Field Ledger Archive
13,278 entries across the years, 2003–2026.
These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s).
I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Posture Sequencing Matters
Learning specific postures in a defined sequence aids practice development.
Ashtanga Assessment Guide
Posture Sequencing Matters
Learning specific postures in a defined sequence aids practice development.
Teacher as Cartographer
Instructors read and interpret visible markers of your progress.
Recognize Body Shifts
Teachers observe and note subtle yet significant physical adjustments.
These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s).
I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Personal awareness enhances yoga practice, guiding your movements and breath.
Balanced Ashtanga Practice
Objective judgment counts
External feedback from teachers helps clarify and improve your practice.
Balanced Ashtanga Practice
Constructive critique essential
Receiving feedback from teachers refines your alignment and technique effectively.
Embrace personal growth
Each session offers unique insights into your evolving physical and mental state.
Maintain self-awareness
Being attuned to your body fosters deeper connections in your practice.
Inner experience matters
Personal awareness enhances yoga practice, guiding your movements and breath.
Objective judgment counts
External feedback from teachers helps clarify and improve your practice.
These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s).
I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Feedback from peers can enhance personal growth and understanding.
VALIDATION IN COMMUNITY
VALIDATION IN COMMUNITY
1 Peer feedback's importance
Feedback from peers can enhance personal growth and understanding.
2 Insight through repetition
Hearing advice restated can offer new perspectives on learning.
3 Impact of online culture
Online communities shape how practitioners are perceived and evaluated.
4 Certification debate
Concerns arise over validity and depth of new teacher certifications.
¡CE tafo
look back and wish you
had told more people to
go fuck themselves.
ingalfirmati
nans
@disappointingaffirmations
around us but it shouldn't get in the way of our capacity to create and to
put those guns away I'm a democrat
Webster
Merriam-Webster
@MerriamWebster
'Phonetic' is not.
'Abbreviation' is 12 letters.
'Thesaurus' doesn't have a synonym.
'Monosyllabic' has five syllables.
Say what you will about English,
but it has a sense of humor.
@merriamwebster
• Emphasis on internal experience over external instruction
• Talking vs. Doing
• Understanding through practice
A good teacher combats cognitive dissonance and spiritual bypassing by openly discussing advantages AND lamenting the disadvantages inherent in each of us as we take on spiritual practice.
See my whole video “Ashtanga Teacher Qualifications (uh oh!)” on youtube. Link in bio.
Two Models of Teachers
Linear Judgement
Judged by Visible Achievements
Workshops & Certifications
Physical Abilities
Modern
Want to practice longer?
Enjoy it.
Practitioners who grasp non-linear systems can sustain longer and more beneficial practices.
You don't always run into the necessity of deep learning when you're privlidged
Bless her—I have been sharing my videos with her like *that* little boy dying to tell you all about dinosaurs
C
Smichaeljoelhall (my model for this
deep cut joke) is having some
seriously SMART conversations these
days.
authoritarianism and ashtanga
When youre new to led class + the teacher says
TRYANGMUKHAEKAPADAPASCHIMATTANASANA
SUPTA!!
* you just go with it even though
you're PRETry SURE
they made
that name up.
@unrulyascetic
I admire my friends art.
Bless her-I have been
sharing my videos with
her like *that* little boy
dying to tell you all about
dinosaurs
Dismantling Authoritarianism with Ashtanga Yoga: Power, Practice, Justice
In this video, we unbox the concept of decolonizing your yoga practice by removing authoritarianism and emphasizing self-study. This episode covers the cultural context of Ashtanga Yoga, the impact of colonialism and capitalism in shaping Western yoga practices, and the need for open-source teaching. Michael discusses historical gender biases, the guru-student power dynamic, and the issues of gatekeeping and groupthink in yoga communities. Learn about the importance of making yoga accessible and fostering community-centered approaches while balancing tradition with the evolution of Ashtanga Yoga. Discover how decommodification and recognizing inner intelligence can lead to true liberation in your practice. 00:00 Dismantling Authoritarianism with Ashtanga Yoga: Power, Practice, Justice 00:01 Introduction to Decolonizing Yoga 00:15 Historical Context and Cultural Impact 01:12 Examining Patriarchal Elements 02:14 Power Dynamics and Gatekeeping 03:37 Cultural Imperialism in Teaching 04:50 Appropriation vs. Appreciation 06:43 Open Source Teaching as Solution 08:12 Making Yoga Accessible 10:12 Balancing Tradition with Evolution 11:49 Self-Education and Awareness 14:05 Conclusion: Path to Liberation
Read the essay →More over on my youtube.
• Emphasis on internal experience over external instruction
• Talking vs. Doing
• Understanding through practice
THIS ALL ENL
TRUMPS LYING ABOV
WHEN ENOUG
DISTRACT
OF US SAY
NV
*
*
FREE DC
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY TOWN HALL TO ADDRESS TRUMP'S
ATTACKS ON D.C. AND THE THREATS TO OUR COMMUNITIES
FREE DC ORIENTATION TO LEARN HOW WE CAN FIGHT BACK!
