I got a really great question today about sequencing. It wasn't a blatant question about sequencing, but more about the way certain practices make you feel.
Good sequencing is an art. I love this article from Charlotte at Hugger Mugger. In a well sequenced practice your body will be singing and there should be a certain "residue", something that remains from your practice that gives you a calm energy or that "yoga glow".
Bad sequencing will have your nervous system doing spirals, scattered, unfocussed energy.
Teacher trainings talk about sequencing, pose and counterpose, how to build up to and down from a peak pose...but I really don't think good sequencing can be taught. It is something you learn how to develop from hundreds and hundreds of your own practices and trial and error.
I never, ever have students do a pose just because we haven't done it in a while. I am never just throwing poses into a hat and drawing them out: tada! totally wasted nervous system!
Every little movement we do, be it a shoulder roll or a floating of toes has a reason. There is a reason for that small movement in the sequence. It might help you open somewhere that needs to be open for the next pose. It might be to let go of something that you don't even realize you are holding onto.
I take copious notes of my yoga classes. What we did that day. Who is where. Why a pose didn't work for someone or why a pose worked brilliantly for someone. Yes, I am your friendly yoga teacher STALKER. This is me doing my job. I want you to feel great after a class. I never want you to feel beat up, beat down, and discouraged. I have been to those classes. The bad sequencing.
There will always be a certain type of yoga that will appeal to you. And, we're lucky there are so many variations so we can find that perfect fit and perfect teacher for us. That isn't what I'm trying to explain here. I'm trying to explain sequencing or a class that just makes you feel...tired, drained, wound up, spun out.
For example, remeber back in February when I took that aerial yoga class? Cool class. Fun concept. Horrible, horrible sequencing. Plus the floating in the air, the going upside down, working to headstand out of a swing with no real indication where we were headed...and savasana in the air. Which (savasana in the air) some might find divine. I felt like I was gonna throw up. No grounding. Seriously, ask Anna what I was like when I knocked on her door for lunch right after class:
hi anna omigod i just got back fromaerialyoga and itwassoooamazing i was hanging upsidedown and then we did headstandsandtonsofcoreworkandiwassweatingandmymatwassoslipperyandtherewasthisguywithabrokencollarbone (gulp for air) andireally needtoeatsomethingoriamjustgonnafloatawayandireallywonderificouldpossibleytalkanyfaster?
It was like taking 50 shots of espresso and then standing on my head and then being spun around blindfolded. That is bad sequencing.
So, notice how you feel after your next class. How is your nervous system? How does your body feel? If you feel frazzled take note. If you feel divine take note. If you constantly feel frazzled after a class, talk to your teacher. And, hey, maybe try a different class.