How to Create a Yoga Class That Actually Flows
What yoga teachers usually mean by “flow”
When yoga teachers say they want a class to “flow,” they often mean:
Smooth transitions between āsana
No awkward stops and starts
A sense that the practice has momentum
That’s a good start, but real flow in yoga isn’t just about moving gracefully.
A class can look seamless on the outside and still feel scattered on the inside.
What makes a class really flow
In the Viniyoga approach, flow isn’t about choreography. It’s about coherence.
A yoga class flows when:
There’s a clear goal guiding the sequence.
Each āsana is chosen because it prepares, develops, or balances the next.
The breath leads the movement, not the other way around.
The practice builds toward an effect and then integrates it through pratikriyā.
This is what gives students the sense that they’ve been taken on a journey rather than walked through a list of poses.
Why transitions aren’t the answer
It’s easy to think flow = fancy transitions, but transitions only work if the poses around them are chosen with purpose.
Example: Sliding from uttānāsana to caturāṅga daṇḍāsana to ūrdhva mukha śvānāsana looks fluid. But if your class goal is calming (langhana), that sequence is pulling you in the opposite direction.
The effect matters more than the choreography.
A practical example
Goal: gentle opening of the chest with a subtle bṛṃhaṇa effect.
Preparation: tāḍāsana and ardha utkaṭāsana, coordinating breath with movement.
Main work: Dynamic dvi pāda pīṭham with inhalation, followed by a mild bhujangāsana variation.
Pratikriyā: a kneeling forward bend sequence linked with the breath, reducing strain while preserving the sense of space across the chest.
Integration: Simple seated posture with balanced breath ratio, allowing the uplift to settle.
Notice: only a handful of āsana. But each one supports the next, and the whole practice leads somewhere. That’s flow.
Why this approach works
When you focus on coherence instead of choreography:
Planning is faster. You don’t need endless transitions.
Teaching is calmer. You’re not rushing through 20 poses.
Students feel the effect. They leave class saying, “That flowed beautifully,” not because of fancy moves, but because the practice made sense.
Want to make every class flow?
This is exactly what I teach in my short course Revitalise Your Yoga Teaching.
It’s a practical training that shows you how to sequence with clarity, using fewer, well-chosen āsana that build toward a goal and integrate it fully.
Get instant access here for €37.
Forget choreography for its own sake. Flow is coherence. Once you understand that, every yoga class you teach will feel purposeful and alive.