Notes on Physical Assists

Introduction: When Effects Distort Our Understanding of Causes In 1946, statistician Joseph Berkson noticed something peculiar in hospital patient data: diseases that should have been independent appeared to be negatively correlated. Cancer patients seemed less likely to have diabetes, and vice versa. This observation seemed to contradict everything known about disease independence. The answer to this paradox would eventually reveal one of the most counterintuitive principles in causal reasoning—the collider effect. A collider is a variable that sits at the convergence point of two or more independent causal pathways. The structure looks deceptively simple:Variable X → Collider Z ← Variable Y Two independent causes (X and Y) flow into a common effect (Z). But here’s the paradox: when we condition on the collider—when we only…

In every Mysore room, behind every counted vinyasa, and underneath every cue to “fold forward,” there’s an unspoken question humming through the breath and bodies: How do we honor the roots of yoga while making it relevant and accessible in today’s world? This isn’t just a philosophical musing for teachers and practitioners alike — it’s a daily decision. Every adjustment, every modification (or refusal to give one), every moment of silence or explanation is a subtle vote: for the past, the present, and the future of yoga. We live in a time where preserving sacred tradition and dismantling oppressive systems are happening simultaneously — sometimes uncomfortably so. That tension is real, and if you’re feeling it, you’re not alone. The Value of Tradition Let’s start…