching with Sensitivity and Control

As teachers we can apply this same methodology to teaching. If we teach slowly and smoothly and rhythmically, we can watch to see what our students get and don't get. We can then vary our inputs accordingly, we can change the instruction either simplifying them or if our students look bored, make the instructions more complex but still doable.

We can also direct our own senses to the parts of the students that we are trying to control. If we want them to practice tilting their pelvis backwards and forwards then their pelvis is what we watch. And we can correct our instruction or our students or both if the pelvis isn't moving.

In terms of Asana, when we do fine movements, the act of moving slowly can force us to direct our senses towards the part that we are trying to control, that makes it easier to sense the part that is moving. Control and sensitivity then become two sides of the same coin.

Enjoying Tea

Back to the most basic principle of all, what is it that hold the two aspects of the coin together? The coin itself. Likewise with controlling and sensing. When practicing these two acts we need to unify or direct our effort with a clear idea of what we are trying to do.