YOGA SEQUENCING ONLINE COURSE
WITH MARK STEPHENS
LEARN HOW TO DESIGN TRANSFORMATIVE YOGA CLASSES THAT ARE CREATIVE, SAFE & FULL OF STUDENTS WHO LOVE YOUR CLASSES
Junko Ritts, RYT 500, California USA
"I learned and gained so much knowledge on how to create safe, effective and balanced sequences. Mark shared many details on the mechanisms of human anatomy and how they are applied to the sequence in practice. I feel more confident and comfortable in my teaching, and have received great feedback from students attending my classes!" - Junko
TRANSFORMATIVE SEQUENCING
The art and science of teaching yoga is creatively expressed in how you craft asana, pranayama and meditation sequences that honor the needs and intentions of the students in your classes.
Your creativity is given form by yoga philosophy, the style of yoga you are teaching, the biomechanics and energetic requirements and effects of the asanas, and by your personal sense of purpose in meaningfully sharing yoga.
In the interrelation of these elements we come to specific practices - sequences of actions - that have different effects depending on how it all flows together.
Which leads us to several important questions ...
- What are the essential elements of a complete practice?
- How are these elements ideally interwoven to make the practice accessible, sustainable and transformational?
- How does one asana affect another asana?
- What are the relationships within and between different asana families (standing asanas, back bends, arm balances, etc.)?
- Where and how do pranayama and meditation best fit in for different levels and styles of yoga?
- What are the best ways to design classes for a lifetime of yoga?
IN THIS COURSE,
WE LOOK CLOSELY AT THESE QUESTIONS
+
HOW TO USE OUR FULL PALETTE OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
TO CREATE CLASSES THAT:
+ ARE A CREATIVE EXPRESSION OF ALL YOU HOLD DEAR IN YOGA
+ RESONATE WITH THE NEEDS OF YOUR STUDENTS
+ ARE SAFE & SUSTAINABLE FOR A LIFETIME OF YOGA
+ MAKE THE PRACTICE ACCESSIBLE TO A DIVERSE ARRAY OF BODIES
+ MAKE YOGA MEANINGFUL IN THE LIVES' OF YOUR STUDENTS
+ ARE FULL OF STUDENTS WHO LOVE YOUR CLASSES
WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR YOU
WITH THIS COURSE
-
DESIGN & TEACH CLASSES WITH CREATIVITY & SKILL
FREEDOM
While a few yoga styles insist that they offer the true, original, most effective or otherwise ideal approach, there is no absolutely correct or incorrect class sequence. Rather, different sequences make more or less sense in terms of:
- How yoga works for different people in various life situations and conditions;
- What is being emphasized in a particular style or tradition of yoga;
- The intentions of the teacher and the individual students;
Yoga teachers have tremendous freedom in designing and teaching different sequences, freedom that also carries responsibility for ensuring that the sequences are well informed and sensibly designed.
INTELLIGENCE
Modern yoga typically approaches class design with either random creativity or preset regimens, with the ends of this continuum potentially problematic for most students. While creativity inspires us and can be a source of discovery, classes designed on a whim can create confusion and lead to injury. While rigid sequences such as Bikram and Ashtanga offer regularity and wonderful opportunities for refinement, they often lead to repetitive stress injuries due to their ill-informed designs.
I offer an approach that falls between the ends of this continuum, drawing the best from each while letting go of their problematic aspects. Thus, in this course I will teach you how to design classes in ways that tap into and integrate your creativity, intelligence, and knowledge of yoga and of your students, empowering you to create the best and healthiest classes.
EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST
I’ve been training teachers for over 20 years and I’m here to help you learn how to design the best and healthiest yoga classes for your students.
Designing great classes is one of the hardest yet most important aspects of teaching, inspiring me to teach sequencing workshops globally and to write the Yoga Sequencing textbook. It's a companion volume to my textbooks on Teaching Yoga, Yoga Adjustments, and Yoga Therapy, all in multiple languages and required reading in teacher training programs around the world.
I bring a non-dogmatic, accessible, and integrated perspective to my teaching, always striving to make yoga a more refined practice for healthy living, including through well-informed yet creatively designed classes.
COURSE CURRICULUM
This 20-hour course features:
- 10.5 hours of video lecture with Mark
- 6.5 hours of group discussion and Q&A
- 3 hours of guided home practice with Mark
THE CURRICULUM
PART 1: THEORY
- Ancient Ideas & Traditional Approaches
- 5 Qualities & 5 Principles of Sequencing
- Arc Structure of Yoga Classes
PART 2: ASANA DETAILS
- General Properties of Asana
- Interrelations of Asana Within & Between Asana Families
PART 3: DESIGNING CLASSES
- Beginning Level Classes
- Intermediate/Advanced Level Classes
- Considerations for Specialized Classes (kids, seniors, pregnancy & more)
PART 4: REFINING CLASS DESIGNS
- Critique- Level 1/2 Vinyasa Flow
- Critique- Prana Flow for Natarajasana
- Critique- Kids Classes
MATERIALS & REQUIREMENTS
REQUIREMENTS
As an online course, this course requires a strong and consistent internet connection, as all the video content is streaming (not downloadable).
