11 Ways To Make Creative Yoga Sequences
One of the things I love most about yoga is that it truly feels like an infinite practice in that there’s always new shapes, transitions, and movements to explore.
I know what you’re thinking: aren’t there only a finite number of yoga poses?
And sure, yes there are. Especially if you’re teaching from a more “traditional” viewpoint. Which is why I suppose you could say, I’m not exactly “traditional” when it comes to my sequencing personally.
Look, I love anatomy and alignment, and I respect the origin of the yoga practice. But I don’t necessarily sequence in a way that’s like: Sun A to Sun B to Lunge series, if you know what I mean.
While there’s certainly a huge benefit in teaching traditional sequences, you can also look at the why behind them to add your own personal flair in a safe way. Because yes, keeping your classes safe is truly the most important thing to keep in mind as a yoga teacher.
The thing is, regardless of if you’re a traditional teacher, or a creative sequencer like me- my sequencing tips can still support your yoga class creation process. Promise.
Today’s post shares 11 ways for you to make more creative yoga sequences for yourself, for your students, and just for funsies. Because remember, this practice doesn’t always have to be so serious all the time either 🙂
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11 Ways To Make Creative Yoga Sequences
Have you ever been on Instagram, and watched some twisty swirly flowy flow and wondered: how the hell did they come up with that?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
I know it can look really complicated when you’re watching it from the outside, but the inside of the creation process can actually be quite simple if you apply a few key pieces of strategy to your yoga class planning.
Cueing and sequencing techniques that will change the way you teach yoga.
Use A Peak Posture
One of my favorite ways to create a creative sequence is by using a peak posture as a guiding point throughout the class creation process.
While creating a class for a peak posture could actually take multiple blog posts to fully explain, as well as an entire course, I can share the basics here.
Think of your peak posture as your why to the class. Now keep that why at the forefront of your mind as you add in every.single.pose to the sequence.
Truly, every posture you include should be connected to the why. This will help to maintain direction, cohesion, and purpose to the class- rather than feeling so creative that it’s clunky or just plain weird.
Cueing and sequencing techniques that will change the way you teach yoga.
Use A Theme
If you’re more of a spiritual or emotional style teacher, then perhaps you’d prefer to use a theme as your why in your creation process. This theme will be something beyond the physical to provide that same direction, cohesion, and purpose as a peak posture.
Since we’re working on creativity, remember to bring that creativity into your theme choice, too! The sky is the limit, after all.
Look around you to get inspired by the seasons, nature, global events, emotions, or student’s needs. Then, use shapes in your sequence that you feel are a true embodiment of this concept or idea.
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Use A Theme With A Peak Posture
Now my personal favorite way to come up with creative sequencing is by using a theme and a peak posture, because I find that it ticks all the boxes: physical, mental, and emotional.
While this is my favorite option, it’s also worth noting that it can be tricky when it comes to cueing, because there’s suddenly a lot to say. You need to cue extensively to the physical body to make sure they’re safe and ready for the peak pose, and you also need to cue to the emotional theme to make sure it’s not lost in the movement.
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Start From The Ground Up
Now, whether you’re still using the peak posture, theme, or combination of the two- you need to make sure that you’re starting from the ground and then working your way up.
Traditional yoga classes usually start on the actual ground in a yoga pose like Child’s Pose, but you don’t necessarily have to get so literal with it.
Think more about what foundation you need to build in order to safely guide your students into that big TA-DA moment of the class. Starting from the ground and then working up simply means you’re starting from gentle movement first, before moving onto more advanced poses.
Cueing and sequencing techniques that will change the way you teach yoga.
Reconstruct A Standard Sequence
There’s nothing like a fun little reconstruction to really get me excited. Haha, my yoga nerd is showing, but I don’t even care.
Let’s go back to that example of starting in Child’s Pose example. Now let’s say you’re creating a class with a peak pose of Full Splits. As yourself if Child’s Pose is helpful in achieving that peak pose.
What shape can you start your students in that is linked to Full Splits, but isn’t too intense to start in? Continue to reconstruct a traditional yoga sequence in this way.
Yoga cueing and sequencing secrets from a 1000-hr yoga teacher.
Focus On Your Why
One of the most common mistakes and roadblocks I see when people are working on coming up with more creative yoga sequences is when they lose sight of their why.
Remember, a peak pose, a theme, or both can be your why. These are great guiding points to ensure that you stay on track while you create.
We’ve all been to those classes where the teacher offered a creative yoga flow, but it was so creative that it:
Didn’t feel good.
Wasn’t safe.
Felt clunky in the body.
My guess is that teacher didn’t have a why in their class. This will help to prevent you from making those same mistakes.
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Start With The Familiar
Alright, let’s say you’ve got all of the other tips down, and you’re feeling stumped on where exactly to start. I get it, it can feel daunting to know that you can start….anywhere.
If you’re someone who gets overwhelmed with too many choices, then focus on starting with the familiar. Start with what you know.
Say you’re comfy with the typical Cat/Cow and Sun A warm up. Okay great! Now how can you add a little *spice* to that? Adding arm or leg variations to familiar shapes is a great way to get started.
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Take New Classes As A Student
I don’t know about you, but I can get a little stuck in my ways sometimes when it comes to teaching, and suddenly all of my sequences are kind of just…the same.
If you’re like me, then trust me when I say you can benefit from taking a yoga class that’s a totally different style than you’re used to. Or, at the very least, take a teacher who you’ve never tried before.
This can help to break up whatever loop you’re in, and provide that one little unlock moment that can help you to get more creative with your own sequencing.
Practice Intuitive Movement On Your Mat
I know that intuitive movement can be a lot easier said than done sometimes, but I swear it really does wonders when it comes to planning creative sequences for your yoga classes.
My best tips for tapping into that flow state of movement are:
Try to keep your eyes closed.
Put on some of your favorite music that your body naturally wants to move and groove to.
Do your best to worry less about how you look, and notice more about how you feel.
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Move With Music
Our bodies naturally want to move to music. Don’t believe me? Put on your favorite song, and see if your body has a response to it. I bet it will.
I like to choose songs that will give me a very specific feeling so that I tap into that feeling through my body’s movements. This doesn’t mean I’ll use that same music in the class itself, it just means the music inspires the physical movement in the creation process itself.
Practice Without A Goal In Mind
One of the most important things to remember when you’re working on creative flows is that creativity needs space to flow. Sometimes when we can suffocate the potential of our creativity by placing goals, expectations, or judgements around it.
You can move for the sake of moving while also staying connected to your why. Remember your why is different than a goal in that you don’t have an attachment to the outcome around it.
Let me know which tip has helped you the most in coming up with your own creative sequencing in the comments below!
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xx,
K