Why One Should Not Attempt An Advance Class Without Establishing Enough Foundation

This is a follow-up post to 'Readiness For A More Advanced Class', on why one should not attempt an advance class without establishing enough foundation.

Reasons:

1. Not able to follow the pace of the class

In advanced level classes, the students would probably know the flow by heart and the moment class starts, they can cruise along with the instructor's count or pace, which can be really fast. Detailed instructions might not be given, coupled with the expectation of having established enough foundation, a new practitioner will not be able to keep up with the class and might end up seated on the mat throughout the session. 

2. Instructor's attention

The instructor's attention might be focused heavily on the new ones and little attention is left for the rest of the students. You might say well the other students would know the practice already and need not require the instructor's attention, but even so, is does not mean guidance is not needed and more so in advance level classes, the students will be practising higher level difficulty poses which will need individual attention from the instructor to help and correct where is wrong. Unless the instructor is someone who do not really care or bother if you are newbie and just carry on with the class *(which probably will see the newbie not given two hoots) this brings us to point 3.

3. Affecting other practitioners (relates to point 2)

This in particular I personally experience in my Led class: vast difference on days when it is just us regulars, compared to days when there is a mixture of levels. On the former, my instructor could go fast with the salutations, explained less on the seated postures and more importantly, teach things that will help us in our practice, that is if you have practice for some time and understand what is being said. Not being selfish here, more like the consideration for other practitioners. 

4. Risk of injuries

I admit, I am a scaredy-cat: I fear injuries. Once in my vinyasa class, this lady on the mat beside me was attempting supported headstand and from my side view, I actually feared she might snap her neck in two. Without having established enough foundation and to attempt fancy-mansy poses just because the others are doing so, sees high risk of injuries especially in inversion poses like headstand or tripod.

How much foundation you might ask is 'enough'? Let hold on to this thought for a future post.