COURSE MATERIALS
- Course Syllabus (PDF)
- Printable Workbook (PDF) for taking notes throughout the course
- Suggested Reading: Yoga Sequencing by Mark Stephens
COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION
- Watch all of the course video content
- Complete three short quizzes
- Pass the Certification Exam
Please note: if you do not wish to receive a Certificate of Completion and/or Yoga Alliance CEUs, you do not need to complete the above requirements for certification. Simply consume the course content however you wish.
WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR
Designed for new and experienced teachers (& teacher trainers), this course will build upon your current knowledge and help you develop the skills to teach intelligent sequences that not only inspire and transform, but make the practice safe, accessible and sustainable for a lifetime.
- If you struggle with creating class sequences
- If want a framework for designing classes
- If you desire to learn more about teaching yoga across the various stages of life
- If you love studying the practice of yoga
- If you want to be the best yoga teacher you can be
THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU!
BENEFITS OF ONLINE LEARNING
Both in-person and online workshops and trainings come with their own strengths and weaknesses, and neither one is superior. My online workshops and trainings offer the same quality as my in-person offerings do, and even include some added benefits. When deciding what's a good fit for your development as a yoga teacher, consider your options and what will best suit your unique needs.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
+ BALANCE
Not everyone can take time off work (or from other responsibilities) to advance their learning and deepen their studies. If you are juggling multiple commitments and responsibilities, the flexibility of online learning offers you an opportunity to study when it works best for your unique schedule. In lieu of taking time off work or missing family dinners, you can log-in and learn when it’s convenient for you, making it easier to balance all that you do and love in life.
PLAYBACK CONTROL
+ SELF-PACED LEARNING
Unlike in-person workshops or trainings, online learning allows you to pause, rewind, re-watch and even slow the speed of video lectures and classes. This playback control helps to ensure you don’t miss any critical information being presented when you need to pause to take notes, do additional research or contemplate an idea. Those who don’t speak English as their native language especially find value in slowing down the video speed to help with translation. Plus, you can re-watch the videos repeatedly to make sure you fully understand the material before moving onto the next topic. This added control allows you to work through the material at your own pace and get the most out of your learning experience.
STUDY FROM ANYWHERE
+ GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Traveling for in-person workshops and trainings can present many challenges, including an added cost and time commitment, that prevent teachers from being able to study with Mark. Online learning means you can train with Mark from anywhere in the world, without the need to travel and from the convenience of your own home. Plus, online learning attracts a wide range from participants from all over the world which lends itself to a deeper, global perspective that enhances the learning experience during live group sessions on Zoom.
MORE ACCESS
+ TIME FOR INTEGRATION
For most people, learning requires repetition, but in-person workshops and trainings are live which means you can’t “rewatch” the material or access it again. With online learning, you can watch the video lectures and classes as many times as you like during your time of access (generally 6 months or more). Not only does this improve your ability to understand the material, it also provides ample time for integration of the information; you have time to go out and apply the teachings, methods and theories in your classes and then revisit the material or ideas that didn’t make sense during application or that you didn’t fully grasp.
Joe Stephens, RYT 200, Texas USA
I'm so glad I availed myself of the opportunity to take Mark Stephens' Yoga Sequencing Course! I had become acquainted with Mark's clear and rational teaching style in his book "Teaching Yoga", so when I saw that he was offering this sequencing course, it didn't take me long to sign up! I thought the course was really well-structured and his approach of always asking "why this follows that" made so much sense to me. The exercises and discussions in the "in-person" sessions were invaluable. I particularly appreciated that certain sequences could actually be harmful if sequenced improperly. In short, Mark is a master of the online course, and I'm sure his experience making everyone feel included predated the pandemic and Zoom!" - Joe
Ā ENROLL NOW IN THE YOGA SEQUENCING SELF-STUDY COURSE
FAQs
What if I can't attend a live group session?
How many hours is this course?
Will there be "homework" or additional hours of study?
How long do I have to complete the course?
Is this course approved by the Yoga Alliance?
Will I receive a certificate?
What is your refund policy?
Will I be able to ask Mark questions?
What form of payment do you accept?
Jimmy Corneyre, RYT 200, Lyon France
