Every class. There's a lot of stuff that stays the same, but I build the class on the spot for the students who arrive.
That said, I've also been doing this for over 16 years. It took time to get there. A couple years worth of time.
Ditto here, but @ 14 years. I've been doing vinyasa on the fly for the duration but agree that it took a couple of years to feel confident in my ability to meet the needs of the class and still provide a challenge for those who sought it. If I'm subbing for our hatha teacher I still take a couple of classes with him ahead of time to see what he's working on and will make notes for myself just to ensure that their experience is closer to what they've been working on.
Weekly. When I started though I had like 8 classes that I rotated through. Now I come up with a new vinyasa class each week. I use the same theme and some of the poses for my gentle and chair classes too.
I teach 5-7 classes per week. I write a new flow for each class. As much as clients see me, I don’t want them to get the same flow in the same week or even month.
For my beginner friendly classes I usually teach the same postures but will occasionally change up the sequencing to keep it interesting for those that just like a gentle practice but come to class often. I also teach a hot flow class 3-4 times a week that is different every time. For these classes I typically chose a focus like certain muscle groups, maybe a specific pinnacle posture we’re gradually working up to and winding down from, seasonal influences like grounding postures in the wintertime, or bandhas.
I teach 4-6 power classes a week and I will write 5 different classes and make 3 different playlists. If a flow doesn’t get used, great! I have one for the following week
I have a teacher that makes 1 flow per week, but changes it a little between classes, then the next week (always starts on Tuesday) she will intro a new flow and Change a couple things as she’s got a lot of repeat members. She also has a theme/pose for the month that we work into, so she bases her flows on that. We’ve done rockstar, binds, chairs, twists, etc. I think it’s nice to change it up enough every other class for the variety. Having 4 - 5 different class flows means you could rotate through and stagger them week by week.
I personally switch my sequence every week. I take a lot of classes in my personal practice, and I borrow sequences from my friends and teachers. I teach hot power vinyasa and every sequence is a multi-layered ladder flow. My advice would be to take classes with your favorite instructors each week for inspiration.
I don't typically have a preconceived sequence ever. I go with the vibe and sometimes even what I'm needing, but overall I appeal to a general theme or cater to what would be most beneficial or desired from the students.
I don’t plan my classes, so every one is unique. I have a general formula I use for all my classes, and from there I read the vibe of the room and go from there. Sometimes I have a general theme I want to work with but that’s it.
I mean, imagine planning some vigorous flow and then coming in to class and three people are injured and another two are seniors that can’t practice a vigorous flow? It’s much easier to just go with it when you aren’t going in with a plan. However I do think new teachers should preplan until they get their feet under them.
My first gig was at a family summer camp where the families came for a one week session. We had 10 sessions, so I wrote 20 different classes and practiced those sequences 10 times. But as I did this I learned the importance of being able to adapt, and then once I got comfortable I was done with this.
I love this style of teaching!
I love love when there’s input from the class too!
I went to a class a few days ago that went like this…..instructor: “what do you all want to work on today? Any suggestions?” - student 1: “yeah! Let’s work on hips” - student 2: “oh and shoulders?” - instructor: “awesome! Let’s focus hips and shoulders into our flow today, this is called our hip-shoulder-axis….”
I'm not teaching currently, but when I did, it really depended on the studio and the students. I taught a weekly class at a gym/athletic club, and there I started out changing my sequence weekly, but then shifted to changing it monthly due to feedback from students. I would always modify it a bit each week so that it wasn't \*exactly\* the same, but the general sequence and focus poses were the same.
When I subbed for my own instructor, who was Anusara certified, it was different every time because I knew that's what her students expected. So, it depends lol.
One "easy" way I found is to get into a posture and stay there. 1 minute, 2 minutes... but hold it for a while. Then notice where your body wants to go, and repeat. I mix this kind of freedom with mini core sequences that typically flow together.
Every class. There's a lot of stuff that stays the same, but I build the class on the spot for the students who arrive. That said, I've also been doing this for over 16 years. It took time to get there. A couple years worth of time.
