Master Series Follow Along

[Joe Falchetto]

In the comments section part of my of Master the Pike, Kit announces that follow along version of the mastery series will be released.

Would it be possible to have some more information about this? That is, a rough expected release time and, mostly, how will they interact with the non-follow along version?
Will it be necessary to purchase both versions, or will it be possible to only use the follow along, or...?

As a side note, I am very happy that a follow along mastery series is coming. While I've been all the time convinced of the quality of the material, and I have purchased many of the courses, I have never managed to integrate them in my routine: the initial task of going through all the videos, finding what suits me the best and build my own routine, felt too time consuming an d put me off. And I think I cannot try the stretches only once to decide what is for me: I often need to try them 3-4 times before I get an idea of how the stretch is supposed to work and wether or not it could be useful. I am not interested in stretch per se (although I don't dislike it): it is an important part of my GST and, since a few months, adult acrobatics preparation, but I am currently not so interested in using it for self-discovery purposes (of course, to some extent that is still needed in order for the practice to be effective).

That's why I like the follow along format: I can try the whole sequence a few times, without any programming effort on my own, and after getting acquainted with the exercises, still personalise, if I want to,  my selection of exercises and approach. In fact I've enjoyed the ABS series even if the mastery would probably suit me better (not that I would consider myself advanced though).
 

[Kit_L]

On 4/27/2018 at 11:35 PM, Joe Falchetto said:

Will it be necessary to purchase both versions, or will it be possible to only use the follow along, or...?

Nothing is necessary—it all depends on what you want. What I tried to do with the Mastery Series was to give you all the tools to learn precisely what is stopping you doing any of the end positions. Unfortunately, in the current era, many people have been conditioned to favour follow-along programs, exactly because they would prefer not to think, or analyse, their own restrictions—which are as varied as the people trying to become flexible. Follow-along programs, because they have to cater to everyone, are way less efficient (in respect of results gained for time spent) than any of the Mastery Series programs, but to determine the exercises you need to do requires that initial time and effort.

This is why we have just released the ABSS follow-along programs. I decided to do this rather than the follow-along programs for the Mastery Series because the beginner's audience is far larger (and they need to get going sooner!).

To answer your question directly, I will be making and releasing the follow along programs as soon as I can—Olivia is learning how to mix the four cameras now. And you will be able to do the follow-along programs by themselves, but they will not provide the detail or explanations that the mastery elements do, and they will not use all the props that the mastery series does. They will work, of course, but take longer.

The Mastery Series requires a much greater initial input of your time, but the results in a six–twelve month period will be greater and deeper if you do. It all depends on what you want.

[Joe Falchetto]

First of all, thank you for the very precise answer!

On 4/29/2018 at 12:16 AM, Kit_L said:

Unfortunately, in the current era, many people have been conditioned to favour follow-along programs, exactly because they would prefer not to think, or analyse, their own restrictions—which are as varied as the people trying to become flexible. Follow-along programs, because they have to cater to everyone, are way less efficient (in respect of results gained for time spent) than any of the Mastery Series programs, but to determine the exercises you need to do requires that initial time and effort.

Maybe you are a bit too negative regarding the follow along videos: they could be a good platform to get acquainted with the stretches and one of the possible ways of practicing them without feeling overwhelmed at first. At a basic level of course, but that's usually where one starts - sophistication and personalisation usually come later. Interested practitioners can then look deeper and devise their own routines with the help of the mastery videos. In fact, I would perhaps suggest you to propose a bundled version with the mastery and the follow along together. As for myself, I have 4 out of 5 of the mastery series - now, the important thing would be for me to really start using them!

Perhaps I am a bit too optimistic about the value of the follow-along videos, but as you and Olivia are making them it may as well be with positive expectations rather than begrudgingly  

[Kit_L]

2 hours ago, Joe Falchetto said:

As for myself, I have 4 out of 5 of the mastery series - now, the important thing would be for me to really start using them!

Hahahaha! I can say without fear of contradiction: most definitely!

And yes, of course; we will be making the follow-along programs as best we can (and we intend to keep making them and adding to the variety for any particular end pose), so they will be useful. What I was pointing to was only that one's progress will be faster if one identifies one's restrictions and works preferentially on those—but the follow-along programs have their advantages too. Thanks for posting.