Most yoga classes are missing this foundational distinction

// a set of classic flowing vinyasa sequences

Dear Humans,

Do you remember at the start of the year I asked this question: What are we really doing here?

By that I meant: What are we teaching when we say we’re teaching “yoga.”

I’ve been on a journey to better educate myself around the practice, using podcasts and posts and lectures to deepen my understanding of what it means to be a yoga teacher.

Today, I want to highlight something that I picked up on the YogaLand Podcast (which, if you haven’t listened to, I highly recommend), and that has to do with the different foundational beliefs in the yoga practice.

Namely, the fact that the path to enlightenment looks different depending on which yoga lineage you’re drawing from.

In the episode, the hosts discuss how Patanjali’s Raja Yoga method, as described in the Yoga Sutras, differs from Hatha Yoga, which is what many of our modern vinyasa classes are based on.

In my experience, many yoga classes are actually conflating the two belief systems. We teach elements of Raja Yoga and elements of Hatha Yoga in a single class.

I don’t think this is always a bad thing, but I do think it’s important to be educated on the how these two lineages branched off from one another, in order to better understand what you believe and what you are trying to teach your students.

Below, I offer a quick summary of the history and the differences.

I’d also recommend that you take a listen to the YogaLand episode, because Jason Crandell does an amazing job of explaining this tricky concept.

I hope you enjoy this deep dive. And afterward, take a look at the set of sequences I’m sharing with you today. It’s a very fluid and intuitive vinyasa sequence that I think you’ll love.

Let’s dive in…

In short, the main difference between Hatha Yoga and Patanjali’s Raja Yoga has to do with how we attain enlightenment.

In Hatha Yoga, it’s believed that enlightenment comes from awakening the Kundalini Energy through activating the body and the breath. In Raja Yoga, enlightenment is achieved through stilling and silencing the mind.

In Hatha Yoga, there’s a heavy emphasis on the body (postures, active breathing techniques, the chakra system, bandhas). In Raja Yoga, there’s actually very little information about the physical breath and movement practices recommend, it’s much more focused on stilling the mind through meditation.

Because of this, and depending on what you believe, or what path you are trying to lead your students down, the breath techniques or the movement practices you offer might differ in your classes.

Why is this important?

Imagine this common scenario:

• You open class discussing Samadhi (Patanjali’s eighth limb: total absorption through mental focus).

• Then, you cue Kapalabhati breath—a Hatha technique designed to agitate prana and awaken energy.

These two practices stem from opposing approaches: one seeks to quiet the mind; the other to activate the body. Without context, students receive mixed signals about yoga’s purpose.

The point here is not to shame or criticize if you’ve never explicitly separated these two belief systems in your yoga classes. It’s simply to educate and inform. This isn’t to say that you can’t teach a variety of yogic beliefs in your classes. But if you do, you might also seek to educate your students on the differences. Encouraging them to find their own practice and set of beliefs to follow.

Yoga’s diversity is its strength—but clarity is key. Whether you blend traditions or teach one purely, understanding these roots lets you teach with integrity.

This ultimately comes back to the WHY. Why are we using these breathing techniques? What do they really mean? What’s the end goal of what we’re teaching? Where are we trying to lead our students?

With more education comes more empowerment. The better you understand your own beliefs in the yoga traditions, the better you’re able to guide your students through their practices, and help them hone their own thoughts and beliefs.

Humans, I’m sharing a “mini flow” with everyone today. This is the shorter standing sequence I taught to my class to prepare them for the main flow. The movements really do “flow” together. I taught the mini flow one time slow, then I had the students move one breath to one movement twice. From there, I introduce the Main Flow, which is shared with Paid Subscribers. I also share a Warm Up flow for paid subscribers, which might be my favorite part of the entire class plan.

And, in case you missed it, last week I sat down with my friend

Nico

to record a podcast episode of our own! We talk all about what it means to connect with other yoga teachers, feeling competitive, finding community, and ultimately how we live, teach, and flow in and out of creativity. I hope you take a listen. <3

Sending love,

Izzy

Izzy Martens

author, yoga teacher, sequence enthusiast

@yoga.humans | @martensizzy

What I Taught in Yoga This Week | June 25, 2025

mini flow — the write-up:

• three legged dog

• low lunge

• high crescent lunge with opposite arm to front leg lifted

• one leg mountain, switch arms

• warrior III, switch arms

• warrior II

• high side lunge

• half moon variation (shooting star)

• high side lunge

• half moon variation (shooting star)

• extended mountain

• chair plane

• extended mountain with a backbend

• forward fold

• take a vinyasa of choice back to downdog!

To build a class around this sequence, I have three more flows. Two flows to use as your warm-up, which set the foundation of the flow. Then a “peak flow” to bring it all together. I share these at the end of the newsletter for paid subscribers!

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If I’m being honest, the warm up flow in this class plan is one of my favorite part of this sequence set. It has a really rhythmic quality to it, moving in and out of postures, while warming up the body. Then, I offer you the Main Flow, which builds on the Mini Flow from above, and also adds in a few fun transitions. (My class loved the way we got into half moon!). Enjoy!