What ST videos have you spent the most time working with?

[MarkTN]

This thread is a suggestion from an exchange with Kit the other day.

“Why don't you start a thread on "I wonder which format the other forum people prefer and what videos they’ve spent the most time working with?" Great idea.”

Some general questions:

Which Stretch Therapy Vimeo download videos have forum users purchased?
And of the those which are ones have they spent the most time actually practicing?

I’m not a statistics person (I know many forum users are) but I think part of the question and what might be helpful for Kit going forward is which of his products are getting multiple views and what’s the optimal format for learning this material from a video, e.g. lesson length, presentation style, etc.

I’ll start.
I’ve purchased almost all the Vimeo VODs. The ones I’ve probably spent the most time with are the follow-alongs, with my 4 top most viewed being: “stretching for meditation”, “rolling on the floor”, “slow flow” and “bodyline “. These videos are on my IPad. (I really like the various size download options for this reason.) I’ve probably watched “SfM” entirely a dozen times and dipped into it many more. I really like the first 45 minutes of “slow flow”, rotations through the extended slumping sequence. I’ve probably done the “bodyline” routine 20 times. It’s a great travel workout. I've also done the "unnumbered lesson" and  "Pike Prep" follow a long a half dozen times. Some of these are simpler videos among the ST library (compared with the Mastery series in terms of technical formatting).

I’ve gotten a lot out of the “mastery series” but the short chapter lesson approach has not translated into as many multiple viewings for me. Some chapters I’ve watched several times. I tend to watch a lesson and try to incorporate it into my sessions. Others I watch only once. (This feedback reflects my learning style not the excellence of the material.)

When I recommend a title I recommend “Stretching for Meditation” because it’s a great beginners routine, gentle and head to toe with a philosophy of self care and awareness (and it’s $5). I like the deliberate pace and exploratory vibe of this video.

[Nathan]

I don't want to respond to this because thinking about it makes me feel bad about how little I've actually used the VOD material 

I have all of the Mastery programs, the Slow Flow programs, OBP, an unnumbered lesson by Kit, Liv's pike and pancake prep follow-alongs, her front splits prep, and another follow-along or two, I think. I have yet to actually work through any of the follow-alongs from start to finish. Honestly, I use the Mastery collection as a form/cue library and reference certain movements from time to time, but so far that is about it.

I suppose one of the main reasons for this is that I have attended Into the Stretch, Deeper Into the Stretch, and ST for Performance workshops, so I basically use the videos as little refreshers. I also tend to like to really take my time in a stretch and pay careful attention to the sensations, so I often end up in a position for quite a while. Obviously, this doesn't work too well with a follow-along format. I could pause as needed, but the sessions would end up take all day long 

I also don't really have a good method for viewing the programs while following along. I have a big TV and a fair-sized computer screen, but I do my stretching in the bedroom, where I would have to watch the videos on my iPhone screen (or move my laptop from the office to the bedroom). None of these are huge obstacles (I could stretch in a different room or move the laptop), but combined with my usual stretching tendencies, I just haven't made the effort to work around them yet.

That said, I think there is a lot of value in the follow-alongs and I really should make an effort to use them every now and then!

[Dexter]

I own a few of the mastery series and also the front split prep. I started using ST from the free Youtube videos, and then getting the Stretching and flexibility book after that followed by joining my first workshop back in 2016. Same as @Nathan I do not use the VOD materials enough . Part of the reason I think is because the first workshop I joined gave me enough tools to unlock the patterns of flexibility that I wanted at the time. 

Now that I started teaching ST, I do actually watch the videos more, as they are important to learn how to effectively present the material to my students, and now I actually need more tools to cater to the needs of different people. I'm also looking into getting more programs soon, like slow-flow, and the follow along classes, for more ideas on how to present a good class.

