The rise of artificial intelligence has extended into nearly every facet of modern life, prompting questions about its capabilities and limitations. Recently, AI tools like ChatGPT have been tested in areas traditionally considered uniquely human, such as creative endeavors and, surprisingly, the practice of yoga.
A recent exploration examined what happens when ChatGPT is tasked with creating a 60-minute vinyasa yoga sequence, specifically designed to build towards the challenging pose of Crow. While the results weren’t entirely without merit, the exercise highlighted the inherent difficulties of translating a practice deeply rooted in embodied experience into an algorithm.
Fundamentals Understood, Nuance Missing
The AI demonstrated a basic understanding of yoga sequencing, recognizing the importance of a warm-up to prepare the body. Yoga teacher Taylor Lorenz noted that the generated sequence appropriately focused on warming the wrists and building heat, essential components of a safe and effective practice. Lorenz also appreciated the inclusion of a five-minute Savasana (corpse pose) at the end, a crucial period for integration often overlooked in faster-paced classes.
Interestingly, the AI suggested pulsing in Goddess Pose as a preparatory exercise for Crow, a choice Lorenz found unexpectedly insightful. “It really warms up the inner thighs and really helps prep for the pose and I loved discovering something new,” she said.
The sequence also included a unique transition from Revolved Crescent Lunge to Goddess Pose facing the opposite side of the mat, described by Yoga Journal editor-in-chief Renee Marie Schettler as “intuitive and lovely.” The AI even prompted students to explore the shape of Crow earlier in the class, building familiarity before attempting the full balancing pose.
Repetition and Lack of Depth
Despite these positive aspects, testers found the AI-generated practice lacking in creativity and the nuanced physicality required for a challenging pose like Crow. The sequence heavily relied on Sun Salutations A and B, comprising 22 minutes of the hour-long class, plus an additional three rounds of Half Sun Salutations. While repetition isn’t uncommon in yoga, testers felt it was forced and lacked thoughtful variation.
Schettler pointed out that the sheer volume of Sun Salutations could potentially exhaust students before the most demanding part of the class. Transitions between standing poses, such as Warrior 1 to Warrior 2 and Goddess Pose to Malasana (Garland Pose), also felt clunky and less fluid than those typically guided by a human instructor.
Foreshadowing and Core Engagement Absent
A significant shortcoming was the lack of “foreshadowing” – the gradual preparation of the body for a peak pose. The AI’s sequence didn’t adequately hint at the movements required for Crow, leaving the necessary protraction of the shoulder blades, hip flexion, and knee flexion as a surprise rather than a natural progression.
Schettler also noted a lack of preparation for the specific demands of Crow, such as pressing the knees against the upper arms (as in Lizard Pose) and focusing the gaze (drishti) to maintain balance. The sequence neglected to incorporate core engagement exercises, such as Plank or Crow-style crunches, which are essential for stabilizing the pose.
The cues provided for entering Crow were deemed inadequate, and the sequence lacked counterposes, such as backbends, to balance the forward flexion and prevent post-practice imbalance.
Timing and Overall Structure
The timing of the sequence was also problematic. Bradshaw Wish noted that the instruction to perform three Sun Salutations in 10 minutes would require holding Downward-Facing Dog for an extended period – approximately three minutes at a time. Lorenz estimated the entire practice would take approximately 35 minutes to complete, even when moving at a slower pace, indicating a need for significant expansion.
The Human Element Remains Essential
the AI-generated sequence felt more like an outline than a fully realized class. While Lorenz suggested experimenting with ChatGPT as a source of inspiration, she and other testers emphasized the importance of relying on the expertise of a qualified yoga teacher.
“As a yoga teacher, it’s important that you trust your body, trust your experiences, and not rely on something like ChatGPT to put together a sequence,” said Bradshaw Wish, emphasizing the AI’s inability to understand the subtle connections and flow within a practice.
Schettler highlighted the importance of a teacher’s ability to respond to students’ needs and adjust the practice accordingly, a level of responsiveness currently beyond the capabilities of AI. “Right now, all you’ve got is a set of instructions for moving through shapes,” she explained.
yoga is a practice that unites breath and movement, elements that ChatGPT appears unable to fully comprehend. Teaching yoga safely and effectively requires a deep understanding of the body and an ability to anchor the practice in something more than just physical form. The current limitations of AI underscore the irreplaceable value of the human element in this ancient discipline.