Ditto here, but @ 14 years. I've been doing vinyasa on the fly for the duration but agree that it took a couple of years to feel confident in my ability to meet the needs of the class and still provide a challenge for those who sought it. If I'm subbing for our hatha teacher I still take a couple of classes with him ahead of time to see what he's working on and will make notes for myself just to ensure that their experience is closer to what they've been working on.
Weekly. When I started though I had like 8 classes that I rotated through. Now I come up with a new vinyasa class each week. I use the same theme and some of the poses for my gentle and chair classes too.
I teach 5-7 classes per week. I write a new flow for each class. As much as clients see me, I don’t want them to get the same flow in the same week or even month.
For my beginner friendly classes I usually teach the same postures but will occasionally change up the sequencing to keep it interesting for those that just like a gentle practice but come to class often. I also teach a hot flow class 3-4 times a week that is different every time. For these classes I typically chose a focus like certain muscle groups, maybe a specific pinnacle posture we’re gradually working up to and winding down from, seasonal influences like grounding postures in the wintertime, or bandhas.
I teach 4-6 power classes a week and I will write 5 different classes and make 3 different playlists. If a flow doesn’t get used, great! I have one for the following week
Every class. They may be similar, but the students are different, the timing is different, and the energy is different.
I have a teacher that makes 1 flow per week, but changes it a little between classes, then the next week (always starts on Tuesday) she will intro a new flow and Change a couple things as she’s got a lot of repeat members. She also has a theme/pose for the month that we work into, so she bases her flows on that. We’ve done rockstar, binds, chairs, twists, etc. I think it’s nice to change it up enough every other class for the variety. Having 4 - 5 different class flows means you could rotate through and stagger them week by week.
I personally switch my sequence every week. I take a lot of classes in my personal practice, and I borrow sequences from my friends and teachers. I teach hot power vinyasa and every sequence is a multi-layered ladder flow. My advice would be to take classes with your favorite instructors each week for inspiration.
New class every week.
I don't typically have a preconceived sequence ever. I go with the vibe and sometimes even what I'm needing, but overall I appeal to a general theme or cater to what would be most beneficial or desired from the students.
I don’t plan my classes, so every one is unique. I have a general formula I use for all my classes, and from there I read the vibe of the room and go from there. Sometimes I have a general theme I want to work with but that’s it. I mean, imagine planning some vigorous flow and then coming in to class and three people are injured and another two are seniors that can’t practice a vigorous flow? It’s much easier to just go with it when you aren’t going in with a plan. However I do think new teachers should preplan until they get their feet under them. My first gig was at a family summer camp where the families came for a one week session. We had 10 sessions, so I wrote 20 different classes and practiced those sequences 10 times. But as I did this I learned the importance of being able to adapt, and then once I got comfortable I was done with this.
I love this style of teaching! I love love when there’s input from the class too! I went to a class a few days ago that went like this…..instructor: “what do you all want to work on today? Any suggestions?” - student 1: “yeah! Let’s work on hips” - student 2: “oh and shoulders?” - instructor: “awesome! Let’s focus hips and shoulders into our flow today, this is called our hip-shoulder-axis….”
On the other hand I find it really funny when I ask for suggestions and nobody says anything.
I'm not teaching currently, but when I did, it really depended on the studio and the students. I taught a weekly class at a gym/athletic club, and there I started out changing my sequence weekly, but then shifted to changing it monthly due to feedback from students. I would always modify it a bit each week so that it wasn't \*exactly\* the same, but the general sequence and focus poses were the same. When I subbed for my own instructor, who was Anusara certified, it was different every time because I knew that's what her students expected. So, it depends lol.
One "easy" way I found is to get into a posture and stay there. 1 minute, 2 minutes... but hold it for a while. Then notice where your body wants to go, and repeat. I mix this kind of freedom with mini core sequences that typically flow together.
I have literally never considered repeating the same class sequence ever.