123: Sequencing Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

Today’s topic is one of our favorites. Hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive deep into sequencing to unpack common pitfalls for yoga teachers and how they can be avoided.

Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? How can we choose a class focal point or theme that resonates with students? Are we teaching from a place of thinking rather than feeling? In this episode, we talk about the most important aspects of sequencing, what to add to or trim out of your class, and how to shorten or elongate students’ perception of time.

Listen in to learn how to create a balanced and intention-based yoga class sequence.

“Sequencing is an important topic for yoga teachers because it can be one that uplifts us and feeds us and helps draw people to us as a teacher and it can also be something that drains us.” – Tiffany Cruikshank

“It could be a cue or a pose or a part of the body; there can be many options for theming, but it is what creates cohesion and allows students to have a clear experience and cohesive takeaways moments, too.” – Tiffany Cruikshank

Show Notes:

• The pressure of the “perfect” sequence [1:26]
• Pitfall #1: Timing, timing, timing [5:09]
• Pitfall #2: No central theme to create clarity & cohesion [15:30]
• Pitfall #3: Too much of a good thing [21:18]
• Pitfall #4: Picking the wrong theme for your students [26:32]
• Pitfall #5: Unintentional overload [30:15]
• Pitfall #6: Sequencing purely for novelty or complexity [36:03]
• More rapid-fire sequencing tips [41:00]
• Yoga Medicine® Sequencing with Purpose online training [49:12]

Links Mentioned:

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Sequencing with Purpose Online Yoga Teacher Training
• Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 95: Smarter Not Harder: Creative Sequencing
• 5 Most Common Sequencing Mistakes That (Even Experienced) Yoga Teachers Make
• Yoga Teachers, Here’s How to Get 5 Completely Different Classes Out of the Same Exact Sequence of Poses

“Practice it before you teach it.” – Rachel Land