How the complexity of our sequence impacts our energy

// a series of heart opening sequences with spinal waves

Dear Humans,

I’ve been trying and struggling to put something into words that I’ve been thinking about.

It’s about the energy and intention you bring into a space as a teacher. But it’s also about how that is balanced and impacted by the complexity of what you’re teaching. There’s actually a lot to explore here.

I’ve written about the importance of energy before. I’ve said that an amazing yoga teacher brings a purposeful energy into the class; they bring their intentionality into the space—in a way that’s palpable. This is what makes for a powerful class.

But how does the complexity of what you’re teaching complicate this? Are you able to bring your full attention to the energies of a space if your sequence is hard to teach?

When I was in Sweden on retreat last week, I was struck by how powerful I found the classes. And they were really simple sequences: a few Sun As, a few Sun Bs, and then a few simple standing postures. Usually, if I’m being 100% honest, I don’t love classes like this. This is bad to say, I know, but I sometimes get bored (😬). I like to move my body in new ways, I like to flow and dance on my mat. That’s how I express my internal fire. We aren’t all like that. But that’s me.

So, I had to ask myself: why did these classes feel so amazing? And I think it was because they were chock-full of intention. They were very heart focused. Very embodied. Our teacher was inviting us to really feel and be where we were. The poses were simple so there wasn’t much else to track as a student. We were just there. In the presence of each other. In our bodies. In our hearts.

So when I came home, I said to myself: Okay, it doesn’t really matter what my sequence is, I am just going to teach a heartfelt class. All energy. And it’s going to be amazing.

But, being who I am, I then taught a sequence that was brand new to me, and kind of complicated. It was the sequence I shared today. :)

This sequence was inspired by another amazing teacher, whose class I took in Stockholm. It was a different kind of class, but it was also really powerful. It was powerful because I was so enthralled with the creativity and movement. It was less emotional, but it was physical in a way that felt empowering. Don’t get me wrong, the teacher brought in beautiful intentionality, but I walked away thinking mostly about the movements and how inspired I was by them.

Here’s the thing, when I went to teach this beautiful sequence, with my intention to also infuse it with heartfelt emotionality, I struggled to do both. Not majorly. I think (and hope) it was a great class. But I found that my mind was pulled toward thinking about the sequence that I was cuing; I had to be mentally present with the sequence, which meant that I was less tapped into the heart.

I have always been drawn to teaching complex sequences. If you follow me, you know! You can see that my sequences have many poses and I try to shake things up frequently.

But, what I’m learning, is that while this brings one type of energy, it can sometimes detract from another type of energy.

Could teaching something that you’re really comfortable with actually allow you to open new and different doors to other aspects of who you are as a teacher?

I used to be really resistant to teachers who told me that sometimes simple is better.

I loved creative sequencing. I still do. And that’s what I wanted to teach. So I didn’t want to listen to the voice telling me to simplify.

But, I am starting to understand the value in simplicity. There’s a lot of value in teaching the physical practice in a way that’s familiar to you so that you can grow in other areas of your teaching.

When you teach something that you’re really comfortable with, you don’t have to think too hard about the cues or how it all works, and you can begin to focus on other important considerations within the room.

Here’s what I think. I think you can have both. I think you can teach in both ways. Maybe on different days, or, maybe you master doing it all at once. Or, maybe you always gravitate toward one or the other. But I don’t think you have to choose one or the other. Instead, what if you chose what you wanted to focus on class by class?

Maybe some classes you teach with a physical focus, and you try new things, and your intention is to challenge yourself by teaching something complex, and your intention for your students is for them to get to explore their bodies in new ways. Then, maybe in another class, the sequence is simple and your intention is for the students to really feel the energy of the space. The intention is all heart. The class is simple physically, but the energy of the teachings is powerful.

Can we have both? Can we teach both? Can we grow in both directions? I think so.

Does this make sense, my friends? I feel like I’m rambling, but I also feel like this maybe a bit of a breakthrough??!? For me, at least.

What does this spark for you? Is it making sense? Let me know in the comments!

Today, I’m delighted to share this beautiful sequence, which was inspired by a class I took in Stockholm with Luisa Doerstel — and this is a close replica of the sequence she shared with us.

One of my favorite things about experiencing different teachers’ classes is I ALWAYS encounter new and interesting things to try. This is a heart opening class, and you’ll see right away that it’s very flowy, especially in the spine.

Everyone gets to enjoy the mini-flow, but I especially love some of the warm-ups that she offered, which I filmed for my paid subscribers. My paid subscribers also get the main flow and peak poses. Put together, you have the building blocks for a yummy heart opening class.

My friends, I want to say one last thing: we don’t always have to strive to be better, the best, amazing.

Sometimes we make it too complicated.

Sometimes it’s best to just be you.

<3

Sending love, dear humans,

Izzy

Izzy Martens

author, yoga teacher, sequence enthusiast

www.yogahumans.com

Would you like to practice together in person?

I have two events coming up that I’d love to invite you to! The first is a Spring Renewal Yoga Class and Sound Bath at The Neighbor in Fort Collins, CO on April 8th.

In this beautiful setting, we will focus on the theme of growth and nourishment, allowing the energy of spring to be our guide as we set intentions for this new season.

The next thing I want to invite you to is a workshop called Yoga Playground, which is happening at Yoga Pod in Fort Collins on April 19th. In this two hour workshop, we’ll have the chance to play, experiment and workshop fun and interesting poses from the yoga practice.

What I Taught in Yoga This Week | March 26, 2025

the write-up:

• downward facing dog

• ripple into high plank

• half plank

• upward facing dog with toes tucked

• hover right leg

• three legged dog

• knee to nose

• low crescent lunge

• cactus backbend

• diver (think cat in the back and tuck chin)

• repeat a few times

• plant hands

• standing splits

  • find some movement in standing splits

• one legged mountain

• leg extension, palms open, then come back to one leg mountain

• chair plane

• spinal waves in chair plane

• fold

• find your way back to down dog and repeat on the other side

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If you want to teach this heart opening flow in your yoga class then I have three more sequences to help you build out your class! Below you’ll find the sequence I used to open this class. It takes you from the opening posture and preparatory movements. Then, I share the main flow and peak poses I taught in class. If you take the mini flow from above and sandwich them together then you basically have a full class!