Recent Articles in Vinyasa Flow Yoga

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis: This simple repetitive flow takes you into a different variation of Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) in each round, stretching psoas muscles, shoulders, chest and sides of the body.

Props needed: A blanket if you need one for under your knees.

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

Duration: 53 minutes

Emphasis: A Sun Salutation-based flow class that has a focus on retracting the shoulder blades (pulling them towards each other) that helps to broaden and stretch the upper chest and stabilise and strengthen the shoulder girdle. This movement is really helpful when doing poses such as Bridge Pose and Shoulderstand is it encourages extension of the upper spine, lifting it in and up away from the floor, rather than rounding and pressing down into the floor which can feel uncomfortable in these poses. Regular practice of shoulder blade retraction can help the upper back and chest area feel more mobile and spacious and improve your posture and breathing too.

Note: It is important to keep your head and neck still whilst doing Shoulderstand so please watch the instructions first so you don't turn your head to see the screen in the pose. If you haven't done Shoulderstand before or for a while you might want to watch and practise the 'Shoulderstand Using The Wall Tutorial - February 2024' first.

Props needed: Two blankets and possibly a yoga belt if you are tight across the upper chest and front of the shoulders.

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis: Enjoy this repetitive flow that takes you from one end of the mat to the other, and back again. It includes High Lunge (Alanasana), Side Lunge (Skandasana), Side Arm Balance (Vasisthasana) and Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajkapotasana).

Props needed: None required.

Mat direction: You choose - at some point you'll have your back to the screen but I hope you'll pick up the flow quickly and know where you're going :-)

Duration: 1hr 1 minute

Emphasis: This class takes you through a kneeling warm-up, slow Sun Salutation As, then three similar sequences - the first done in kneeling lunge or Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), the second in Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I) and the third in High Lunge (Alanasana). You'll then come down to the floor for a seated sequence that mirrors the same movements followed by a well-deserved Savasana. 

Props needed: A blanket and you might need a belt for Bridge Pose (Setu Bhandasana).

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

Duration: 36 minutes

Emphasis: After warming up with some gentle rolling Bridges (Setu Bhandasana) and some shoulder and ankle mobility movements, you'll do a round of slow, gentle Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar A), followed by another with some options to make it slightly more challenging. Two more rounds follow with the kneeling lunge Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) plus a variation of this, and also a Half Dog aka Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana) to stretch the sides of the body. In the next round you'll be doing standing lunges and an extended Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana). You'll finish this class lying on the floor again for some more variations of Bridge Pose (Setu Bhandasana) before resting in Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees plus two bricks.

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

Duration: 48 minutes

Emphasis: After warming up with some seated stretches you'll do some Sun Salutations with extra poses that will stretch the arms and shoulders. Coming down to the ground you'll do some poses that stretch the legs and hips and then come up to do the pose that you've done all the preparation for - Gomukhasana (Cow-Face Pose). 

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

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 36 minutes

Emphasis: After a slow Sun Salutation A to warm up you'll do a modified Sun Salutation B and then two more with extra poses added in. Expect some spinal rotations, hamstring stretches and strengthening squats. A seated sequence completes the practice.

Props needed: Two bricks and a blanket for under your knees.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 34 minutes

Emphasis: In this class we mobilise and stretch the shoulders, specifically moving the shoulderblades. Expect some Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana 1), Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) and Wide Leg Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Parsvottanasana) for your standing poses. Following a Child's Pose variation (Balasana) and a variation of (Psychic Union Pose (Yoga Mudrasana, you'll lie down for a lovely flowy twist that focusses on the upper back and then Supine Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) before the final relaxation in Savasana. Please note: Yoga Mudrasana can be contraindicated for the neck so if you have any neck issues please skip this pose and take Child's Pose instead.

Props Needed: A blanket for under your knees and a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe. If you have a resistance band you might want to use it for the warm-up.

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

Duration: 52 minutes

Emphasis: I'm sure you've worked out from the title that this class features twists and lunges! You'll do a warm-up of seated twists plus a slow round of Sun Salutations then you'll move into a kneeling lunge flow. For the second flow where you'll be doing standing lunges it will help your balance to have a wall behind you to push your heel into. After the standing flows you'll come down to the floor for a bit of core work then a supine twist and finally you'll come back to a seated sequence before taking a nice long Savasana.

Props Needed: A blanket if needed for under your knees.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat against a wall if you have space (you could always use a door if you're sure no-one's going to want to use it! ;-)).

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a simple repetitive flow... but it's hard work! From Standing Forward Bend you'll walk your hands forward to Downward Facing Dog and then back again to Standing Forward Bend. Each time another pose will be added into the flow, including Plank Pose (Phalakasana), Side Arm Balance (Vasisthasana), Runner's Lunge Pose (Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana), Revolved Runner's Lunge Pose (Parivrtta Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana) and Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana). Garland Pose (Malasana) is the final pose before you lie down for a well-deserved Savasana.

Props needed: You might need a block.

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

Duration: 20 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a short circular flow, perfect for when you don't have much time but want to fit your practice in. Expect Sun Salutations to warm-up then you'll add on some poses such as Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I) and Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) facing the front of the mat, Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana) facing the side of the mat and then repeating the Warrior poses facing the back of the mat. The whole sequence is then repeated to take you round in a circle and back to where you started. The sequence is then repeated once more at a slightly faster pace. Then it's onto the floor for some supine core strengtheners and a relaxing twist before a short Savasana.

Props needed: None needed.

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

Duration: 46 minutes

Emphasis:  In this circular flow you'll warm up with Sun Salutation A and then in the next round poses such as Half Splits (Ardha Hanumanasana), a variation of Revolved Triangle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana), Side Lunge (Skandasana) and Revolved Wide Legged Forward Bend Pose (Parivrtta Prasarita Padottanasana. The sequence is repeated once with kneeling poses and then again with standing poses and it will take you from the front of the mat to the side of the mat to the back of the mat, and around again to finish where you started from. Some supine leg stretches finish the focus on the legs and lead you into Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on, two bricks and a yoga belt.

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