Sequences of Yoga Asanas

This blog is written as a means to assist in the practice of asanas for all students of yoga. It is meant to be used as a tool to inspire you to constantly improve and experience the evolution of your yoga sadhana. The information is recorded from our own practice, but is based on the inspiration of our teachers and yoga Masters, BKS Iyengar, Geeta and Prashant Iyengar (Pune, India).
The sequences compiled do not follow any pattern, but are worked out according to a systematic study and experience of sequencing. The philosophy of this approach is published in the "Basic guidelines for teachers of yoga" by BKS and Geeta Iyengar.

When considering the right sequencing of asanas, one has to first understand the capacity of students of yoga who lack awareness in the body and mind. Thus one starts by becoming aware of one's own body's movements, stability, capacity, co-ordination, flexibility and firmness. Also you will get to know your own muscular/skeletal, organic and neuromuscular body. The practice of asana is introduces in such a way, that the student works with each part, region and various systems of the body.

One must also be aware of general concepts regarding a sequence of yoga poses; they include a sequence should not irritate the nervous system, appropriate preparation for inversions and backward extension, and their order of learning. You should also know which asanas produce heat or coolness; stimulate or abate; energize; activate or relax; are simple or complex and are commonly practiced at the beginning or the end of the session.

These basic principles of learning have been taken into account, and it is taken as a given that the student using our sequences has some understanding of his/her own abilities and limitations. It is also understood that this is not meant to replace your attendance with your teacher, but merely to enhance and stimulate your self practice.
If you have any questions about a pose, you can write to us

Monday, August 31, 2009

Sequence 18 – Backbends – Master Class

Surya Namaskar

Adho Mukha Vrksasana

Utthita Trikonasana

Virabhadrasana II

Utthita Parsvakonasana

Virabhadrasana I

Parivrtta Trikonasana

Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana

Parivrtta Parsvakonasana

Janu Sirsasana

Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana

Anjanayasana

Hanumanasana

Baddha Konasana

Malasana

Sirsasana

Virabhadrasana I – variations

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Anjanayasana

Adho Mukha Vrksasana

Urdhva Dhanurasana – hands at wall

Chair Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – over blanket roll

Chair Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – head on blocks

Supta Padangusthasana I

Jathara Parivartanasana – knees bent

Sarvangasana

Paschimottanasana

Ardha Halasana

Chair Savasana

Sequence 17 – Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana – hands to wall

Adho Mukha Svanasana – heels to wall

Surya Namaskar

Baddha Hasta Uttanasana

Tadasana – Gomukhasana arm variations

Adho Mukha Vrksasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana – hands to wall

Adho Mukha Svanasana – heels to wall

Utthita Trikonasana

Virabhadrasana II

Utthita Parsvakonasana

Virabhadrasana I

Parivrtta Trikonasana

Parivrtta Parsvakonasana

Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana

Janu Sirsasana

Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana

Hanumanasana

Baddha Konasana

Malasana

Virasana – Gomukhasana arm variation

Supta Eka Pada Virasana

Chair Virabhadrasana I

Anjanayasana

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana – at wall

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana – forward

Adho Mukha Svanasana to Urdhva Mukha Svanasana 3 x10 cycles

Chair Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana

Chair Urdhva Dhanurasana – hands at wall

Urdhva Dhanurasana – over bench, arms at wall

Chair Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – elbows on floor, hold chair legs

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – elbows at wall

Supta Padangusthasana I

Jathara Parivartanasana – knees bent

Chair Bharadvajasana – 3 variations

Adho Mukha Dwi Pada Upavistha Konasana – vertical bolster

Paschimottanasana

Ardha Halasana

Chair Savasana

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Sequence 16 – lower backache 1 ½ hours

