YOGA ANTI-ANATOMY

The philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb has been very influential in my thinking regarding yoga theory, anatomy, and practice. I implement many of his ideas in my own life and in the Mysore room, among them Via Negativa for adjustments and variations for poses, as well as nutrition. 


Taleb's interpretation of Via Negativa is that to omit or remove in this case additional adjustments, additional postures --- as well as "avoidance of harm, removal of drugs, corn syrup, cigarettes, gluten, carbs (by fasting), gym instructors" removes your exposure to unintended and unseen side effects. Most people (not all) typically do not benefit from adding, in the case of Ashtanga Yoga, more and more postures, practices or techniques



I also remain skeptical about overstated links between anatomy and function. In a larger sense I try to retain skepticism for larger narratives of causality.

In Taleb's book Antifragile, he has a quote that is a great overview of my perspective on anatomy, and about learning anatomy for yoga --- a huge money-making area of focus in the yoga teacher-training market (italics mine):

"I do not want to rely on biology [anatomy] beyond the minimum required (not in the theoretical sense) — and I believe that my strength will lie there. I just want to understand as little as possible to be able to look at regularities of experience. So the modus operandi in every venture is to remain as robust as possible to changes in theories."


These are just a few thoughts to bear in mind before rushing to enroll in a yoga teacher training that may just be lite training for physical therapy.