Prompts for creativity are all around us

// a dynamic vinyasa class for lymphatic drainage

Dear Humans,

If you put together the newsletters from the last few weeks, I guess you could say that inspiration has been on my mind.

First we talked about gleaning inspiration from others, and then we talked about using your old sequences to feel re-inspired.

Today I want to talk about unlikely sources of inspiration.

Whether it is self-imposed, or a necessity of running a weekly newsletter like this, or something else, I am always drawn to creating new sequences. I’m often thinking about what’s next, what’s interesting, and what’s exciting me in the movement space.

And here is one of my most simple pieces of advice for creativity on your yoga mat: Let any spark of inspiration be the right one.

For example, I was sick over the last week. And the virus I’m fighting is a stubborn one. So as I planned my yoga class for the week, I got thinking about the lymphatic system in the body.

The lymphatic system is a vital part of our immune system, consisting of vessels, nodes, and organs that help remove toxins and excess fluids from tissues. It relies on movement (like yoga, stretching, and deep breathing) to keep lymph flowing.

That simple train of thought gave me an idea: What if I planned a class that was focused on the lymphatic system? I could target the movement around the places in the body where the lymph nodes are most concentrated (neck, arm pits, hips).

Just like that, a class was born. This class!

This class is still a powerful and dynamic vinyasa class, which is applicable to my audience, but because of this intention, I was able to draw in new inspiration and ideas, and find new movement patterns to support my goal — some of which I’ve never done before.

For creativity, sometimes all we need is a spark. Or, in writing, sometimes we call this a prompt.

Prompts are the best way to get us moving down a creative path.

(I have mixed feelings about the trend of “creative sequences” online, even though I’m arguably very much a part of it. But I don’t like to think of what we’re doing here as a trend. And I don’t think it’s just for show. Rather, I think there’s something exciting, beautiful, and valuable in diverse movements and exploration in the body, as long as it’s done with intentionality.)

Remember, it’s not creativity for the sake of creativity. Rather it’s creativity with intention. Creativity toward a goal that supports your students.

We’re yoga teachers. We’re out there teaching. Which means we are regularly coming up with what we want to teach. So it’s very helpful to have a practice around your own sources of inspiration. Sometimes it’s as simple as finding the right prompt.

Here are some sequencing prompts that you might turn to at any time:

• Start within. How have you been feeling in your own body lately? Are there any areas for yourself that could use some love? Use your own experience to design the class that you would love to take. There will be students out there who need it, too.

• Start by thinking about a specific area in the body, one that we don’t often target in yoga. What about the hands, the feet, the fingers, or even the forehead or the belly. If you were to design a class dedicated to supporting or strengthening or softening or stretching that part of the body what would you do?

• Design a class that brings you into different planes — from standing to sitting to laying on your belly or back at unique points during the sequence. How could you get down to your belly within your standing sequence and then back up again?

• Think about a natural element. Whether it’s water, earth, fire. Or maybe a flower. A rock. How could you design a class to embody that element? What would it feel like? What poses would match? Build from there.

Those are just a few ideas, but there are limitless possibilities. Here’s the thing: If you allow inspiration to come from anywhere, then there’s never a lack.

And, sometimes you don’t feel inspired, and then you go back to the basics, and that’s always, always okay.

My friends, today I have FOUR sequences to share with you, which can be linked together to build a class focused on lymphatic drainage by encouraging dynamic movement in the neck, armpits, and hip flexors.

I start by sharing the opening of the yoga class. (With surprise appearance from my cat, Meeko.) Then I share the warm-up sequence.

My paid subscribers get the mini flow and the main flow. Those two standing sequences have some beautiful flowy movements in there, which I’m excited for you to try.

I did voice overs this week, so you can follow along in your own body (we’re obviously moving more quickly than we would in class).

I hope you enjoy. I hope you look around the world today and see possibilities. Mostly, dear humans, I hope you’re well.

Sending love,

Izzy

Izzy Martens

author, yoga teacher, sequence enthusiast

@yoga.humans | @martensizzy

What I Taught in Yoga This Week | June 4, 2025

class opening — the write-up:

• constructive rest

• bridge sequence:

  • inhale, bridge pose

  • exhale, lower hips and then hug knees to chest, give them a squeeze

  • inhale, lower feet and lift hips into bridge

  • repeat!

• bicycle sequence:

  • hug knees into chest

  • send right leg high

  • hover right leg long

  • hug right knee to chest

  • send left leg high

  • hover left leg long

  • hug left knee to chest

  • repeat!

• windshield wipers with the legs

• rock and roll up to easy seat

• neck sequence:

  • clasp hands behind back

  • chest expansion

  • drop chin to chest

  • roll left ear to left shoulder

  • bring fists to left hip, hugging elbows back

  • breathe into the length in the right side of the neck

  • roll chin to center and release hands

• inhale, arms up

• cactus arms

• inhale, arms up

• exhale, clasp hands behind low back

• repeat neck sequence on the other side

From here in class I moved to table top and did a few movements like cows / cats and tiger curls. Then a variation of a Sun A. Finally, onto this warm-up flow:

warm-up flow — the write-up:

• three legged dog (right leg)

• right knee taps to right elbow

• three legged dog with scorpion tail

• scorpion tail hip circle, both directions

• lizard lunge, feel it out

• step forward to half-squat

• stand tall and lift the arm and lift the heels

• lower back down to your half squat

• repeat x2!

• forward fold

• twisted forward fold, both sides

• high plank

• lower to belly

• cobra

• single locust leg lifts

• locust lift (just feet, then add chest and arms)

• high plank

• downward facing dog

• find the other side!

From here, the class flows into the mini-flow and main flow, which I share at the end of the newsletter for paid subscribers!

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In our opening and our warm-up, we’ve already started to target the neck, arm pits and the hip flexors. In these two standing sequences, we’ll continue to invite dynamic movement into the body, following through a number of standing mini-flows. This class builds beautifully to a few peak poses and heart openers. I hope you enjoy!