Adho Mukha Virasana x 5mins

Adho Mukha Sukhasana x 3mins each side

Uttanasana - over chair back rest x 5mins

Parsva Uttanasana – over chair back rest x 3mins on each side

Adho Mukha Svanasana x 3mins – hands to wall

Prasarita Padottanasana x 5mins

Chair Bharadvajasana x 3mins on each side

Utthita Marichyasana x 3mins each side

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana I – weights x 2mins each side

Parsva Hasta Padasana – weights x 2mins each side

Malasana – blanket roll on thighs x 3mins

Pavanmuktasana – bench x 5mins

Parsva Pavanmuktasana x 3mins on each side

Urdhva Prasarita Padasana at wall x 5mins

Sequence 15 – 3hours

Adho Mukha Virasana

Tadasana – arm variations

Vrksasana

Utkatasana

Garudasana

Utthita Trikonasana

Virabhadrasana II

Utthita Parsvakonasana

Ardha Chandrasana

Parsvottanasana

Prasarita Padottanasana

Uttanasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Supta Padangusthasana I & II

Urdhva Prasarita Padasana

Hanumanasana

Paschimottanasana

Trianga Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana

Krounchasana

Janu Sirsasana

Eka Pada Upavistha Konasana

Dwi Pada Upavistha Konasana

Paschimottanasana

Virasana – Gomukhasana arms cycle

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Adho Mukha Vrksasana

Sirsasana

Anjanayasana

Supta Eka Pada Virasana

Supta Virasana

Supta Utthita Hasta Padasana – over mat roll

Bhujangsana I

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana – hands on blocks

Ustrasana – blocks between feet – bolster for hands

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – bolsters crossed

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana - chair

Urdhva Dhanurasana – bench

Adho Mukha Virasana

Prasarita Padottanasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Parsva Uttanasana

Adho Mukha Sukhasana

Parsva Adho Mukha Sukhasana

Chair Bharadvajasana

Parsva Sukhasana

Bharadvajasana I

Marichyasana III

Ardha Matsyendrasana I

Paschimottanasana

Sarvangasana

Halasana

Supta Baddha Konasana

Salamba Purvottanasana

Ardha Halasana

Setubandha Sarvangasana

Viparita Karani

Savasana

Sequence 14 – Restoratives

Supta Eka Pada Virasana x10mins

Supta Virasana x 10mins

Supta Baddha Konasana x10mins

Chair Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana x 10mins

Sirsasana x 5mins

Chair Viparita Karani Sirsasana x 5mins

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – crossed bolster x 5mins

Urdhva Dhanurasana – over bench x 5mins

Chair Sarvangasana x 10mins

Uttanasana x 5mins

Adho Mukha Dwi Pada Upavistha Konasana x 10mins

Paschimottanasana x 5mins

Ardha Halasana x 10mins

Setubandha Sarvangasana x 10mins

Viparita Karani x 10mins

Chair Savasana x 10mins

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Sequence 13 – 2hours

Adho Mukha Svanasana x 5mins

Prasarita Padottanasana x 5mins

Baddha Konasana at wall x 10mins

Dwi Pada Upavistha Konasana forward x 10mins

Anjanayasana x 10mins

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana forward x 10mins

Supta Padangusthasana II x 10mins

Uttanasana – blanket roll x 10mins

Paschimottanasana x 5mins

Janu Sirsasana x 5mins each side

Supta Baddha Konasana x 10mins

Viparita Karani x 10mins

Chair Savasana x 10mins

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Sequence 12 – shoulders 1 ½ hours

Chair Dandasana x 5mins

Paschima Parvatanasana x 5mins

Ardha Paschima Baddha Hastasana x 2mins each side

Paschima Baddha Hastasana x 2mins

Vatayanasana (arms only) x 2mins on a side

Gomukhasana (arms only) x 3mins each side

Paschima Namaskar x 2mins

Chair Viparita Karani Sirsasana x 10mins

Chair Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana x 10mins

Chair Sarvangasana x 10mins

Ardha Halasana x 10mins

Setubandha Sarvangasana x 10mins

Viparita Karani x 10mins