For an Essentials Monk, I figure it'd be a base attack class with 12 stance options (very Zodiac-esque). You might get 2 stances at 1st level, and access to more at higher levels. Each stance would have a move action appropriate to it, a flurry of blows it could use as a free action on a hit, and some benefit that could be triggered on a per-encounter basis, akin to power strike (Ki Strike?).
Crane Stance.
Dragon Stance.
Eagle Stance.
Elephant Stance.
Leopard Stance.
Mantis Stance.
Monkey Stance.
Raven Stance.
Snake Stance. Move action lets you shift 2 squares and gain combat advantage against creatures adjacent to you at the end of the movement that you weren't adjacent to at the start. Flurry would let you deal extra damage and grab the primary target, or deal extra damage and shift 2 squares adjacent to a secondary target. Ki Strike would let you Blind or Weaken a target you hit.
Tiger Stance. Move action moves your speed +2
Turtle Stance. (Should really let you shoot hadouken.)
Wolf Stance.
Entering a stance could be a minor action as normal, or perhaps each stance's Move action would include a rider that when you use it, you automatically switch to that stance.