Episode 29: The Cues We Use Pt. 1

Movement Logic: Strong Opinions, Loosely Held

Welcome to Season 2 and Episode 29 of the Movement Logic podcast! In this episode, Laurel and Sarah discuss the cues movement teachers like yoga teachers and strength coaches use, and then what research has to say about them. Namely, we look at the difference between internal and external cues, and what both types of cues are good for. We also discuss:

• What motor learning is and how it’s different from motor performance.
• What motor learning versus motor performance look like in the context of teaching and learning movement.
• What attentional focus is and how attentional focus affects motor learning.
• The difference between internal and external cues and what specifically defines them.
• Which type of cue is better for enhancing sport performance.
• What the mind muscle connection is and how it can enhance muscle growth.
• How internal cues can enhance the mind muscle connection.
• How the goals of yoga are different from the goals of athletics, or even the goal of improving skill within the asanas, and why that matters for the cues we use.
• Why internal cues have value both within the context of yoga and rehabilitation.
• Whether metaphor and analogy are internal or external cues.
• Tactile cues and what category they live in—internal or external cues.
• Constraints and what category they live in—internal or external cues.
• Lots of example cues in the context of yoga, strength, and kettlebells that illustrate the nuances between these different types of cues.

Attentional Focus and Motor Learning study

Enhancing the learning of sport skills through external-focus feedback study

Standing Long Jump Performance With an External Focus of Attention Is Improved as a Result of a More Effective Projection Angle study

The Language of Coaching book

Internal Cues Don’t Affect Muscle Activation With Explosive Lifting article, by Greg Nuckols

Can the Mind Muscle Connection Enhance Hypertrophy article, by Chris Beardsley

Amanda Tripp website

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