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Early in my instructing profession, I fell into what I name “The Novelty Lure.” Every class needed to be a masterpiece, a unique sequence of poses and practices that I had labored to sequence, for me to really feel that I had happy my position as yoga instructor.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than I might discover myself watching a clean sheet of paper with what can solely be referred to as dread, sure I didn’t have a single novel thought in me for sequencing. I had used each pose variation in my instructor coaching textbook, repeated each fancy transition I had skilled, and even made up a number of of my very own. Class planning grew to become such a stressor for me that I might discover any excuse in any respect to delay it, sitting down with that clean paper later and later the night time earlier than instructing, as if exhaustion and desperation would one way or the other summon creativity.
Then in the future I used to be scheduled to show back-to-back lessons. My behavior, on this scenario, was merely to repeat a variation on my fastidiously crafted sequence for the second class. I figured I might peak one pose earlier, slip in a further pose in the course of the quiet down, or maintain the identical decrease physique positions however differ the arms. However after the primary class, one pupil cheerfully instructed me she had so appreciated the primary class that she meant to remain for a second. I used to be horrified. With no time to give you a brand new sequence from scratch, I admitted to the scholar that I had deliberate to show the identical precise poses.
To my amazement, she was not solely prepared however glad to remain regardless of the repetition. In that second, I started to know that, as a pupil, I didn’t want and even need each a part of every class to be novel. As a lot as most of us prefer to study on the mat, we additionally prefer to return to poses and practices again and again.
As a instructor, I had grow to be so targeted on curating an expertise that targeted on totally different poses and variations and transitions that I misplaced my understanding of why my college students really attended class, which was merely to return away feeling higher in physique and thoughts.
That was the start of a brand new strategy I took to sequencing, one wherein I used to be far more prepared to embrace the acquainted. I not deliberate every class with a clean piece of paper and a sense of dread. I discovered that I might educate the very same sequence of poses and differ the tempo and rhythm in ways in which led to a completely totally different expertise for college students.
The right way to Educate the Similar Actual Yoga Sequence…In another way
When you’ve additionally fallen into The Novelty Lure in your instructing or dwelling observe, listed here are 5 methods you may transfer by means of the identical standing yoga sequence of poses whereas emphasizing totally different components of the observe. You are able to do this with any sequence of poses that you just favor. I’ve provided a brief sequence of eight standing poses merely as en instance. Let’s examine and distinction.
1. One and Performed
Within the One and Performed strategy, you progress by means of the sequence of poses as soon as, staying sturdy and regular in every pose for a number of breaths. The most important function of this strategy is a moderately luxurious period of time in every pose, which will be channeled into precision in cueing and physique alignment. It permits for quiet and house in between verbal cues and cultivates endurance and slow-burn strengthening. It’s a robust shorter observe by itself or will be integrated right into a gradual class model.
On the down aspect, time in a pose will be its personal problem—particularly if that pose calls for a excessive degree of energy or stability or is in a collection of poses that tax the identical area of the physique. That may make this strategy tough for rookies, who’re but to construct the required energy, stability or endurance. It will also be irritating for college students who’ve come to class in search of a extra mellow expertise or to spice up heart-rate.
One option to stability static time and motion utilizing this technique is to observe your gradual and regular sequence on the primary aspect after which supply a faster-moving stream that’s easy or extra acquainted (like a Sun Salutation) earlier than taking college students by means of the second aspect.
The right way to: Following is how you can educate in One and Performed model utilizing a sequence of poses for example. Substitute your most popular sequence, ideally one that you just didn’t dread creating.
Begin in Mountain Pose (Tadasana).
From Mountain, bend your knees and are available into Chair Pose (Utkatasana). Shift your weight onto your proper foot and step your left foot again as should you have been coming into High Lunge however maintain your torso tilted ahead.
Pivot your again heel down and switch your chest to face the left lengthy aspect of the mat as you come into Extended Side Angle (Utthita Parsvakonasana).
Press into the ball of your entrance foot and straighten your entrance leg to return into Triangle (Utthita Trikonasana).
Shift your weight ahead into your entrance foot and raise your again leg for a model of Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana) wherein your backside hand would possibly hover above the mat.
Step your lifted left leg ahead subsequent to your proper, flip to face the entrance of the mat, and stand tall as you come back to Mountain earlier than working towards the sequence in your different aspect.
2. Free Stream
If the One and Performed strategy feels somewhat gradual and exact for you, think about free flowing to a brand new pose with every part of the breath. This strategy, most acceptable to a vinyasa or stream class, clearly prioritizes motion over precision or endurance and construct warmths, boosts coronary heart price, and fosters rhythm and momentum.
Each plus comes with a minus, and since free stream leaves little time for detailed alignment cues or providing choices or props, rookies might simply really feel confused or overwhelmed. This strategy works greatest for skilled college students who’re already accustomed to the poses within the sequence. Even skilled college students might lose sight of particulars of alignment or grow to be tired of the stream if it’s repeated too many occasions with out added embellishment.
One option to scale back that propensity is to differ the main target of your cues every time by means of the stream, like highlighting foot place the primary time by means of, hips and core the second time by means of, specializing in arms and shoulders (even including arm variations) the third time by means of, and cueing extra subtly to energetic results and even setting college students unfastened to stream with out cueing a last time by means of.
