Creative Yoga Sequencing
Trish Corley 
The art of creative yoga sequencing. Hint, it starts with structure.
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Creative yoga sequencing is a key aspect of delivering a masterful yoga class.
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For many yoga teachers aiming to grow their skills and improve their classes, it can be overwhelming. How do you go from a newbie to a master teacher? As a yoga teacher and teacher trainer with over 12 years of experience, I have come to appreciate what it takes to be a masterful yoga teacher and how much it takes to to get there. But for now I'll jump to my point: The secret to delivering great yoga classes is having structures in place to support your teaching!
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In the next few blog articles, we will explore why having systems and a structured approach to teaching yoga not only provides a solid foundation for students but also allows teachers to navigate the vast landscape of yoga with ease and creativity in the present moment. These articles will show you how structure can enhance your class and leave you in the experience of leading masterful classes.
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Let's start with an area where many yoga teachers experience doubt and confusion:
Yoga Sequencing and How to Make it Creative
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There is an art as well as science involved in creating a great yoga sequence. The way postures are arranged not only influences the physical experience but also shapes the mental and emotional journey on the mat. In my experiences of teaching and traveling all over the world, I have discovered this:
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The true magic of creative yoga sequencing emerges when it is rooted in a foundation of structure. In this article we can explore the synergy between creativity and structure in the world of yoga sequencing.
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Structured Sequencing:
Various styles of yoga embrace different approaches to sequencing, each with its own set of pros and cons. Styles like Bikram (Hot 26) and Ashtanga Vinyasa follow a very fixed sequence, offering practitioners a consistent and predictable practice. Many students appreciate the predictability and ability to measure their progress over time. For teachers, the advantage is that you always know what you are going to teach. There is no mad rush to create a new sequence or stress that your won't remember what your plan is.
A potential drawback of teaching the exact same sequence regularly is that it may become monotonous. This can lead to teachers feeling bored and then coming across as boring. Eventually some teachers become less engaged in their teaching and this negatively impacts the students' experiences.
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On the other hand, some teachers opt for creating new sequences regularly. I hear claims from teachers stating that students will be bored if they teach the same thing over and over. I agree that could easily be the case. But have you ever attended a yoga class where the teacher is so caught up in teaching a creative yoga sequence that they seem completely disconnected from the class and what they are actually teaching? Too much focus on creative sequence can create confusion. This can leave the students feeling lost and disconnected.
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There are some teachers who prefer to create sequences in the moment, responding intuitively to the energy of the class. This spontaneity can lead to a vibrant and unique experience, but it requires a deep understanding of the practice and the ability to read the energy of the room effectively. While many teachers strive to achieve this, it's a hard way to learn how to teach effectively.
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In essence, the choice of sequencing approach depends on the goals of the class, the preferences of the students and teacher, and the teaching style of the teacher. In my experience, the most creative yoga instruction comes from a balanced approach that starts with structure.
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My first yoga teachers encouraged me to learn a set sequence and teach it for some time without changing it. I can still recall when my teacher called me in need of a sub. Though I had learned the studio's hot sequence in my yoga teacher training, I had not yet taught it publicly. I was so worried I would miss a pose or change the sequence by accident! [Sidenote - that happened. It does and it will no matter how long you teach a sequence -- and it's okay!!]. The night before the class, I walked around my living room imagining there were 15 yoga students in front of me and I taught the set sequence to the air in front of the couch. And the next day I taught the sequence to about 15 people in the studio. With the help of a cheat sheet and a few mistakes, I delivered a solid yoga class. That's when I learned to appreciate the structure of a set sequence.
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The more I taught the set hot sequence, the more confidence I gained and the more I was able to be present and connect to the students in front of me. It's hard to say if I got bored with this sequence or not. In truth, my heart was pulled towards teaching vinyasa yoga. Before I knew what Baptiste Power Yoga was, I found myself drawn to two teachers who had studied closely with Baron Baptiste. I went to their classes frequently and never realized they were both teaching the same sequence....every class! And that was it...the magic of a great class was rooted in a set sequence and created in the present moment.
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Eventually I learned the Journey Into Power Sequence which is at the core of Baptiste Power Yoga. It's made of over fifty yoga postures grouped into 11 mini-sequences. From my perspective as a physical therapist, it is a sound sequence with attention to the full body. I trust this sequence and continue to use it as the foundation of my teaching. This sequence is the structure I use to be creative.
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How can one be creative when teaching she same sequence? For me the structure of the sequence allows me to step in front of the students and be present.
Think about it like hiking your favorite trail or walking your favorite streets in the city. You already know the route and so you can really look around and take things in. I just moved to Lisbon, Portugal and don't know my way around yet. It means I spend just as much time looking at Google maps as I do observing what's around me. I don't feel like I am truly present here yet.
Teaching from a set sequence gives me the opportunity to really see what's happening in the room and teach from there. That means that I might need to change the sequence to meet the students needs, or even to meet the restraints of time. When I am not worried about remembering a new sequence, I can create a new theme. That might look like a focus on adding backbends, speaking to yoga philosophy, or dialing in on one body part.
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Does one sequence work for everybody? No, but yes! After teaching the Journey Into Power Sequence at a yoga studio for a while, I started teaching private yoga. Most clients came to me because they wanted to start a yoga practice but had concerns because of injuries or other physical limitations. What I found was astonishing!
Rather than creating a new sequence for each student, I adapted the one I knew. And it's what I continue to do. While working as a physical therapist at the Touro Infirmary Cancer Rehabilitation Center in New Orleans, LA (USA), I often used yoga as a modality for therapeutic healing. Sometimes people just had surgery and were in pain; had chemotherapy ports; were dealing with lymphedema; couldn't get on the floor (or stand sometimes). And you know what I did? I started with the sequence that I knew and adapted it to meet their needs. The sequence ended up looking very different all the time, but I did not have to worrying about a new creative yoga sequence for each person.
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So there you have it. The secret is out of the bag. Many people who take my classes and work with me privately are surprised to hear that I essentially teach one sequence. However, I am so familiar with the structure of that sequence that I am truly free to play with it and be creative within it. In this way, one sequences yields infinite possibilities.
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If you teach yoga and feel lost about creative yoga sequencing, you do not need to struggle! Find a sequence that inspires you - one that leaves your body feeling great and that you trust. Teach it! Get acquainted with it and find your own creativity within it!
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One of the aspects of confidently teaching yoga to students with injuries is having systems in place. In the Teach Yoga to Students with Injuries Course, you will learn to develop your own systems. This includes a systematic approach to modifying the yoga practice (including how to modify a sequence) to meet the needs of the students in front of you!
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Categories: : Effective Teaching Techniques
