Recent Articles in Vinyasa Flow

Duration: 8 minutes

Emphasis:  This is the standard form of Sun Salutation that I offer in the majority of my classes. We're progressing to Plank Pose (Phalakasana) to Eight Limbed Pose (Ashtanga Namaskara) and in to Cobra Pose (Bhugangasana) to strengthen the body and create both physical and mental stamina.

Props needed: None.

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

Duration: 10 minutes

Emphasis:  In this next in the series of tutorials on modifying Sun Salutation to suit your needs, we swap the traditional lowering down to the ground via Knees Chest Chin Pose, aka Eight Limbed Pose, (Ashtanga Namaskara) followed by Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) or 4 Limbed Staff Pose (Chaturanga Dandasana) followed by  Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) for a version that takes the weight off your wrists and onto your forearms, making it more accessible for those who have wrist and shoulder problems or just find the actions of lowering down too challenging. We then take Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana) which is a gentler backbend than Cobra.

Props needed: Maybe a blanket to kneel on.

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

Duration: 8 minutes

Emphasis:  In this variation of Surya Namaskar (the Sanskrit name for Sun Salutations), I show how you can progress to the next stage without having to lower down to the ground to take a backbend, or compromise your wrists and/or shoulders in Downward Facing Dog. Instead, we'll do Cat and Cow Pose and half variation of Downward Facing Dog that will help you keep the pressure off those tricky areas.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on.

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

Duration: 8 minutes

Emphasis:  In the next tutorial in this series on modifying Sun Salutations, we move to a standing variation that uses the chair for balance and support. This is a good option if you have knee issues that prevent you from kneeling on the floor, whilst still giving you all the different movements of a standard Sun Salutation. You'll be stretching and strengthening your body and increasing your mobility whilst honouring your limitations.

Props needed: A chair.

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

Duration: 10 minutes

Emphasis:  In this tutorial we'll explore the very gentlest form of Sun Salutation, seated on a chair. Expect the same 'flow' of forward bends and backbends as a standard Sun Salutation but, if you have an injury or a health condition that limits you in some or all of the movements, this variation might be just the ticket for you to experience this sequence that moves all your major joints and muscles. 

Props needed: A chair.

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

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

Emphasis:  Expect multiple Sun Salutations with a wide variety of other poses added in too, then we'll move to using a chair to help us go deeper into Garland Pose (Malasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), a seated backbend, a shoulder stretch, Camel Pose (Ustrasana) and Firelog Pose (Agni Stambasana).

Props needed: A chair, a blanket, books to put under your heels in Malasana, and possibly a strap or tie to catch your foot in Kneeling Half Bow Pose (Ardha Dhanurasana).

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

Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom Dynamic Flow class, although the pace is steady and measured. It includes repetitions Camel Pose (Ustrasana) and Gate Pose (Parighasana).

Props needed: 2 blocks or books, a strap (or the tie from a bathrobe or something similar), and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom general flow class uses a strap in lots of the poses to stretch and strengthen the body. Apologies - the first few minutes are missing from this video - I don't know what happened :-( You'll miss the settling and centering but join it as we start to warm up.

Props needed: A strap (or the tie from a bathrobe or something similar) and a blanket to kneel on and cover yourself in Savasana.

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

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis:  Flowing through a Sun Salutation we'll add in Candle Pose (Prapidasana), Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottonasana), Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II) plus Lizard Pose (Uttan Pristhasana) and a stretchy side lunge variation. This flow is slow and steady but we'll hold the poses for a few breaths.

Props needed: Blocks or bricks to put under your forearms in Lizard Pose if needed.

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

Duration: 1 hour 18 minutes

Emphasis:  A recording of a live 'Zoom' class with slow, steady Sun Salutations that progress through variations of the poses so you can choose the level that suits you best. A seated sequence and Savasana round off this general, all-round practice.

Props needed: 1 or 2 blocks or thick books to put under your hands if required and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Emphasis:  A recording of a live 'Zoom' class with slow, steady sequences and different variations of poses to strengthen and stretch the entire body.

Props needed: 2 blocks or thick books, 2 blankets and a strap.

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

Duration: 42 minutes

Emphasis:  As we move through Surya Namaskar A (Sun Salutations) we'll take Chair Pose (Utkatasana) and then into a preparation for Eagle Pose (Garudasana) building each time until we reach the full pose. In the final round we'll add in an extra Warrior 3 Pose variation (Virabhadrasana III). We'll take Half Shoelace Pose (Ardha Gomukhasana) and then lie down for a strong Eagle Pose core strengthener and finish with a twist.

Props needed: 2 blocks or a thick book and a blanket might be helpful for the final twist and you might want to put your mat near a wall to help with balance.

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