REGISTER:
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bit.ly/fredctr
FREE DC
SEPTEMBER 15 | 6-9 PM | TRADE | 1410 14TH ST NW
@claudiajonesschool and freedcproject
Affordable Housing to all homeless people in D.C.
• Nat'l Guard Deployment
• Affordable Housing for all
$1,100,000 per day
$255,166 per day
Source: National Priorities Project
Working people are paying the bills for Trump's
federal takeover of D.C.! Let's declare a war on
poverty, not on poor and working people!
(sL
COA MLHNO
@psldc and pslnational
The Slide Toward Authoritarianism
Feedback turns into obedience.
risk drifting and dynamics: unquestioned
J pandora., chillwithme, cødy • interstellar.
You rarely see people who
compete in sports outside
the gym argue over exercise
It's usually those whose only
physical practice is training-
...
That get emotionally triggered
over training systems
It's less the importance of
exercise,
Than it is a void of meaningful
physicality in life
re : ashtanga people
critiquing asana
performance
We're a city full of valedictorians and if you've made it here after any
Feedback turns into obedience.
risk drifting
and dynamics:
unquestioned
amed as
ion."
Warning: Authoritarianism DIALOGUE DISAPPEARS | Points reframed as [provoc]ation." | Once [one] believes thei[r view is] the truth,
The Toxic Teacher Trap in Ashtanga Yoga: When Subjectivity Masquerades as Objectivity
In this video, Michael Joel Hall discusses the 'Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Trap,' a scenario where personal experiences of yoga teachers are misconstrued as universal truths. Highlighting the dangers of authoritarianism and high-demand dynamics in yoga communities, Hall emphasizes the importance of honoring individual experiences, promoting self-awareness, and fostering personal agency. He stresses the need for discernment, humility, and open dialogue, both from teachers and students, to ensure yoga remains a personal and explorative practice. 00:00 Introduction to the Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Trap 00:11 Subjectivity vs. Objectivity in Teaching 00:59 The Dangers of Authoritarian Teaching 01:26 High Demand Dynamics and Cult-like Behavior 02:03 The Importance of Honoring Student Experience 03:22 The Role of Humility and Discernment in Teaching 03:46 Conclusion: Maintaining Dialogue in Practice
Read the essay →
Ashtanga Yoga: Your Practice, Your Choice, and Your Subjective Experience
This episode is on the topic of subjectivity in Ashtanga Yoga. This video emphasizes the importance of internal experiences over external instructions, highlighting how true understanding comes from doing rather than merely discussing. Learn about the role of breath (pranayama), the significance of bandhas, and how individual taste and preference can shape your practice. Michael also touches on the balance between subjective experience and objective assessment, providing insights into refining your yoga journey for both nourishment and growth. 00:00 Introduction and Greeting 00:03 Understanding Subjectivity in Ashtanga Yoga 00:33 The Importance of Internal Experience 01:08 The Role of Bandhas and Breath 02:12 Developing Personal Practice 03:36 Balancing Subjectivity and Objectivity 04:03 Challenges in Self-Assessment 05:08 Community Influence and Objectivity 05:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Read the essay →
1.09
ah St Cafe Asian Bistro.
8
EPOLICE
Its not a joke.
I’m watching people get pulled from scooters and beaten them outside of my window on a daily basis
BREAKING IN DC: ATTORNEY VICTIM OF POLICE BRUTALITY AFTER DETAINMENT
physically touched me tonight who has applied pressure to me in ways that I
BREAKING IN DC: ATTORNEY VICTIM OF POLICE BRUTALITY AFTER DETAINMENT
💙Running💙
This is why I don't feel safe
@theyoga.club
Madeline Miskie-Jaeger
10 Mile #2975 F 40 to 44
Madeline Miskie-Jaeger completed the Annapolis 10 Mile
Finish Time 2:07:23
12:45 min/mile
3,506th Place out of Overall
1,739th Place F - Gr
236th Place
PRELIMINARY
Greg Cooke
10 Mile #816 M 75 to 79 Kensington M
Greg Cooke completed the Annapolis 10 Mile Run
Finish Time 2:02:30
12:15 min/mile
3,292nd Place out of 4,174 Overall
1,676th Place out of 1,999 M - Gender
2nd Place out of 17 M - 75 to 79
PRELIMINARY
@greg.cooke @drmvoiceandyoga @theyoga.club
Lee Scheuer (L-R) were
the four Kent State University students who were killed on the campus
5/4 when students battled with Ohio National Guard troopers, UPI IEIEPHOTO from files, tfs
@larryghobbs
U.S. adults say they
read for fun, study finds
sToek
@washingtonpost
RETAIL SPACE AVAILABLE
Michael Zankaris
Reilly Hudson
202.783.8200
cbre.com CBRE
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