Why More Poses Don’t Make a Better Yoga Class
When “more” feels like “too much”
It’s tempting to think that the more poses you include, the better your class will be. After all, you want to give students value, keep them engaged, and show the breadth of yoga.
But here’s the problem: a class with twenty different āsana often feels rushed, confusing, and disconnected. Students don’t have time to explore the breath or sense the effect. You, as the teacher, leave wondering if you actually taught yoga, or just ran through a list of shapes.
Why “more” doesn’t equal “better”
The Viniyoga approach reminds us: practice is about effect, not variety for its own sake.
When you cram in too many poses:
No time for depth. Students skim the surface rather than experience transformation.
Breath gets lost. Quick transitions often push the breath into the background.
Sequencing loses coherence. Without clear preparation, pratikriyā, and integration, the class feels scattered.
Yoga isn’t about how many āsana you can fit i; it’s about whether the practice leads somewhere.
The alternative: fewer, better-chosen āsana
A more effective way to design classes is to focus on:
A clear goal. What do you want your students to experience or cultivate? (sthira, sukha, focus, uplift, calm?)
Main work. Select one or two key āsana that bring about that effect.
Pratikriyā. Protect and integrate the benefits of the main work while reducing potential strain. This is always dynamic, chosen with the desired outcome in mind.
Integration. Allow the new state to settle so students leave feeling changed, not reset.
What this looks like in practice
Imagine your goal is a bṛṃhaṇa (expansive, uplifting) effect using gentle backbends.
Main work: For example, dvi pāda pīṭham (dynamic bridge pose) and a mild bhujangāsana variation, coordinated with inhalation to emphasise lift through the chest.
Pratikriyā: Dynamic forward bending that lengthens the spine and balances local strain while preserving the sense of openness in the chest, for instance, a kneeling forward bend with exhalation focus.
Integration: Seated with a balanced breath ratio, letting the sense of space in the chest remain steady without over-stimulation.
This sequence may only involve a handful of āsana, yet it takes the student on a clear journey that they can feel.
Why students prefer this approach
When you simplify your planning and pare back the number of āsana, something shifts:
Students have time to explore breath and awareness.
The effect of practice lingers long after class.
You feel less rushed, more present, and more confident.
Your students won’t leave saying, “We only did ten poses today.” They’ll leave saying, “That class felt really good.”
Ready to simplify your planning?
If you’re tired of feeling pressured to “add more,” I created Revitalise Your Yoga Teaching to help.
It’s a short, practical course that shows you how to build classes with fewer, well-chosen āsana that actually work.
You’ll learn the framework that saves planning time, supports confidence, and gives your students practices with real depth.
Get instant access here for €37
Fewer poses. More impact. That’s how you stop teaching flat, forgettable classes, and start teaching yoga that matters.