How to Sequence Yoga Classes Around One Yoga Pose
Even if you are a passionate yoga teacher who loves to share your love for asanas with your students, you might find that planning yoga classes can sometimes be difficult. Planning a yoga class around a single pose can simplify your lesson planning.
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Instructions
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Choose a pose. Using any yoga books or other resources that you have on hand, pick a challenging pose for the format you are teaching. For example: For an intermediate yoga class, you could pick Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (One-Legged King Pigeon Pose) as your focus or goal pose.
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2
Jot down some good preparatory poses. Thinking of good poses to build up to your goal pose can lead you down many creative, sequencing paths. If you are using One-Legged King Pigeon Pose, for example, you could focus on some Warriors I and II or Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend) as hip openers, leading into Utthan Pristhasana (Lizard Pose) just before going into Pigeon.
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3
Get creative with arm variations and mudras (seals). If step 2 seemed like second nature to you but you still are craving some fresh sequence ideas, work on variations while you're in your Warriors or Wide-Legged Forward Bends. Add a few Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) or Reverse Prayers so that when you get to Pigeon Pose your class will be inspired and ready to express the pose with the arms as well.
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Add your finishing poses. Keep it simple with some quiet time in Balasana (Child's Pose) or continue getting creative with your yoga lesson with variations of Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand).
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Leave room for the unexpected. Knowing where you want to take your class is a great idea, but remember that over-planning can keep you from sensing your students' needs. Sometimes yoga students like it when you ask them if there's a certain pose they want to learn about, or someone might request one, so a little room to wiggle is never a bad idea.
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Tips & Warnings
Warming up with Sun Salutation A and B is a staple for many yoga class formats.
References
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