Re: Centering the Follower?

[astrid <astrid @RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>]

Clifton wrote:
 I think what separates an intermediate follower from an advanced follower
is embedded in this statement by Astrid:
>
> "I am told that good followers achieve a kind of Zen state where their
minds go blank and they just respond much like martial arts masters."

This was not my statement, more like Robert Hink (?) describing something
that I also wrote about to the list months ago.
>
, how can we help followers practise centering themselves even before the
dance has begun so that they can achieve that lovely Zen state?  Is there an
exercise, a state of mind, something?  > Please help.
>
Beats me, Clifton. Practise, practise, practise. Rome wasn't built in a day,
and Satori is not reached in a crash course on Zazen either usually.
Neither is balance.
Gavito says, lessons are too expensive for polishing your boleos, you have
to do it at home.
And Oscar Mandagaran gives me homework after every privada, and homework
until he comes back from Argentina next time. I found that practising back
ochos with planeos unfortunately takes up the entire free space in my living
room, but I also found that practising that without a wall makes any
shortcomings in balance very obvious. Gavito said, practising ochos against
a wall only teaches women bad habits. Ballerinas don't use a bar to LEAN on
it either.