Do I need a new yoga sequence each week?

Do you need a new sequence each week? -Transcript

In this episode, we answer the question - do you need to teach a new sequence each week?

Let’s have a quick look at the work load for a yoga teacher, just in respect to the actual teach of classes, as in, this isn’t taking in to account doing finances, any legal stuff, admin, etc. this is just in respect to teaching classes!

• Teach class

• Travel to and from the class, or set up and test the equipment if it’s online

• Promote classes, either on your own channels or gathering everything together for the studio to post on their channels

• Plan the class!

Planning classes does get more snappy as you get more experienced as a teacher, but it can still be time-consuming.. so here’s the question…. Do you need a new sequence each week?

In this episode, we look at the reasoning behind creating new sequences, how you can be efficient and creative and resourceful with the sequences you already have and how to get inspiration for new sequences or to update your existing ones.

So, here's the question - should you teach a new sequence each week?

In short. No. Haha!

So why...?!

Your sequence is really the way you deliver your yoga class. In our next podcast episode, episode number 17, we're looking at how to sequence your classes which will be a complete guide to setting an intention for the class, planning how to get there, how to stay flexible and spontaneous and read the room, how to be aware of timings and injuries, and much more, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

But for now, let's stay focused on how often you need to be teaching new sequences...

In my humble opinion, and I say this as a yoga teacher, as a yoga teacher trainer and as a yoga studio owner - it's up to you. You'll want to take in to account how often you teach the same people; i.e. do teach one class a week, and different people come each week? Or do you teach three classes in the same studio each week, and the same people come to all those classes? If the former, you can teach one sequence a month and most of your yogis will do it once or twice. But if it's the latter, your yogis will be doing that sequence 12 times. But, and no offence here, but your yogis aren't hanging on your every word. They're in their heads and thinking about their own lives. Yes, if they do the same sequence 12 times in a month, they will probably notice, haha, but if they repeat it a few times, they might not notice, and even if they do notice, they might not be bothered.

You also want to take in to account how much you enjoy sequencing. If you love it love it love it, you look forward to it and really enjoy the rpcoess, you're probably going to find it easier to find the time to create sequences then someone who dreads it.

You'll also want to take in to account how much free time you have; if loads, then more time for sequencing, but if you're already overloaded, then take this off your list, and work with a small bank of sequences that you rotate.

But how can you re-use sequences, without your yogis getting bored?

I started this episode off by saying that your sequence is how you deliver your class. Next week we'll look at the underlying intention of a class because your sequence is how you work towards that intention... and an intention, an aim, a goal, could be energy boosting, or it could be self-love, or it could be working towards a peak pose, or working on a particular area of the body... all those are intentions. So what I'm saying is, you could have one sequence, but approach it through the lens of different intentions. Let's say you've created a sequence working up to Natarajasana - Dancer balance. One week, you could teach this sequence through the lens of stretching the hip flexors , front torso and shoulders and preparing the body for the backbending aspect of dancer.

The next time you teach it, you could approach it through the lens of heart opening. Every time your yogis move in to spinal extension, a backbend, you ask them to open their heart towards someone they're struggling with or towards themselves! Then the next time you teach it, you approach it from a de-desking point of view; every time the shoulders move into hyper extension, i.e. the arms move behind the yogi, you ask them to open their chest and embrace being away from the desk.

Ok so let's just take a minute to recap.

First of all, there is so much to do as a yoga teacher, you don't want to create yourself more work if you don't have to. You could create a bank a few a sequences that you know really well, and be creative about the lenses through which you approach this small bank. This helps to reduce the load and helps to keep sequencing fresh.

In terms of staying inspired... This can be a bit of a tough one, usually we're at our most uninspired when things are tough. When teaching feels like another thing we have to do on top of a huge to do list that's dragging us down. But often, that is a sign to practice. Maybe buy a month on yoga international, or go to a studio in a different city or town where no one knows you, and just be led through a class.

Other ways to get inspiration for classes include:

Go through your bank of sequences, find one that you haven't taught for a while. Roll out your mat, practice it freely and make some updates, change some transitions, replace some poses to freshen it up for you, revisit the intentions that you had in mind when you created the sequence in the first place. And boom, fresh sequence ready for you to teach.

Close your eyes and run your finger down a list of asanas. Randomly stop, open your eyes, and you HAVE to sequence up to that asana, or a variation of that asana. I find this approach really helps when I'm feeling indecisive!

Consider how you're feeling? Achey, tired, sluggish, full of the joys of spring, sick of the cold, lonely... if you create a class that you really need, it will land on someone who needs it to. That always seems to be the case doesn't it!

Go to somewhere busy and get a sense of the way that most people walk, sit, stand... and create a class that would serve them. The other day I hopped on a train rather than driving, and I just honestly couldn't believe how many people on the train basically were holding their phone on their lap, and their heads were dropped completely forward, to look down at their phone on their lap. I naturally started to create a sequence for them, to open the chest, stretch the pectorals, anterior deltoid and biceps, and to strengthen the spinal extensors... However i stopped short of teaching it, on the train haha.

Take a look at your calendar, what's happening with the moon? Are there any special days or weeks coming up that you could theme a class around such as world mental health day or time to talk day etc.

As i said, next week is a complete guide to sequencing, so I'm very much looking forward to chatting to your then! in the meantime, please don't stress about creating fresh new creative sequences every week, or every class. Go back to your old faves, update them, find fresh inspiration like we've just talked about, and of course, enjoy your teaching.

And, as always, happy teaching.