Sequencing: Seven Aspects of World Peace Yoga

According to raja yoga, the asana postures—while greatly emphasized—are only one-sixteenth of the practice. Because so much of yoga today focuses solely on this one aspect, I feel it is important to incorporate other aspects of yoga into the asana component. In this way, our practice becomes more reflective of yoga from a holistic point of view. Inherent in the asana sequence are aspects of yoga philosophy.

As a teacher, facilitating a class, this approach is a priority for me when I share yoga with others. Based on a distillation of the Four Paths of Yoga, which includes a total of nineteen categories of practice—sixteen of which are from raja yoga—the Seven Aspects emerge. World Peace Yoga teachers creatively incorporate these Seven Aspects into their asana classes. They infuse each class with their own unique style and approach. This assists in bringing awareness to the concept of yoga as an all-encompassing lifestyle.

Components of these categories connect and intertwine with one another to make up the Seven Aspects.

Yogis are meant to be wild. And it is in the spirit of being wild, liberated, and free that the Seven Aspects are included as part of a World Peace Yoga asana practice. This wildness of nature possesses a very intelligent structure. Mother Nature is timely: the sun wakes up at a certain time, is present during the day, and then goes to bed.

There is no functional system without a structure that assists with its ability to thrive. Like nature, the design of our World Peace Yoga practice is a method, or system, for thriving and attaining a state of peace within…which leads to peace without. Recall that World Peace Yoga is simply yoga. Our yogis’ enthusiasm to create a more empathetic and compassionate world, leading to peace on our planet, makes our practice unique.

We may think of the World Peace Yoga asana practice as a mandala—an integrated structure that is organized around a unifying center.The structure is a circle, representing unity. Inside this circle, many forms of creativity, talents, and qualities exist that are unique to the individual. This structure is a tool that encourages others to think outside the box, connect with their intuitive nature, and listen to their inner wisdom.

There are many ways to approach this practice, just as there are many beautiful and diverse aspects of nature. Through our World Peace Yoga practice, we strive to be wild and thrive in this unifying co-creation of peace.

What are some ways one may be creative with sequencing?

• Sequence a class that focuses on one of the seven aspects of World Peace Yoga
• Sequence a class based on a grouping of postures, such as backbends
• Sequence a class based on a peak posture, such as Warrior III
• Sequence a class based on music tied to a philosophical theme
• Sequence a class based on the chakras
• Sequence a class based on yin and yang concepts
• Sequence a class based on breath (where is the breath restricted and where is it flowing freely)
• Sequence a class based on a theme, such as peace, compassion, liberation, etc.
• Sequence a class based on the yamas and niyamas (refer to Eight Limbs of Yoga in World Peace Yoga digital book)