The right way to: Utilizing our instance sequence, you’d inhale from Mountain to Chair Pose, exhale to Leaning Ahead Lunge, inhale to Prolonged Facet Angle, exhale to Triangle, inhale to Half Moon, and exhale to step ahead to Mountain. You would possibly pause there for a breath to reset earlier than shifting to your second aspect.
3. Begin Gradual, Construct to Stream
There’s a option to construct to a quick stream that engages college students’ curiosity however balances the advantages of the primary two approaches. Particularly, begin gradual earlier than you construct velocity in a stream.
On this strategy, you run by means of your sequence slowly a few times, taking time in every pose for key cues on engagement or alignment or demonstration of acceptable variations or prop choices, then repeat it, rising your tempo till college students stream with the breath.
This technique is suitable for vinyasa or stream lessons and gives higher help for newer college students whereas giving extra skilled college students pointers they will give attention to and refine. There’s a sense of stability between motion and time holding nonetheless.
On the draw back, this technique takes time so it doesn’t swimsuit shorter practices.
The right way to: Utilizing our instance sequence, you would possibly keep in every pose for 3 to five breaths and familiarize your self with the alignment in the course of the first spherical, then repeat the sequence a second time holding every pose for simply 2 breaths, after which repeat the sequence a 3rd time by inhaling from Mountain to Chair Pose, exhaling to Lunge, inhaling to Prolonged Facet Angle, exhaling to Triangle, inhaling to Half Moon, and exhaling again to Mountain.
4. Step by Step
When a gradual tempo feels too static, you would as a substitute construct a sequence step-by-step, including a pose or two at a time and alternating between them with the breath so as to add a sense of stream.
This strategy focuses on transitions between poses, which frequently get much less consideration than they want and deserve, and builds cumulative heat with out the potential monotony of repeating the very same stream. It offers college students somewhat extra time to grow to be accustomed to key features of every pose and the transition in between them with out making them maintain nonetheless, although you would tailor this strategy to rookies or gradual and regular lessons by taking just a few breaths to settle within the first time you observe every pose.
The right way to: Utilizing our instance sequence and the rhythm of the breath, begin in Mountain, inhale into Chair, and exhale to face in Mountain 4 occasions. After your fifth inhalation to Chair, you’d exhale to transition again to Lunge, inhale ahead to Chair and exhale again to Lunge 4 extra occasions. Then on the fifth inhalation, you’d pivot to Prolonged Facet Angle and so forth till ending your complete stream in your proper aspect, able to repeat it in your left.
You may also play with the period and depth of this strategy by rising or reducing the variety of breaths in every pose pair, although it does take observe to depend breaths in addition to providing key cues to anchor every pose or transition. When crafting a step-by-step sequence, you additionally have to be conscious of the potential for cumulative fatigue in key muscle teams (particularly, the quads).
5. Ladder Stream
A ladder stream builds one pose at a time after which retraces its steps again to the beginning of the sequence. As earlier poses grow to be extra acquainted a sense of rhythm and stream can construct, however this sequencing technique does require the scholars’ full consideration, particularly early on – each to recollect the stream of poses, and to grasp the novelty of acquainted transitions accomplished in reverse order. This may be each a professional and a con, drowning out distractions to anchoring thoughts to physique, however probably asking an excessive amount of of a sluggish mind early within the morning or a drained one after a protracted work day. It really works greatest in vinyasa or stream lessons for extra skilled college students who’re acquainted sufficient with the poses in your sequence to have consideration and agility to spare.
The right way to: Utilizing our instance sequence, that might appear like the next, maybe with a pause for a consolidating breath every time in Mountain Pose.
Spherical One
Inhale from Mountain to Chair Pose, exhale to Mountain Pose.
Spherical Two
Inhale from Mountain to Chair Pose, exhale and step again to Lunge, inhale ahead to Chair pose, exhale Mountain, inhale to Chair, exhale to step again to left aspect Lunge, inhale to Chair and exhale to Mountain.
Spherical Three
Inhale from Mountain to Chair, exhale to proper aspect Lunge, inhale to floor your again heel and open to proper Facet Angle, exhale and pivot again to proper aspect Lunge, inhale ahead to Chair, exhale to Mountain, inhale to Chair, exhale to left aspect Lunge, inhale to floor your again heel and open to left Facet Angle, exhale to pivot again to left aspect Lunge, inhale to Chair, and exhale to Mountain.
Spherical 4
Inhale from Mountain to Chair, exhale to proper aspect Lunge, inhale to proper Facet Angle, exhale to straighten your entrance leg for Triangle, inhale bend your entrance knee for Facet Angle, exhale to proper Lunge, inhale ahead to Chair Pose, exhale Mountain, inhale to Chair, exhale to left aspect Lunge, inhale to left Facet Angle, exhale and straighten your entrance leg for left aspect Triangle, inhale to bend your entrance knee for Facet Angle, exhale to left aspect Lunge, inhale to Chair, and exhale to Mountain.
And so forth till the sequence is accomplished.
And there you might have it—5 attainable methods to flee The Novelty Lure. When you ever end up watching a clean piece of paper or display screen, desperately attempting to give you one thing fancy and new to your subsequent sequence, it is likely to be time to rethink your strategy. Relatively than putting novelty on the pedestal, know that the very same standing sequence can create a very totally different expertise, relying on how you progress assist your college students transfer by means of it.
