If you think of a stair case, each step is clearly defined. To go up (or down) you climb the steps one at a time.
The lessons below are "simple steps" because they are simple and clearly defined. You can focus on doing them, one step at a time.
These "steps" cover the basic position elements of the dance of shiva.
The basic position elements are clearly defined arm positions that focus on one arm at a time. Likewise, the foot positions are also clearly defined. Because they are clearly defined you can focus on doing them. And even if you find them challenging, you at least have a clear idea so that you can work towards being able to do them.
When learning, make sure that what you are learning is well defined.
You can then recognize it when it's a part of you and use it at will.
If you learn the positions to the point that you don't have to think about them in order to do them, you then have a firm foundation for doing the movements of the dance of shiva. You can then direct your awareness to focusing on moving between these positions.
And as with the positons, you can break down the movements into simple steps that you can focus on practicing and learning, one step at a time.
Rather than trying to figure out both the positons and the movements, you know at least one thing (the positions) and that gives you an anchor for figuring out the other thing (the movements.)
Even though you are learning, that learning is based on something that you already know.
When learning anything you are taking what you are learning from outside of yourself to inside of yourself.
It's like you are building a mental model of what you are learning inside your mind.
To build that model you load it piece by piece into your short term memory.
Then you practice it until it moves from short term memory into long term memory.
How do you know when something is in your long term memory?
You don't have to think about it in order to do it.
It's like learning someone's name. Initially you have to think about it or create a mental hook to hang the name off of. But then once that name has become engraved within your longer term memory you no longer need the hook. The name is just there.
How do you move what you are learning from short term memory to long term?
By focusing on small chunks of information.
In the case of the dance of shiva I suggest four positions or four movements.
But that's because dance of shiva elements fall naturally into groups of four. A good maximum is five.
And failing that a good test is that you can do what you are learning without having to think.
Say you are relearning the alphabet. Then you'd practice a, b, c, d and e till they become built in. Maybe you'd practice reading words that have only these five letters.
Only when you can recognize these letters without effort do you move on to the next five.
And then you rest when you've had enough.
Rest by doing something else so that what you have practiced becomes etched in your long term memory (like the cement of a foundation having time to set.)
Then build on what you have learned.
Lesson 1, Arm Position Elements
Lesson 2, Foot Positions
Lesson 3, Same Plane Arm Positions
Lesson 4, Mixed Plane Arm Positions
Make Learning Easier with Movement Memory Maps
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