Recent Articles in Video Class Library

Duration: 1 hr 17 minutes

Emphasis:  In this relaxing Yin/Restorative class you'll move through forward bends, backbends, sidebends and twists, gently releasing stress and tension in the body and mind.

Props needed: A bolster (or two pillows rolled in a blanket), two blocks and a blanket..

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  Move your spine in all directions in this Sun Salutation based challenging flow. After warming up with two rounds of straight Sun Salutation A, which moves the spine repetitively from flexion to extension, the next three rounds include a variety of standing twists to rotate the spine. Moving down to the floor, you'll enjoy a couple of seated twists including Gate Pose 2 (Parighasana II), the supine Stomach Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana) and then a lovely long Savasana to help you relax after your hard work.

Props needed: Two bricks.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 16 minutes

Emphasis:  If you've been sitting at a desk or driving all day this short class will help to ease out your back. Gentle Cat and Cow Pose (Marjaryasana and Bitilasana), Childs Pose (Balasana), Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana) and High Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana). You'll then do a lovely supine moving twist which will rotate the spine, give you an outer thigh stretch and an upper chest stretch. Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana), Supine Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) and Constructive Rest Pose complete the practice Please note: although this class is intended to be helpful for a stiff or achey back, if you are experiencing pain please do get it checked out by a medical professional.

Props needed: A blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen will give you the best view in the supine poses.

Duration: 20 minutes

Emphasis:  This class is all about gentle movement to help loosen up your back. You'll start with some swinging movements to warm-up the arms and shoulders and rotate the spine. Then Standing Cat Pose (Marjaryasana variation) and Standing Cow Pose (Bitilasana variation) move the spine into flexion and extension before moving onto some old-school hip rotations, which you'll also feel loosening up the lower back muscles. A gentle standing pose sequence of Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana), a standing side stretch which is a variation of Lord Shiva's Cycle of Life Dance - great name! (Tandavasana) and - here's another great name - Standing Wind Release Pose Arms Raised (Tadasana Pavan Muktasana Arms Raised) follow before a good stretch for the spine using the wall. Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) takes you down to the floor, followed by Child's Pose (Balasana) and then Savasana. Please note: although this class is intended to be helpful for a stiff or achey back, if you are experiencing pain please do get it checked out by a medical professional.

Props needed: None required.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class starts in Child's Pose (Balasana) and then moves on to Cow Pose (Bitilasana), Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Garland Pose (Malasana) and some dynamic lunges. Once you're warmed-up there will be some variations of Lizard Pose (Pristhasana) and Pigeon Pose (Kapotasana), giving you a really good stretch your hips and buttocks. I offer sitting in Half Lotus Pose at the end (Ardha Padmasana) but please be mindful - this pose doesn't suit everyone's hips and/or knees.

Props needed: A blanket and 2 blocks.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 14 minutes

Emphasis:  Breathing and meditation practices can be really helpful if you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed or unsettled by what is happening in the world around you. In this video I read to you the words of the revered Bhuddist monk Thich Nhat Hanh which might help to bring you a little peace in the present moment. I'll invite you to do the breathing as we go along, following Thich Nhat Hanh's instructions. If you want to copy out the prompts for future use they are "in/out, deep/slow, calm/ease, smile/release, present moment/wonderful moment".

Props needed: None.

Mat direction: N/A

Duration: 1 hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we start with some supine warming-up with a focus on the abdominal muscles and the hip joints. We then move on to Sun Salutation A and then some rounds of Sun Salutation B, adding more core and hip work into the sequence. Some seated poses and a lovely relaxation complete the class.

Props needed: A blanket, 2 blocks and a yoga belt.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class you'll strengthen your buttock muscles. Also known collectively as 'the glutes', there are 3 of these muscles: gluteus maximus which is the largest and most superficial, gluteus medius which is situated more towards the top and side of the buttocks and gluteus minimus which, as the name suggests, is the smallest and is situated beneath the gluteus medius. In our culture where we spend so much time sitting, the buttock muscles can become weak and, as their role is to stabilise the pelvis and the hips, this can lead to imbalances and injuries. So, in this class we'll be strengthening the buttocks, and giving them a good stretch out too. Expect repeated leg lifts to work the hamstrings and glutes, some squats, Bridge Pose (Setu Bhandasana) and Reverse Table Pose (Ardha Purvottanasana), plus some seated and supine poses to stretch things out too.

Props needed: A blanket, 2 bricks and a yoga belt.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 13 minutes

Emphasis:  You'll begin sitting on the chair for a gentle, repetetive warm-up for shoulders, arms, spine and hips and then come to standing for some variations of classic poses such as Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) and Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) that use the chair to work the hips in a slightly different way to usual. The class finishes with a few poses seated back on the chair again and a brief breathing practice.

Props needed: A chair.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we'll alternate between flexion (bringing the knee in towards the chest) and extension (straightening the leg back behind you) to help improve mobility, range of movement, stability, strength and flexibility of the hip joint. After warming-up with some circling movements the first sequence takes us from Tabletop Pose (Bharmanasana) to Garland Pose (Malasana), to Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana), Half-Chair Pose (Ardha Utkatasana) to Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on and two blocks.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 48 minutes

Emphasis:  After a short breathing practice, a warm-up will take you through shoulders and arms, ribcage and spine, hips and legs. You'll then move through a twice-repeated slow sequence that will take you from Childs Pose (Balasana), Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), a Side Lunge variation (Skandasana) and Locust Pose variation (Salabhasana). Some seated twists, Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) and Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) complete the physical practice and then you'll have some time to rest and relax in Savasana.

Props needed: None needed unless you'd like a blanket to kneel on.

Mat direction:  I can't decide which way is best!! I think maybe the long edge but, as I'm mirroring you with the lefts and rights, you'll be facing away from me as you do the second side.  

Duration: 27 minutes

Emphasis:  You'll warm up with a round of Sun Salutation B and then, in following rounds, Eagle Pose (Garudasana) and Revolved Forward Bend with Bent Knee variation (Parivrtta Uttanasana) are added in at the end of the flow. Blocks are offered to help with your balance and to stretch the leg straight in these poses but you'll notice that even your yoga teacher loses her balance sometimes!

Props needed: 2 blocks.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen.