Yesterday we went out on our monthly lunch and she was telling me about the Anusara Grand Gathering in Denver. She took classes with Christina, Sianna, Kenny, Amy, Ross and John. I was listening and taking notes as she shared some of the highlights from her trip. One of the things that most struck me was something she heard Christina Sell say (who for my money is one of the best yoga teachers in the world.) Christina was saying that when you sequence a class, it's a great idea to think of your peak pose, study it's architecture and then create your class using similar poses from the Syllabi. Sounds so simple right! And yet how often I do poses that I always do! How often do I get caught up in a rut sometimes? How often do I miss out on great opportunities to get the students body/mind/spirit more ready for the peak pose?

So in today's and last night's classes I followed this teaching. I taught the peak pose of Urdhva Dhanurasana and I chose poses that would be helpful in getting us to that pose.

This was my sequence and I followed it to a T. I had been choosing not to plan my classes lately. But I planned this class and I have to say that it went SO well. It was so well thought out that about seven different students commented afterwards on how good they felt and how good class was. So- to plan or not to plan? Ay, there's the rub... I think both ways are good and have their own positive aspects. But if you choose to plan, really think about it, think about the architecture of your peak pose and chose poses accordingly that will help the student get to where you want them to go. Plus it makes me as a teacher really tap in to my creative juices, while also studying intensely the Level 1, Level 2 and yes even Level 3 Syllabi. 

Here's my sequence:

Theme: Abhyasa

Virtue: Devotion

UPA focus: First Principle

Peak Pose: Urdhva Dhanurasana

Child's Pose

Cat/Cow and Variation with one leg back and opposite arm in front

AMS

Lunge

Uttanasana

Tadasana with arms interlaced above head and with arms interlaced behind

Surya A

Crescent with straight arms overhead

Warriror 1 with straight arms overhead

Warrior 2, Trikonasana

Parsvottanasana

Parvrrta Trikonasana

Parighasana

Janu Sirsasana

Baby Cradle

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana #1 with thigh stretch

Dhanurasana

Ustrasana

Pinca Mayurasana

Urdhva Dhanurasana (3x)

Prasarita Padottanasana

Standing Marychiasana

Supine twist with one knee bent

Baby cradle

Savasana