 

[Pat (pogo69)]

On 25/11/2017 at 4:06 AM, MarkTN said:

“Stretching for Meditation”

Hey @MarkTN: are you referring to "How to Sit for Meditation"?  I'm reasonably certain you are, but wanted to clarify, because:

I have purchased almost everything made available on Vimeo.  I've spot watched through "Master the Squat", and parts of "Master Shoulder Flexibility" and "Master Full Back Bend and ABH".  I have also done single runs-through of a couple of Liv's follow along classes with my partner when we found a miraculous window of toddler-free opportunity.

But mostly, I've intentionally regressed and tried to focus on "How to Sit for Meditation".  My hips are my biggest bang for buck issue.  With limited time, and a significant issue with mobility and imbalance, that is where I feel I need to devote my limited time and energies.  I am still yet to watch/follow along the entire video through to the end.  Something *cough*toddler*cough* has interrupted me each time I've tried.

Thanks for the heads up re: Bodyline, @MarkTN.  I hadn't noticed it, and I think it might be very useful for my partner, to target some thoracic/scapular mobility/strength and rib flaring issues.

[MarkTN]

Yes, Pogo. “How to Sit for Meditation” is the correct title. Definitely worth the time when you can find it. 

[Kit_L]

Re. How to sit for meditation: I will be remaking and re-uploading that program in the weeks to come. The present version's sound quality is—well, let's just say there's room for improvement! The new technology yields genuine broadcast-standard sound. I am thinking of breaking that hour-long program into 15' parts, too. If used daily, just do 15' each day; that way you will do the exercises in the last 15'!

One of the reasons my hips are reasonably loose is that I do my morning's work (2–3 hours) sitting the the Burmese position, with a thin cushion, and the laptop on a bolster. Every now and again, I will do a tailor pose. The main point here is a bit like the time under tension concept from strength training: you spend long enough in a position so that is becomes comfortable, that is your new body: the one that can do this and that.

@Nathan: you use programs like I would: scan through, get the main ideas, then when I practise by myself (with those ideas in the back of my mind) I simply start. I never have any idea where a session will go. Personally, this is a very good way for me to work, but its effectiveness assumes a certain degree of connectedness to one's inner state. The fact that you have attended a number of our workshops has had a major influence on how you practise too, I am sure. As you said, "so I often end up in a position for quite a while". In my view, one must practise this way. But to get to that point, following-along is one of the best ways, we feel. It's a process: at some point, like the scaffolding of a building, it is no longer needed.

@MarkTN: thanks for starting this thread; I will promote it on FB, too; let's see how many other people respond.

[zenwoof]

I have just about every VOD save a couple follow-alongs and I easily work most with the Mastery series. Slow Flow is second, but I prefer to take my own notes and jot the order of exercises so I don't have to rely on the follow-along and can go at my own pace.

With the Mastery series, I have a TOC note in Evernote which links to a dedicated note for each Mastery series. In each dedicated note, I have a list of all the exercises and my own description of the exercise and anything to look out for, with certain exercises highlighted in yellow (meaning to focus on) or in red font (meaning there is some sort of pain or blockage). Then in the TOC note I've included the exercises I've highlighted in yellow from each respective dedicated note.

When I'm looking to see what to do right as I begin my practice, I'll pull up the TOC note and get a snapshot glimpse of what exercises I should focus on, then I pick and choose. If I need more detail or a refresher, I will click the hyperlink to the dedicated note, perhaps even re-watch the specific video. Maybe every few months or so, depending how much progress I feel I've made, I will perform some housekeeping:
    - revisit the exercises in red font, to see if I've gained the means to approach the exercise in a new way so as to not experience pain or blockage
    - adjust highlighting: see if there are exercises I should no longer focus on or new ones I should

See here:

[MarkTN]

19 hours ago, Kit_L said:

its effectiveness assumes a certain degree of connectedness to one's inner state.

This is on the on-going challenge and why I do the videos or listen to the various free audio files (such as the Group stretching series from the meditation retreat or an extended interview). Sometimes I’ll follow precisely and sometimes it’s a background groove I’ll dip in and out of, a device for connecting to my inner state.