Yoga Teacher Blind Spot: Sequencing!

You probably aren't surprised that sequencing is your blind spot. In fact, along with anatomy, it's one of the most common blind spots. And yet it's a skill that you're using every time you teach a class!

Why is sequencing so hard for so many teachers?

In the average teacher training, sequencing tends to be taught in an asana-focused way. You might have been taught that x pose follows y pose. Or that backbends always need a counter pose or have been taught absolutes like you should never or always do ___ in a pose.

Have you had these experiences?

•  You're teaching a room full of different people and abilities, only to look around and realize that the sequence you created isn't going to work for the people there but you don't know how to change it up on the fly? 

• You look around and people are struggling through the poses because you didn't know how to sequence variations within your class and the flow of it. 

When we've been taught sequencing in a strict or linear fashion, it ends up inhibiting our creativity as teachers, forcing us to follow arbitrary rules that don't always apply to real life and real people. 

Many teachers are scared or don't feel confident to create their sequences because of this. They rely on scripts or formulas that don't always work in real life. 

The good teachers are the ones who trust their intuition and experience and create sequences that people love because they give the people in their classes movements and options that make sense, and have a natural flow and variations for all bodies. 

But how do you get there? 

- Improving your movement fluency through applied and functional anatomy. When you have a strong foundation of understanding anatomy in movement- active vs passive movements, mobility, joint and muscle health and longevity- then the sequences for your classes become WAY more clear and simplified. 

- Breaking the rules. You are allowed to do something different than what you were taught. Take classes from teachers that you love and pay attention to how they sequence. Notice what feels good or what makes sense in their classes. Are they different from the sequencing "rules" and yet they still work? Become a curious scientist and explore how it feels to do various types of sequences. 

- Experiment with what feels right in your body. Start with trusting the sequence in your body. A great place to start when planning a sequence is asking yourself, "What would feel good after this pose?" And if it's different from what you were taught, it doesn't mean that it's wrong. In fact, when you have that foundation of understanding human movement (as mentioned above) then you are better informed to answer that question!

- Trusting yourself as a teacher. If you've been teaching for any length of time, you have experience with sequencing. You have experience being in a room of people and seeing how they are reacting to each pose. Are they getting tired too soon in your class? Maybe you sequenced stronger movements too early on or didn't give enough prep or warm-up time. And that's ok. This is how we learn and grow as a teacher. Making mistakes or teaching sequences that weren't perfect but improving them the next time. Learn to be an observer of your sequences in action.

Sequencing is an art that takes time to learn and feel comfortable with. And that's perfectly normal and ok! Give yourself the time and space to learn more, experiment, teach classes that aren't "perfect" and trust yourself and your teaching! 

Ready to go beyond your typical yoga teacher training?

Our Heart + Bones Yoga Teacher Certification is designed to help you grow, not just as a yoga teacher, but as a confident, authentic leader in your community. Here’s how you’ll stand out:

1. Honour the tradition: Learn how to uphold yoga’s time-honoured teachings while offering classes that are inclusive and avoid cultural appropriation.
2. Teach sustainable practices: Gain a deeper understanding of the ‘why’ behind traditional cues and adapt them for accessibility, making your teaching more sustainable and safe for all.
3. Bridge theory and practice: Feel confident in applying movement education and anatomy to real-life classes, so you can offer variations that work for every body.
4. Master sequencing: Develop the skills to adapt poses and sequences in a way that is safe, accessible, and welcoming to all levels.
5. Build a connected community: Grow alongside like-minded teachers and mentors in a supportive environment that helps you refine your teaching and find your unique voice.

It’s time to expand your impact and teach in a way that feels aligned with your values—this is yoga teacher training, redefined.