Another funky ladder flow and holding space

What I Taught in Yoga This Week | 1.31.24

Hello beautiful humans,

I’m writing to you from the airport, on my way to visit my brother and his family in Bellingham, Washington. I love the Pacific Northwest and I’m looking forward to the damp air and green, green landscape.

I’m reflecting this week on how teaching yoga, and holding space for your student’s experience starts well in advance of your first teaching cue. In my opinion, the teacher starts “holding space” for the experience as soon as the first student walks in the room. We often think so hard about what we teach in yoga, that sometimes we overlook the other elements of holding space that make a difference to your students.

Ask yourself, are these following elements in place when you teach:

• When a student comes in, are you there to greet them warmly? Do you know their name and use it? Do you smile and ask them about their day, or maybe follow-up on something you’ve learned about their life? Are you making them feel valued as a member of the community, or perhaps trying to get to know them?

• Is there music playing? Is your mat set-up and your props on your own mat to cue the students to grab those same props? Are the lights adjusted?

• Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, how is your energy? Your students will look to you for cues about how the next hour will be. How are you showing up? Frazzled? Energetic? Low? Centered?

All these questions are simply tools to reflect on what it feels like to enter a yoga space. As the teacher, you’re in charge of that container. What do you want it to feel like?

Great teaching starts before the class even begins. It’s in every moment the student is with you. Reflect on how you feel when you enter a space with a yoga teacher you love. What do they do that makes a difference?

Sometimes we’re rushed, we’re late, we’re mad, we’re out of sorts. That happens. We’re human. But as yoga teachers, we have a powerful tool: an understanding of our breath. So, if you need to center, then take a moment in your car, or head to the bathroom, take a few deep, slow breaths, and set an intention. What are you trying to offer your students?

Alright, on to the flow! I’ll share it, then we’ll talk about it.

What I Taught in Yoga This Week | January 31, 2024

I taught this as a ladder flow, meaning I broke the flow into three parts. You can think about it like this:

• Ladder Rung 1: Teach poses 1 - 5

• Ladder Rung 2: Teach poses 1-5, then add on poses 6-10

• Ladder Rung 3: Teach poses 1 - 10, then add on poses 11 - 15

• Full Ladder: Flow through poses 1 - 15

(Tomorrow, for my paid subscribers, I am going to post the entire break down of ladder flow, which consists of three flows and shows how they all link together. This is essentially an entire class plan!)

I love a ladder because it takes those funky transitions and gives students an opportunity to do them multiple times. Meaning more time to practice and build confidence!

Humans, my flight is about to board, so I’m off! But I hope you love this fun and funky flow. I’ll send out more details about the flow tomorrow.

Until then, be well!

Sending love,

Izzy

Izzy Martens

author, yoga teacher, sequence enthusiast

www.yogahumans.com

This week’s sequence in longhand:

• three-legged dog

• knee to nose

• three-limb table

• three pushups

• sunbird

• three-legged dog

• lizard lunge

• pistol squat hover

• three-legged dog

• high crescent lunge

• yogi squat – pulse!

• star

• goddess – pulse!

• warrior II (back of mat)

• reverse warrior – lift heel

• extended side angle

• easy twist

• revolved skandasana

• wide leg forward fold

• low lunge

• toe stand

• half-chair

• half-lift

• fold

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