Scott Anderson, Ph.D.

While Homer’s bowling ball is unlikely to enter our vernacular like Occam’s razor or Schrodinger’s cat , there’s still a lesson to be learned from Homer Simpson. In an early Simpsons episode (#7G11), Homer Simpson bought his wife Marge an expensive birthday present – a bowling ball engraved with his name - Homer. Marge was understandably incensed, though Homer tried mightily to rationalize his behavior.
 Homer observed that Marge was unlikely to use the bowling ball, and rather than this beautiful bowling ball sitting unused, Homer thought himself cleverly proactive in monogramming his name on it. Clearly Homer’s gift wasn’t about Marge, but about himself. All too often, we find yoga teachers unconsciously behaving like Homer. Rather than teaching a class suited for the diversity of the students in their class, teachers often stick with techniques they’ve found relevant in their own practice. I’ve heard many teachers state confidently that their classes are based on their personal ex

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The phrase Form Follows Function is often considered the rallying cry of modernism, and over the past century, has been pivotal in shaping our man-made world. The utensils we use, the buildings we inhabit, and the cars we drive are often based on this design paradigm. This design paradigm isn’t entirely a man-made phenomenon. When we study the natural world, we’re continually reminded that form follows function. While the bright colors of a particular bird or the puzzling bumps found on the femur may appear to be randomly selected, deeper study often reveals how these traits are integrally related to the whole. Generally the question is not if a particular trait has function, but in determining how many functions are served by that trait. As a long-time student of anatomy and physiology, I’m continually amazed at the level of genius contained within our physical form. What may at first appear accidental or random is often found to contain a remarkable depth of function. Yoga has ser