Recent Articles in Hatha Yoga

Duration: 1 hr 14 minutes

Emphasis: In this gentle class we warm-up by going top-to-toe through the body, mobilising the joints and stretching the muscles. Then there are two standing pose sequences followed by some seated twists, and forward bends. A lovely long Savasana resting on blocks or cushions completes the practice, leaving you feeling nice and loose, limber and relaxed.

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

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis: There are lots of poses named after birds - some are challenging arm balances but in this class we practise some of the more accessible ones - Sunbird Pose, also known as Balancing Table Pose (Dandayamana Bharmanasana), Flamingo Pose (which is a variation of Natarajasana), Stork Pose (Saaras Pakshi Asana), Eagle Pose (Garudasana), Pigeon Pose (Eka Raja Kapotanasana) and Heron Pose (Krounchasana).

Props Needed: Blocks or bricks to help you balance in Eagle Pose, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe and a blanket for under your knees if required.

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

Duration: 43 minutes

Emphasis: I loved recording this chair class - and I hope you do too. We repeat the sequence 3 times so you start to know where we're going and can focus on the sensations in the body rather than working out the instructions in your mind. Expect lots of twisting variations seated on the chair plus some poses kneeling on the floor with the hands on the chair so make sure your chair is sturdy and wont slip.

Props Needed: 2 blocks and a sturdy chair plus a blanket for under your knees if required.

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

Duration: 1hr 16 minutes

Emphasis:  This class features poses that will help release your back as we gently move from flexion to extension, do some spinal rotation and some side bends in the seated warm-up, and in the kneeling and standing poses flows. In the final part of the class we move to Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) and do some variations to open the hips and give the back and the back of the legs a lovely passive stretch.

Props needed: Some wall space, a blanket and a block.

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

Duration: 50 minutes

Emphasis: In this Iyengar-style class you'll hold each pose for a little longer than in a Vinyasa Flow practice. You'll do each pose separately, on the right side, then on the left, rather than joining poses together to make a flow.  It's strong, focussed work - feeling your way into each pose, noticing the nuances, being aware of your breathing - and then you let it go and move on to the next pose. After warming up you'll practise some different variations of the Warrior group of poses and the seated poses include Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana), Three Parts Forward Bend Pose (Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana 1 and II) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana). 

Props Needed: A blanket, a block (or maybe two if needed) and a yoga belt.

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

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis: All the poses in this class are done seated or lying down with straight legs (so it's a good one to do if you're nursing a knee injury). There's a seated warm-up sequence and an exercise to strengthen the thighs, then you'll lie down for some thigh and core strengtheners, a Locust Pose (Salabhasana) and a Side Reclining Leg Lift Pose (Anantasana). Then it's back up to sitting for some variations of Wide Leg Forward Fold (Upavista Konasana). Finally, you'll lie back down again for Savasana.

Props Needed: A bolster (or two pillows rolled in a blanket), two bricks and a blanket if needed for under your knees.

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

Duration: 1hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  This is an Iyengar-style class where, after a short meditation on the five senses, we move into some seated warm-ups and then to hands and knees to stretch the torso and the shoulders. Standing poses include Eagle Pose (Garudasana), Single Leg Standing Balance (Tadasana Pavanmuktasana) and Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana). We then do some hip work in Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), Kneeling Bow Pose (Utthita Dhanurasana), Garland Pose (Malasana) and then into Locust Pose (Salabhasana), Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) and Bow Pose (Dhanurasana). A supine sequence of Supported Shoulderstand (Salamba Sarvangasana), Plough Pose (Halasana), Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bhandasana), Happy Baby Pose (Supta Balasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) and Wide Leg Forward Fold (Upavista Konasana) finish our practice.

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

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

Duration: 32 minutes

Emphasis: 5 sequences, each featuring flexion and extension of the spine, a twist and a hip stretch. Starting with a gentle seated hollowing and rounding of the back, you'll then move into a 'figure 4' hip opener which turns into a twist. The sequence on hands and knees includes Cat Pose (Marjaryasana), Cow Pose (Bitilasana), Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) and Revolved Low Lunge (Parivrtta Anjaneyasana). The standing sequence includes a standing variation of Cat and Cow plus Half Chair Pose (Ardha Utkatasana) and Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana). The second seated sequence features Cat Cow Pose, a simple twist and forward bend all in Easy Pose (Sukhasana) and then the final supine sequence you'll do some gentle pelvic tilts, take Eye of the Needle Pose (Sucirandrasana) and then drop it into a twist. Finishing with a symmetrical pose, Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) followed by Savasana completes the practice.

Props needed: A brick and maybe a blanket under your knee for padding if required.

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

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis: Strengthen your legs with these almost-yoga leg exercises! You'll use a chair to support you standing and sitting as you work legs, buttocks, hips and core in this hopefully fun workout.

Props needed: A sturdy chair.

Mat direction: A mat is optional - just make sure you won't slip.

Duration: 39 minutes

Emphasis: This class is perfect for when you're feeling tired and low on energy but still want a good stretch. Most of the poses are done lying on your back, with a couple on your side and a couple lying on your front. Expect a bit of everything - forward bend movements, backbends and twists, arm stretches and leg stretches.

Props needed: A yoga belt with a loop in it, a block and a blanket for under your knees and/or Savasana.

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

Duration: 1hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  After a simple breathing practice and a gentle top-to-toe warm-up you'll move into a kneeling pose flow which includes Balancing Table Pose (Dandayamana Bharmanasana), Camel Pose (Ustrasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana), kneeling variations of Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) and Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), and Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana). The sequence is then repeated but with standing poses rather than the kneeling lunges. Vishnu's Couch Pose (Anantasana) takes us into a seated sequence which includes Boat Pose (Navasana) and Tarasana (Star Pose).

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

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

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  4 types of movement in 4 different sequences.... Expect some work for the toes and feet, a side bend, a twist and then a hip opener.

Props needed: You might need a blanket under your knees.

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