Recent Articles in 20-40 minutes

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  We often use Child's Pose as a resting pose but in this class we'll explore some different variations including Sasangasana (Rabbit Pose) and Seated Yoga Seal Pose (Upavista Yoga Mudra), a variation of Melting Heart Pose, also known as Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana) and a variation of Thread the Needle Pose with wide knees (Parsva Balasana). Please note that in Rabbit Pose and Seated Yoga Seal Pose the crown of the head is on the floor and, even though not much weight should be on the head, if you have any neck problems at all these poses are not recommended.

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees if required, a strap to help you reach your heels in Rabbit Pose if required and two blocks or a books to put your elbows on for the Extended Puppy Pose variation .

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  All the poses in this class are done lying down so if you are feeling a little weary but still want to do some yoga then this class is perfect for you. We'll be doing Eye of the Needle Pose (Sucirandrasana), a Tree Pose (Vrksasana) variation, a twist, Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana), the Supine Leg Stretch Series known as Supta Padangustasana plus the lying down version of Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana).

Props needed: A strap/belt to help you reach your foot in the Leg Stretch Series and a blanket for Savasana if required.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen so you can turn your head to see while you are lying down.

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis:  Stretch your legs and your hips in this steady-paced seated sequence which includes a variation of Eye of the Needle Pose (Sucirandrasana), Marichi's Pose (Marichyasana 3), Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasita Kamalasana), Double Big Toe Hold Pose (Ubbhaya Padangusthasana) and Star Pose (Tarasana), plus a kneeling variation of Wild Thing (Camatkarasana).

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

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 30 minutes

Emphasis:  Each Sun Salutation includes a backbend that leads towards Dhanurasana (Bow Pose). It's a strong pose so, if deep backbends don't feel good for your back, then please stop at one of the more gentle options offered in the progression.

Props needed: None required except for a blanket for Savasana if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 39 minutes

Emphasis:  Show some love for your hardworking feet in this class which will help them to become more mobile. We'll do lots of different exercises to move the joints (33 in each foot!) and bones (26 in each foot!) and the soft tissues too. Increased awareness of, and mobility in, your feet means better balance and posture, less likelihood of ankle, knee, hip and back problems, and using your feet properly will help improve your stance and alignment in other yoga poses too. Practice this class regularly to help keep your feet feeling comfortable as they take you through every step of your life.

Props needed: A tennis or squash ball for the foot massage and a blanket to kneel on.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 29 minutes

Emphasis:  Strengthen your core with this creative sequence - we'll practise a kneeling version of Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana), Boat Pose (Navasana), Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana), Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasita Kamalasana) and Bridge Pose (Setu Bhanda Sarvangasana) amongst others to work the front, sides and back of the body. A strong core means better balance, less back problems and better posture.

Props needed:  A blanket to kneel on if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  This sequence includes some poses that we rarely practice - Lion Pose (Simhasana), Embryo Pose (Garba Pindasana) and a spinal roll. They all look quite comical - pulling funny faces, tying yourself up in knots and rolling around on the floor - but I hope it will show you a less serious side to yoga than you're used to. The rest of the sequence focuses on circles and twists.

Props needed: Blocks, bricks or books to put under your hands and a blanket to kneel on and for Savasana if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Are you up for some fun? This class will have you jumping and hopping all over your mat. Expect to practise Candle Pose (Prapidasana), Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Goddess Pose (Uktakakonasana), Wild Thing (Camatkarasana), Side Arm Balance (Vasisthasana) and more, plus some hopping forward and back and side to side. I hope it will bring your heart-rate up and put a smile to your face. 

Props needed: None required, except if you need a blanket for Savasana.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen will work best for this class.

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class you'll move from lying on your front in Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana) and a gentle variation of Frog Pose (Mandukasana), to lying on your side for a lovely flowing twist and a variation of Vishnu's Couch Pose (Anantasana), followed by lying on your back for a supine variation of Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) and supine Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana). The pace of the class is slow (we'll hold the poses for a while) and it's nice and gentle.

Props needed: A blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  A gentle class focused on stretching the legs and mobility for the ankles, knees and hips. All the poses are done lying on your back so this is good to do at the end of the day or when you are feeling low energy but still want to do some yoga.

Props needed: Two blocks (or a books of the same height) plus a blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen so you can turn your head to see while you are lying down.

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up with some circular movements, this class will take you through a variety of seated postures that will gently open your hip joints, bringing you more mobility in that area and often a sense of freedom to the lower back. You'll repeat Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) a number of times and you'll be staying in the postures for a while too - a bit like doing a Yin Yoga class. You'll then repeat some of the postures in Legs-Up-The_Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) which is deliciously quietening and relaxing. This is an ideal class for a late evening practice, preparing you for sleep, or when you're generally feeling low on energy but still want to do some yoga.

Props needed: A blanket to sit on, or for your head to rest on, or for Savasana and some clear wall space.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 36 minutes

Emphasis:  After a little warming up we'll take 3 gentle backbends to open the front of your body and help you breathe more fully, then we'll take 3 gentle forward bends to stretch the back of the body and quieten the nervous system and the busy mind.

Props needed: A blanket to roll up to make a little bolster, kneel on if required, and cover yourself with in Savasana.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen might be best for this one but it doesn't really matter.