Recent Articles in 20-40 minutes

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  This sequence of movements of the arms, done with the palms together and in time with the breath, is repeated seated in a crossed-legged position, low lunge, high lunge, standing position and a squat.

Props needed: You might need a blanket to kneel on and a block or book for under your heels in the squat.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 39 minutes

Emphasis:  Join me for this flowing sequence that will open your hips and help to free up your back. The flow will include the usual elements of a vinyasa (Sphynx/Cobra to Downward Facing Dog), with some standing poses including Standing Splits, Side Angle Pose and a standing balance. We'll finish with Anantasana (Vishnu's Couch Pose) and Mandukasana (Frog Pose) - both the half variation and then we'll have a go at the full pose!

Props needed:  A blanket to pad your knees. Blocks/bricks/thick books for under your hands if required.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  Seated side bends, Cat and Cow Pose, some gentle twists and forward bends plus two sets of circling to release tension in the low back and bring mobility to the hip joints.

Props needed:  A blanket to sit on if required.

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

Duration: 30 minutes

Emphasis:  A full-body stretch to do after your run or cycle to loosen up tight muscles and help you recover and relax

Props needed:  A blanket to sit/kneel on and a strap

Mat direction: Long side facing the screen

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  Another sequence for neck and shoulder mobility - this time all done lying down. There's a little bit of core strengthening in there too.

Props needed:  A blanket to roll into little bolster to support your spine, and a strap if clasping your hands together behind your back is difficult.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen so you can turn your head to see when you're lying down

Duration: 33 minutes

Emphasis:  In this sequence of seated poses we'll be gently moving the head, neck and shoulders through their range of movement to create more freedom and mobility.

Props needed:  Blocks or books to sit on and a blanket to make a roll for spinal support.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 38 minutes

Emphasis:  In this sequence we'll be gently moving the head, neck and shoulders through their range of movement to create more freedom and mobility.

Props needed:  Strap for between the hands if needed and a blanket for under the knees if needed too.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis:  Move the spine in all different directions to increase mobility with this sequence of twists, cat and cow pose and child's pose.

Props needed:  A blanket for under your knees when kneeling if required.

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

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis:  It feels good to stretch and open up the front of the body, especially if you've been working at a desk or sitting in a car all day. In this slow class we'll do some gentle backbends to open the chest, create more room to breathe and more room for the internal organs too. You'll strengthen the back of your body too while you're doing it.

Props needed:  Blocks, bricks and a blanket or, if you don't have these, use 3 folded blankets and a couple of thick hardback books instead.

Mat direction: Long side of the mat facing the screen will give you the best view when you're lying down.

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis:  Warm up with a Surya Namaskar A then try some variations on a Surya Namaskar B which include some press-up dips to strengthen the upper body and some seated twists to finish. Please note: I'm having some problems with the focusing of my camera at the moment - having played with all the various settings to no avail I think it might be time to retire it and get a new one. You might notice the video goes out of focus a couple of times for which I apologise. I hope it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of your class.  

Props needed:  Blocks or a thick book to sit on in Virasana (Hero Pose) if required.

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

Duration: 29 minutes

Emphasis:  Practise some familiar poses such as Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) and Tree Pose (Urdhva Vrksasana) with a chair to help you into better alignment, plus some poses we don't practise so often such as Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) and Revolved Triangle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana). Using the chair will help to make these more challenging poses more accessible and with regular practise you'll be able to do them without the chair.

Props needed: A sturdy chair.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  This practice will stretch the front of your body in some simple backbends - Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana), Half Frog Pose (aka Quad Stretch) (Ardha Bhekasana) and Camel Pose (Ustrasana), and twist the torso in some kneeling twists.

Props needed: None - except a blanket under your knees if required.

Mat direction: Short side of mat facing the screen.