Recent Articles in 60+ minutes

Duration: 1hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  After a brief centering meditation, a seated warm up and a round of Sun Salutation prepare the body for the movements to come. The flow takes you through the repetitive movements of a twist, a side stretch and the arm position of Eagle Pose (Garudasana) with some hip-openers added in for good measure. I hope this 'all-round' flow feels good for you in both body and mind.

Props needed: Two blocks and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1hr 9 minutes

Emphasis:  This class features standing poses done in the Iyengar style. You'll do Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana I), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) slowly, breathing well and with attention to alignment. You'll finish the practice with the arm position for Cow Faced Pose (Gomukhasana) and then Child's Pose (Balasana) before lying down for Savasana.

Props needed: A belt.

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

Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  After a little bit of yoga philosophy in which I talk about Samskaras (the patterns we repeat in our lives), you'll do Sun Salutation based sequences moving from one side of the mat to the other, practising Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana) and Side Lunge (Skandasana) twice in each flow. Also included is Eagle Pose (Garudasana) and a Warrior 3 variation (Virabhadrasana III) using the bricks for support. Seated and supine sequences follow to stretch the legs and bring flexion to the hips.

Props needed: Blocks, bricks and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1hr 16 minutes

Emphasis:  After a seated warm-up we move into a supine sequence that will alternately strengthen and stretch the hips and buttocks. Expect familiar poses such as Pigeon Pose (Ardha Kapotasana), Eye of the Needle Pose (Sucirandrasana) and Bridge Pose (Setu Bhandasana) plus some new and hopefully interesting movements that will be beneficial to your hips. The class finishes, of course, with a long Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket, 2 blocks and 2 bricks.

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

Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  We start standing for a warm up and exploratory Sun Salutation, then we move on to two Sun Salutation-based sequences that include some resistance work with the belt, forearm plank variations and some interesting and unique exercises to strengthen the arms. In the seated poses we visit Archer Pose (Arkana Danurasana) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana), both with an emphasis on the 'pulling' action, and a seated twist. Then we lie down for a moving leg stretch which is done holding the belt, and a variation of Supine Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana). We finish, as always, with a relaxing Savasana.

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

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

Duration: 1hr 17 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy some hip openers, leg stretches and twists in this slow and steady class. Perfect for doing in the evening as it won't rev up your heart-rate and your nervous system, the sequences include Half Frog Pose (Ardha Mandukasana), Garland Pose (Malasana) and Standing Forward Bends (Uttanasana) with the heels on a block followed by the balls of the feet on a block. The next sequence includes the other Half Frog Pose (confusingly there are two English names - this one stretches the front of the thigh rather than opening the leg to the side and has a different Sanskrit name, Ardha Bhekasana). The next sequence includes some Pigeon Pose (Ardha Kapotasana), followed by the full Frog Pose (Mandukasana). We finish with some gentle fluid twists and a gentle, relaxing hip opener with the feet on blocks and a blanket. Note: When we get to Pigeon Pose I offer the alternative of Eye of the Needle Pose (Sucirandrasana) but I don't demonstrate it - just as a reminder, it's the one where you lie on your back, take one ankle over the opposite thigh just above the knee, and lift the other foot from the floor, interlocking the fingers behind the thigh - you get the same stretch around the hip and buttock as you would in Pigeon Pose but without the weight and possible pinching in the knee.

Props needed: 2 blocks and two blankets.

Mat direction: Doesn't matter - you choose.

Duration: 1hr 12 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy a deep stretch in this slow, relaxing class. After a supine warm-up, you'll come up to hands and knees for a sequence which includes lunges, twists and leg stretches. Some more supine poses lead you into Savasana where I'll guide you through Yoga Nidra, a relaxing journey through 61 points of the body, leaving you feeling peaceful, rested and spacious.

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

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

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Emphasis:  This class focuses on mobility and freedom for the shoulders. We start on the chair to warm-up, before moving into a standing pose sequence in which we circle the arms. We then move back to using the chair for support for some strengthening poses before coming down to the floor for some supine leg stretches and seated arm and shoulder stretches, followed by Savasana.

Props needed: A chair, a belt (or tie from a bathrobe) and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  Liven up your vinyasa flow practice with some hand-weights. After a dynamic warm-up, these Sun Salutation based sequences will help to strengthen your arms and your core as we flow through familiar poses but add repetitive arm movements with weights. You'll then come to the floor for some seated poses which will stretch out your arms before relaxing in Savasana. Note:  look out for the cameo appearance by Flo!

Props needed: 2 hand-weights, or small water bottles, or even tins of food, and a blanket for Savasana if required.

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

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: 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: 1 hr 11 minutes

Emphasis:  We start with some warm-ups seated on the chair then progress to seated variations of Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana) and Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana I). We then swap to using the chair for support under the hands as we do some standing poses including Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Revolved Triangle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana) and Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Poses 1, 2 and 3 (Padanghustasana I, II and III).

Props needed: A chair and 2 blocks or a brick.

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