Recent Articles in Duration

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  Join me for a sequence of seated twisting poses that will stretch your legs, outer hips, inner hips and arms. It will offer you some spinal flexion and extension too plus the rotation from the twists as well. We'll practise, amongst other poses, Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana), Sage Twist (Marichyasana III), a twisting variation of Shoelace Pose (Ardha Gomukhasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) and Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend (Upavista Konasana).  

Props needed: A blanket or block to sit on if required.

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class is ideal to practise first thing in the morning. After warming up the body after its night's sleep we'll do some Sun Salutations to get your blood flowing and your heart rate up, which will include the standing poses Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) and Low Lunge Twist Pose (Parivrtta Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana). We'll then come to the floor for a short sequence that includes Boat Pose (Navasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), a seated twist and a side bend, before a brief Savasana or Constructive Rest Pose to revitalise you, ready to face the day ahead.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class is ideal to practise first thing in the morning. We'll gently move the joints and stretch the muscles to warm-up then pick up the pace for a round of Sun Salutations that include Reverse Warrior Pose (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Triangle Pose (Uttitha Trikonasana) and Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II). We finish with some Seated Torso Circling (also known as Sufi Grinds) and a warming ritual to raise your Prana (your life-force energy) and send you off into the day ahead.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 6 minutes

Emphasis:  Take a few minutes to sit... be still... breathe well... and relax.  Alternate Nostril Breathing calms the mind and helps make it easier to concentrate. It relaxes the nervous system and helps reduce high cortisol levels. It encourages deep, even, smooth breathing which increases the supply of oxygen to the body and the brain and utilises all the breathing apparatus (nasopharynx, trachea, bronchioles and lungs) and helps keep the diaphragm (the major muscle of respiration) healthy and flexible. For best results practise Nadi Shodhana or other gentle forms of Pranayama on a regular daily basis.

Props needed: None required.

Mat direction: N/A

Duration: 1 hr 19 minutes.

Emphasis:  Enjoy some slow and gentle sequences of kneeling, seated and supine stretches including Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana), Sage Twist Pose (Marichyasana III), Half Frog Pose (Ardha Mandukasana) and Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend (Upavista Konasana).

Props needed: 2 blocks or books, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe or similar and a blanket to kneel on and/or cover yourself in Savasana if required.

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

Duration: 1 hr 17 minutes

Emphasis:  This steady-paced flow class will challenge your balance with twists in kneeling and standing lunges and with seated poses such as Boat Pose (Navasana), Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasitakamalasana) and Embryo Pose (Garbha Pindasana).

Props needed: 2 blocks or books, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe or similar and a blanket to kneel on and to cover yourself in Savasana if required.

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

Duration: 5 minutes

Emphasis:  A simple breathing practice to relax your body and quieten your mind. As you breathe in and out for a count of 5 you will also be helping to your lungs and your diaphragm to become more flexible and expansive.

Props needed: None needed.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 27 minutes

Emphasis:  In this supine and seated class we'll move the hips through their range of movement with poses such as Supine Tree Pose (Supta Vrksasana), Side Reclining Leg Lift Pose, also known as Vishnu's Couch Pose (Anantasana), Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana), Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend (Upavista Konasana) and both the seated and supine variations of Bound Angle Pose, also known as Cobblers Pose, (Baddha Konasana).

Props needed: A belt, strap or tie from a bathrobe plus a blanket for under your hips and for Savasana if required.

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

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  Flow through multiple rounds of Sun Salutations adding in extra poses each time. We'll practise One Leg Downward Facing Dog (Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana), Crescent Lunge (Alanasana), a Warrior 3 variation (Virabhadrasana III), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) and Standing Splits which also has the English name of One Foot Expanding Upwards Pose (Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana) in the flow sequences, before coming down to the floor for a Pigeon Pose (Ardha Kapotasana) and Savasana.

Props needed: Bricks or blocks for under your hands for the Warrior 3 and Standing Splits and a blanket for Savasana if required.

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

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Expect to work hard in this class as we strengthen the 3 layers of abdominal muscles and your back muscles. Please note: you need a strong back for the most challenging variations of these poses - please don't overdo it! Build up slowly by repeating the class regularly to increase your strength. We'll be lying down for all the poses and we'll practice Leg Lowering, both single and double, and the Stomach Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana) with the legs bent and straight.

Props needed: None needed.

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

Duration: 53 minutes

Emphasis:  Starting with the most gentle variation of Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana) with your forearm resting on your thigh, we'll practice this pose repeatedly adding props as we make the pose a bit more challenging each time. We'll also visit some different variations of Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana) as we change from the right side to the left.

Props needed: Blocks, bricks or a stack of books to put your hand on as we deepen the pose.

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

Duration: 1 hour 21 minutes

Emphasis:  Multiple Sun Salutations take you through variations of Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) and Extended Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana 1), Tree Pose (Vrksasana) and Eagle Pose (Garudasana) before coming down to the floor for some seated poses, including a double-belt variation of Side Seated Wide Angle Pose (Parsva Upavista Konasana). We finish with an optional brief Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) at the wall before a well-deserved Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket, plus an extra one if you'll be doing Shoulderstand, 2 yoga belts or ties from bathrobes or similar, plus optional 2 flat blocks or books to help with balance in Eagle Pose.

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