cyclicpushover
Hmmm.
I'll answer your q last but first, you are lucky that you have an instructor that has got you,
a)thinking, hence your Q,
b) looking for spots to land,
c) teaching you what happens when things go quiet and
d) rationalising your responses whenever things do go bad, which they will one day.
You are lucky,not all countries foster all of these attributes.
Having had the expeience for many years of checking newbies from every school in OZ it is often startling to see the difference in presented material. Keep thinking and watching.
The answer is simple and by the sound of it not far from what your case is.
It is; I will pull this throttle sometime, anytime that I can see the student is,
a) blank,
b) has not looked for a spot anytime recent
c) I always have my knee over the collective and right foot rigid behind the fight pedal and left foot crooked around the front of the cyclic.
d) if he doesn't bloody wake up soon I'll give him the full monty and will be able to get my hands back onto my lap without him seeing me move.
Good luck happy flying!