Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes

Whether you teach yoga or simply practice it, this book is a goldmine of information. From the beginning principles of class construction in the opening chapters to the sample sequences of popular Hatha yoga practices that conclude the book, Mr. Stephens provides a detailed and comprehensive look into effective ordering of asanas. For example, if the goal of the class is to focus on deep back bends, the author recommends preparing students for the necessary flexibility with poses that emphasize stretching the hip flexors, chest, and abdominal muscles. He discourages intensive core work immediately prior to deep back bends because the tightened muscles inhibit elongation and extension of the spine. After the work with back bends, he proposes gentle twisting motions or core exercises to release any tension in the spine. This book is full of suggestions for sequences covering the range of students: children, seniors, pregnant women, beginners, intermediates, and advanced. There are sequences emphasizing the main asana families—back bends, hip openers, forward bends, inversions, arm balances, twisting, and standing balances—as well as those for relaxation and balancing the chakras and doshas. And if you prefer to put together your own practice, the author includes a wonderful section on the constituent elements of 115 asanas, outlining areas that need to be flexible, areas that need to be stable, which asanas provide good preparation for the pose, which are appropriate follow-ups, and what the effective counterposes are. As if all that isn’t enough, the author includes sections on the various forms of Sun Salutation, effective cueing and teacher interaction, and a glossary of anatomical and yoga terms. In all, this is a thorough and informative resource that will enhance the effectiveness of your classes and practice.

I highly recommend the two Mark Stephens books I've read - About me: I teach dance and theater but I'm not a professional yoga teacher; however, I've read a lot of yoga literature to supplement my personal yoga practice and I'll occasionally incorporate yoga principles into my theater classes.... When I first saw this book on pre-sale on Amazon, I had to debate whether or not it was for me (since, again, I'm not a yoga professional). I finally decided that my love for Mark Stephens' last book was enough persuasion to buy this one. About the book: This book has already informed my personal practice and, I know the next time I teach my theater class I will incorporate some of Stephens' principles (specifically the differences between asanas for stimulation and those for relaxation). He not only touches on the traditional approaches to yoga sequencing and how a teacher can adjust a practice to a wide variety of students, but he also addresses specific practices to the gunas, chakra specific practices, age specific practices and principles on how to create your own structured classes (peaks or summit asanas, with preliminary and counterstretch asanas). I would usually let my personal practice evolve with how my body "informed" me - I would basically do what felt good. This is apparently not a bad way to practice, but I found that sometimes I'd start stretching late at night and I would wake myself up. With this book I feel as though I can create a plan... I've already started constructing sequences for my different needs throughout the day - a wake-up sequence, a pre-show sequence, a post-workout sequence, a nighttime sequence... I think the book requires at least a little bit of pre-existing knowledge about yoga (or the desire to learn more) - it is definitely geared towards yoga teachers and addresses issues unique to their industry - but as a simple yoga enthusiast who has read Light on Yoga, the Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and others, this met and exceeded my expectations to fulfill my own personal sequencing needs.

I have purchased this book for my studies (500RYT) in yoga. It's an awesome book on the art of sequencing. The book is systematically laid-out; for an example, from identifying Preparatory Asanas like what needs to be opened, to stabilized and counter poses. The author covers from beginners level to advance levels in their sequencing. Sequencing for special conditions of Women (menstrual, pregnancy, menopause, Bone health and sequencing for seniors. It also covers Chakra Sequences, Ayurvedic and more!! Excellent and well written book! Photos of sequences doesn't get better than this! This is essential for any teacher training program for sure. So happy my yoga school required this book! Excellent choice!

A perfect book for the yoga instructor. Great pbotos and information to help create the yoga moves flow you imagine. I love this book.

When I re-started teaching yoga I realized I wanted to get a better grasp on sequencing. This book, and the The Mark Stephens Yoga Sequencing Deck that goes with it, were incredibly helpful and I can see that as my knowledge grows so will my understanding of the concepts. There is a lot of useful information here and I'm glad to have it! I would appreciate a bit of simplicity in some places, and as a writer and teacher myself I know that we have to constantly balance the information we give between the needs of beginners and more advanced students. A beautifully written and very informative book. Thanks for writing it!

This is a well-thought out and very practical book. It includes equencing for beginning, intermediate, & advanced classes, each level has options for different focus: back bends, hip opening, twists, balances, inversions, forward bends. Other chapters include Core-Awakening, Yoga for Kids, Special Conditions of Women (including pregnancy at different stages), Yoga for Seniors, Chakra sequences, Ayurvedic sequencing... Lots of pictures of sequences, tables w/ cues, lists w/ bullet points, poses listing muscles to awaken & strengthen/ stretch & poses to do to prepare for that pose. The appendix has sequence templates for various styles of yoga. As a beginning yoga teacher, this book has been very helpful!

This book provides a deep understanding of the philosophy of yoga and then applies that in a very practical and useful way to the specifics of sequencing asanas. Mark Stephens is well versed in the ancient yogic writings and is also an adept in the current vogues of western yoga. This book was helpful in distinguishing one school of thought from another. The writing is thoughtful, informed, and easily accessible. The appendices and photos are a treasure trove of asana names, variations, and sequences. I bought this book for my kindle but I think this is a book that is best the old fashioned way and I intend to buy the paper version also.

I love this book. It gives sequences with pictures and breath counts for classes from Chakras to arm strengthening. I love that each sequence has all the illustrations not just names, as the names can be hard to remember.In the back, each pose is explained beautifully, with information about where to feel openings and stabilizing points. The words a teacher a needs to be able to verbalize. This is a wonderful resource fOr Yoga teachers that want to have comprehensive and correct sequences. I really can't say enough about this book. It has answered so many questions for me!