The Value of a “Beginner's Mind”
Aerial circus is a vast and diverse subject of study, even if we only focus on a single apparatus. There is so much to learn, and often we only have an hour or two a week to attend a class. There's also the pressure of comparison, as we scroll through all the circus videos on social media we see all the shiny new skills and want to horde them like precious stones.
As humans, we are naturally competitive and it can be easy to get drawn into the mindset that bigger skills are better, that new skills are more worthy of attention and "likes" than old skills. That the quantity of skills matters more than the quality of technique. This set of values, though completely understandable, can lead to a lot of dissatisfaction and frustration for students. Rushing to acquire new skills is inherently counterproductive when trying to safely learn an art form that requires a deep knowledge of basics and fundamentals. Not to mention that it can take a great deal of time and patience to build up the strength, endurance, flexibility, and proprioception needed to perform most "higher level" skills.
The goal of this post is to offer a different, and hopefully more sustainable and satisfying perspective; one that will serve you well whether you have been practicing for days or decades.
A "basic level" skill performed masterfully is more beautiful and inspiring than an "advanced level" skill performed poorly.
The ART in aerial arts comes from this mastery of basics. The flowing ease and artistry that we admire in professional performers is rooted in the strength and flexibility (of both body and mind) gained from the disciplined and consistent practice of these fundamentals.
Long story short, there is beauty in the basics and this is where the "beginner's mind" comes in to save the day!
Having a "Beginner's Mind" simply refers to approaching a situation as a beginner might, regardless of previous experience. Many students come to RICS with a wide-ranging skill set, learned from many different coaches. This experience is valuable! We love teaching students of every background and experience level, just as we love traveling to different studios or having guest teachers come to teach at RICS. Adopting a beginner's mindset does not mean that we forget everything we have learned and risk getting stuck in a mind-numbing cycle of "basic level" boredom. Rather it is the practice of opening up the mind to the possibility of learning things that “we don’t know we don't know".
"If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to
everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many
possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few."
Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki
Learning aerial circus arts is a multi-faceted endeavor and when we apply a beginner's mindset we intentionally explore more and more facets of each skill and sequence, regardless of whether we are reviewing basics…again or learning a shiny new skill.
Speaking of shiny new skills, each skill is like a gem that we can examine from many angles and in many different lights. Some gems are common, and some are rare. Sometimes, we just need to build up the strength and endurance to dig the gem out of the ground. Other times, the gem is rough cut and needs to be honed, shaped, and polished. As we advance, the challenge may be to string many gems together into flowing sequences and combinations to make a new piece of glittering art.
Having a beginner's mindset allows both teachers and students to see skills from many angles. A great way to get into a beginner's mindset is to ask questions! We can ask ourselves or a coach. When we focus on asking questions, it is easier to find the challenge and harder to get bored.
Here are some "Beginner's Mind" inspired questions that we can ask to help examine all the facets of a skill!
Do I have the requisite strength, endurance, and flexibility to do the skill safely? If not, what do I need to do to acquire it?
Do I have a strong foundational understanding of the skill? AKA Do I know how and why the skill or sequence works? Do I know what the common mistakes are and how to avoid them or how to recover from them?
Can I improve my form? Ex: Are my legs straight or toes pointed at the appropriate times?
Can I do the skill with ease and flow on both sides?
What are some interesting body positions and poses or movements that I can do while in the skill?
What is the best, most efficient, or most artistic, way to transition in and out of the skill?
Are there multiple variations of this skill?
Do I have enough endurance to complete the skill multiple times in a row without needing to come down to the ground?
Can I add feeling, emotion, or expressive movement to the skill?
Am I open to receiving feedback about this skill?
When we approach a new skill with a beginner's curiosity, we become better, more thorough learners. We learn skills on a deeper level from the bottom up, from foundation to artistic flare. It makes for a really fun experience where we get answers to questions we would have never thought to ask and it leads to a level of artistry and understanding that is truly rare and valuable.
At Rhode Island Circus Space, we value a holistic and methodical approach to teaching and we value our students and their varied and diverse backgrounds and knowledge sets. Our teachers use the premise of Beginner's Mind and questions like those above to help each individual student fill in knowledge gaps, build their strength, hone their skills into finely cut gems, and string together beautiful sequences that, when performed masterfully, shine as a work of art.
