Sequencing for Different Body Types
Full payment, includes comprehensive anatomy guide and video library
Early registration discount: $595 CAD if registered 2 weeks before start date
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Why can some students fold forward effortlessly while others with excellent flexibility still can't touch their toes? The answer usually isn't about effort or practice—it's about femur angle, torso-to-leg ratio, and bone structure that no amount of stretching will change.
Most teacher training programs teach sequencing as if all bodies are built the same. This program shows you how skeletal variation affects every pose and how to sequence classes that work for short-limbed students, hypermobile joints, larger bodies, and the significant percentage of people whose hip sockets simply won't allow external rotation.
Understanding structural limitations
You'll learn to identify whether a student's limitation is muscular (changeable) or skeletal (permanent). We cover femoral anteversion and retroversion, how shoulder socket depth affects arm balances, and why some spines flex easily while others are built for stability rather than mobility.
The curriculum includes specific cueing strategies for different proportions. A student with long legs and a short torso needs completely different alignment cues in forward folds than someone with the opposite build. You'll practice recognizing these variations quickly and adjusting instructions without stopping class flow.
Practical sequencing skills
Each module includes building sequences for specific scenarios: a class with several larger-bodied students who need different weight distribution strategies, students with restricted hip rotation who still want to work on lotus variations, or hypermobile students who need strengthening rather than more flexibility.
We examine common poses that fail for predictable anatomical reasons. Shoulder stand works beautifully for some spines and creates compression for others—you'll learn to spot the difference and offer alternatives that provide similar benefits. The program covers equipment use beyond basic props, including how chair yoga principles can modify standing sequences for any body size.
Course Breakdown
Six weeks of anatomical study combined with hands-on sequencing practice, moving from theory to application.
Module 1: Skeletal Variation Basics
- Femur angles and what they mean for forward folds and squats
- Shoulder socket variations affecting inversions and arm balances
- Spinal curves and why some students will never have a flat back
- Practical assessment techniques you can use while teaching
Module 2: Proportion-Based Cueing
- How limb length ratios change optimal alignment
- Modifying warrior poses for different leg-to-torso proportions
- Balance work when center of gravity varies significantly
- Creating cues that work across body types simultaneously
Module 3: Sequencing for Larger Bodies
- Weight distribution in standing poses and transitions
- Belly space considerations in forward folds and twists
- Breathing room in binds and closed poses
- Building strength sequences that don't rely on body weight alone
Module 4: Hypermobility and Restriction
- Identifying hypermobile joints versus genuine flexibility
- Strengthening sequences for overly mobile students
- Working with restricted rotation in hips and shoulders
- When to encourage depth versus when to create stability
Module 5-6: Integration and Practice
- Building mixed-level sequences for diverse anatomies
- Quick visual assessment during class
- Prop strategies beyond blocks and straps
- Teaching practicum with feedback