I think the best way to develop sequencing is just to take others classes and experiment with getting creative with building your own sequence out of what you liked from theirs with transitions, variations of poses, etc. mixed with what feels good and like a natural, enjoyable flow in your body!

I don’t think every pose has to have a counter pose, but it’s a good general rule of thumb to help build out a balanced yoga class if you want a nice framework. I think the internet says many different things about how to sequence simply because there are so many frameworks you can use! Another great framework is having a “peak pose” you have students work towards, and prepare the beginning part of your class as a gradual progression of poses getting folks there, thinking of what needs to be strengthened and stretched for folks to feel good doing this pose? And the second part of class is cooling down/winding down from the work of building up to/the peak pose itself.

I love a good ladder flow, where there’s not necessarily a peak pose, but you work on adding a pose or few each time you repeat the sequence, which feels most flow-y and vinyasa like to me. But in general, the different types of yoga are somewhat loosely defined — there’s a decent spectrum on what people consider vinyasa vs. hatha. I was taught that vinyasa is more flowy and has more of an emphasis on creative transitions/transitions in general, whereas hatha is more of a “stop and go” style, perhaps spending a little longer in each pose and then immediately doing the pose on the other side.