Recent Articles in Vinyasa Flow Yoga

Duration: 1 hr 10 minutes

Emphasis: After practising Surya Bhedana (Sun Piercing Breath) to increase circulation, stimulate the nervous system and raise the energy, we move into 3 rounds of repetitive creative flow - expect poses such as Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) and Twisting Chair Pose (Parivrtta Uttkatasana) twice, plus the balancing pose Extended-Hand-To-Big-Toe Pose (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana) that we've been working on this half-term. We then move to seated poses including Head to Knee Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana), and finish with Chandra Bhedana (Moon Piercing Breath) to calm the nervous system and slow the heart rate before Savasana. 

Props needed: A bit of wall space to help you balance if required, a block or blanket to sit on plus a yoga belt if needed to hold your foot in the standing balance.

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis:  This repetitive flow will invite some foot mobility in the form of bending the toe joints and circling the ankle. After warming up with Sun Salutation A, the sequence changes, moving from Chair Pose (Utkatasana) to Half-Chair Pose on tiptoes (Ardha Utkatasana), High Lunge with bending knee (Alanasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana) with lifted heel, Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana), One Legged Downward Facing Dog Pose (Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana) before going through a vinyasa to take you back to Chair pose again. The sequence is repeated three times on each side. Two seated poses give you time to quieten and settle before resting in Savasana.

Props needed: None needed.

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

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis:  In this flow class you'll warm up with a couple of rounds of Sun Salutation A, followed by two rounds of a repeating flow in which each pose will either stretch or strengthen your feet. Expect poses such as Balancing Table Pose, also known as Balancing Cat (Dandayamana Bharmanasana), Melting Heart Pose (Anahatasana), Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana I), High Lunge Pose (Alanasana, also known as Ashta Chandrasana), Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) and to feel that, as you rest in Savasana at the end, you have really helped to mobilise your feet.  At the beginning I say that it's a short flow.... however it evolved into a slightly longer one at 40 minutes! ;-)

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees and for Savasana.

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

Duration: 32 minutes

Emphasis:  A steady flow sequence consisting of 6 rounds of Sun Salutations and 5 variations of Tree Pose (Vrksasana) to challenge your balance.

Props needed: A belt if you need it to keep your foot in place for some of the Tree Pose variations.

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

Duration: 36 minutes

Emphasis:  I couldn't decide whether this flow sequence should be classified as a Hatha Yoga class or a Vinyasa Flow - so I've put it in both categories! Although strictly speaking it doesn't contain the usual vinyasa (literal translation is 'to place in a special way') of Plank/Downward Facing Dog/Cobra, it has that 'feel'. Give it a go and you can decide :-) After a circulation-boosting warm-up the sequence contains Chair Pose (Utkatasana), Candle Pose (Prapidasana), variations of Cat Pose (Marjaryasana) and Cow Pose (Bitilasana) on the forearms and Forearm Plank (Phalakasana II).

Props needed: None.

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

Duration: 33 minutes

Emphasis:  After some gentle warm-ups for the wrists and Sun Salutations for the rest of the body, we add in poses that will alternately strengthen and stretch the wrists, moving from weight-bearing to counterposing that. Poses include Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana I), High Lunge (Alanasana) and Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana). We then come down to the floor for a seated sequence which also moves between wrist strengthening and stretching in Upward Plank Pose (Purvottanasana) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana).

Props needed: A blanket or block to sit on in the seated poses. Possibly a belt if you find it helpful to join your hands together behind your back.

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

Duration: 1 hour 16 minutes

Emphasis:  After a Diaphragmatic Breathing practice, we warm up with some supine poses that work the hips and core muscles. We progress to slow Sun Salutations and add in Half Chair Pose (Ardha Utkatasana) with sweeping arm movements and a modified Tree Pose (Vrksasana). Each time we repeat the sequence we add in another pose - Warrior 3 (Virabhadrasana III) and Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) to challenge the balance. We finish the class with some slow seated and supine stretches before resting in Savasana..

Mat direction: It doesn't really matter - so you choose :-)

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  This Sun Salutation based flow includes variations of High Lunge Pose (Alanasana) that will challenge your balance and strengthen your legs and core muscles.

Props needed: Just your mat.

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

Duration: 37 minutes

Emphasis:  In each round of Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) we'll add in a different variation of Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) to stretch the muscles of the buttocks, thighs and hips.

Props needed: Blocks to put under your forearms in Pigeon Pose if required, a blanket to kneel on and/or use for Savasana.

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  There are lots of different variations of Locust Pose (Salabhasana) and in this class we'll do 11 of them! We'll do a kneeling flow linking each Locust Pose together so expect Cat, Cow and Downward Facing Dog too.

Props needed: A blanket to put under your back and to kneel on. 

Mat direction: You choose.

Duration: 1 hour 14 minutes

Emphasis:  In this flow class we'll practice Sun Salutations and a vigorous standing flow sequence. We then move to the floor for some supine hip and leg stretches to prepare us for splits (Hanumanasana). We'll practice this using a bolster and blocks for support in this challenging pose.

Props needed: Bolster (or 2 pillows rolled in a blanket), blocks, bricks and a belt.

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

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Sometimes you need a bit of quiet to help you focus - a straightforward practice with minimal talking from me! So that's what you'll get in this class - after warming up with Sun Salutation A we move to a few rounds of Sun Salutation B, before repeating and adding in some extra twists at the end of each round. Expect a brisk pace and to work hard, challenge your balance too all with the briefest instructions. 

Props needed: None needed.

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