Recent Articles in Duration

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  Using a yoga strap or tie from a bathrobe you'll bring mobility and flexibility to your shoulder joints in this sequence. After warming up you'll take Wide Leg Forward Bend with your hands behind your back (Prasarita Padottanasana C), using the strap if necessary, and some Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) variations which use the strap to work your shoulders in different ways. Then you'll come down to the floor for Half Dog Pose, also known as Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana) with the option to turn it into the backbend Melting Heart Pose (Anahatasana) and Snake Pose (Sarpasana). Finally, you'll take a relaxing, gentle, supported backbend lying on the blocks before Savasana.

Props needed: Two blocks or books, a blanket and a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe.

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

Duration: 15 minutes

Emphasis:  In this short practice there's a focus on Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) to help keep the hip joints mobile and stretch the inner thighs. You'll start with the supine version of the pose (Supta Baddha Konasana), then move through some variations of the seated pose and Star Pose (Tarasana) too.

Props needed: 2 rolled blankets and a brick (or two blocks or a thick book).

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

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  Expect some upper body strength work in this short flow as we move from Plank Pose (Phalakasana) to Side Plank Pose (Vasisthasana) to Upward Plank Pose (Purvottanasana). You'll do some other poses that require straight legs too, including Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana) and Floating Stick Pose (Utpluti Dandasana). Just two poses require bent knees - Garland Pose (Malasana) and Archer Pose (Akarna Dhanurasana).

Props needed: Two bricks or 4 blocks or some books.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis: Sun Salutations A and B to warm up then more Sun Salutation Bs with extra standing poses added in, repeated 3 times.

Props needed: None required except a blanket for Savasana.

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

Duration: 42 minutes

Emphasis: Dancer Pose is a challenging one. It requires you to do a strong backbend with open shoulders whilst standing on one leg. I cannot imagine a time when I will be able to do the full pose - arms over the head holding my foot! - but there are ways to practise and progress this pose to make it more comfortable and accessible. If you're curious to try this pose, join me for this tutorial where we'll prepare with Sun Salutations and poses that stretch the shoulders and front of hips and thighs, and progress the backbends before taking some different variations of Dancer's Pose. You can stop off at any variation that suits you best and please note that this is a pose that requires much practice - don't expect to just be able to do it straight away. As you'll see from the final variation I am far from being able to hold my foot but the strap enables me to do my best version that I can at this moment.

Props needed: A strap with a loop in it, a blanket, some wall space.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen will work best I think.

Duration: 1 hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom class which features a breathing practice, a warm-up sequence, then two sequences which focus on spinal movement - flexion, extension and rotation. We then move to the floor for Half Frog Pose (Ardha Mandukasana) followed by some more twists, and a repetitive seated sequence finishes off our physical work. A lovely long Savasana gives you time to relax and renew.

Props needed: 2 blocks and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1 hr 12 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom class which features several rounds of Sun Salutations, each one adding in new poses.

Props needed: 2 blocks plus some extra height of bricks or books to put your hands on, and a blanket.

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

Duration: 32 minutes.

Emphasis:  Starting with a seated warm up, we'll progress to some standing poses that lead to the standing balance called Eagle Pose (Garudasana). Then we'll come down to the floor and practise a supine variation of Eagle Pose that will strengthen the abdominal muscles too.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on and lie on if required.

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

Duration: 29 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we'll repeat the same stretches kneeling in Thunderbolt Pose (Vajrasana) and Hero Pose (Virasana), sitting cross-legged in Easy Pose (Sukhasana) and with legs extended in Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend. We'll then take some poses for strength and mobility of the hips before lying down to rest in Savasana.

Props needed: 2 blocks and a blanket

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis: 5 repetitive sequences taking you through adapted Cat/Cow Pose (Marjaryasana/Bitilasana), Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana), variations of Locust Pose (Shalabasana), variations of Camel Pose (Ustrasana) and into Child's Pose (Balasana). This class will bring mobility to your spine as we strengthen and stretch it in gentle forward bends, backbends and twists.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on if required and you might need blocks for your hands in one of the Camel Pose variations.

Mat direction: You choose - whatever works best for you.

Duration: 37 minutes

Emphasis: This flow class will strengthen your whole body - there are lots of forearm planks! - but it's balanced with Downward Facing Dogs (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) and Standing Forward Bends (Uttanasana) to give you a little breather in between each one. In each sequence there's a variation of Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana) that will also involve engaging muscles throughout your whole body. This class will be hard work but you'll feel invigorated and empowered afterwards :-)

Props needed: Two blocks for the shoulder openers and a blanket if required for Svanasana.

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis: If you've been keeping up with your daily exercise you'll need to stretch out the muscles that have been working hard. This class is ideal after a long walk, run or cycle or if you're just feeling a little stiff and want a good stretch. The main focus will be on the legs but we'll also do some poses for the shoulders, arms and the front of the body.

Props needed: A blanket, two blocks and a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe.

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