Recent Articles in Dynamic

Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a recording of a 'live' dynamic flow class with a focus on opening the chest and the front of the body by repeating the Cactus Pose arm position as we go through the sequences. There's a fun and funky arm balance called Fallen Triangle (Patita Tarasana) and you can expect hip openers such as Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana), Half Chair Pose, aka Standing Figure 4 Pose (Ardha Utkatasana), Garland Pose (Malasana), and Half Wild Thing Pose (Ardha Camatkarasana).

Props needed: 2 blocks or thick books and a blanket.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 1 hour 18 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a recording of a 'live' dynamic and creative flow class where each sequence features standing poses on the right side, moves to the centre to do a Goddess Pose variation (Utkata Konasana) and then over to the left side to repeat the standing poses there. Seated poses include Revolved Head to Knee Pose (Parivrtta Janu Sirsana), Garba Pindasana (Embryo Pose), Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasita Kamalasana), Half Lord of the Fishes Pose (Ardha Matsyendrasana), Double Big Toe Hold Pose (Ubbhaya Padangusthasana) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana). Note: Many apologies but I didn't get the camera angle quite right here and in a few of the standing poses I have cut the top of my head off! I hope this won't detract from your enjoyment of the class ;-)

Props needed: A strap or tie from a bathrobe, 2 blocks or thick books and a blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a recording of a 'live' dynamic flow class which includes Sun Salutations with twists, binds and standing balances.

Props needed: A strap or tie from a bathrobe, a blanket, 2 blocks or thick books and an extra blanket to cover yourself with in Savasana.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 1 hour 18 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a recording of a live class I did via 'Zoom' on 1st April 2020. It is strong, energising flow with multiple Sun Salutations and standing pose flows, finishing with a slow seated sequence and, of course, Savasana.

Props needed: 2 yoga blocks or a thick book, a strap and a blanket.

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

Duration: 56 minutes

Emphasis:  We'll start with some rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) to warm the body up and then move on to practise Virabhadrasana III (Warrior 3 Pose), Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana (Standing Splits), Padangusthasana (Standing Forward Bend), Vrksasana (Tree Pose), two variations of Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose), the option to take Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall Pose) or, if you are comfortable and familiar with it, Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), Halasana (Plough Pose) and Matsyasana (Fish Pose).

Props needed: Two blankets, two blocks or thick books and a strap if you need it around your foot in Tree Pose.

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

Duration: 55 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up by swinging the arms and gently moving the spine we'll take some Sun Salutations. I'll guide you through a strong but steady-paced sequence that includes some kneeling poses, including lunges and Half-Splits (Ardha Hanumanasana) and kneeling variations of Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) and Revolved Trianle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana). We then move on to a sequence of standing lunge to Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) and the standing variations of the two Triangle poses. Some seated core work follows to strengthen abdominal muscles, followed by some seated and supine twists, before we take Savasana for final relaxation. Remember the general rule for twists - lengthen and elongate your spine on the inhale to create more space, and then twist on the exhale, making sure to turn your neck gently. 

Props needed: Some blocks, bricks or thick books for under your hands and a blanket to kneel on if required.

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

Duration: 20 minutes

Emphasis:  Use this class as a warm-up and then choose another class (maybe a seated flow) for a longer practice, or use it as a complete practice in its own right. You'll move through Sun Salutations and add in Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana), a Warrior 2 variation (Virabhadrasana II) and Side Lunges (Skandasana), with lots of Single Leg Downward Facing Dog (Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana).

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

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

Duration: 70 minutes

Emphasis:  In this Sun Salutation based class we'll practice the two Gate Poses (Parighasana I and Parighasana II). Both of them strongly stretch the side of the torso, inviting space into the waist and between the ribs (these areas can get congested and squashed when we sit for long periods of time) and it will also stretch one leg whilst the other leg is bent. We'll do some other poses, such as Half Frog Pose (Ardha Bhekasana), a kneeling variation of Sugarcane Pose (Ardha Chandra Chapasana) and Revolved Half Hero Pose (Parivrtta Ardha Virasana) too.

Props needed: Two blocks or books for under your hands if your legs are tight, a strap or belt to help catch your foot, and a blanket to kneel on if required for padding, and for Savasana.

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

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  If you want to wake up your energy then these practices will do the trick. You'll move your body in all directions in repetitive and rhythmic movements which will help to release tension and allow your energy (known in yoga as Prana) to flow freely throughout your body. Please note: some of these practices might make you feel dizzy so if you have a tendency towards lightheadedness you might want to skip these ones - I'll mention them so you know which ones to avoid.

Props needed: Maybe a wall or table might be helpful to steady yourself if you feel a bit dizzy.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 52 minutes

Emphasis:  This class is based around Sun Salutations - in each round we'll add in 3 poses and repeat them 3 times, creating a sense of rhythm and tempo to the flow. Then we'll do two seated sequences, with slightly different variations of the poses in each.

Props needed: Two bricks or thick books, 2 blocks or thinner books, and a blanket to kneel on.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat 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: 47 minutes

Emphasis:  Each consecutive Sun Salutation will offer a different version of Lizard Pose (Uttan Pristhasana), deepening it each time. Lizard Pose is a lovely hip-opener and stretches the ilio-psoas muscles which are situated close to the spine and within the pelvis, joining the lumbar spine to the top of your legs (click HERE to see a previous post and diagram of them). These core muscles get shortened in our culture of spending so much time sitting down and all the lunges and hip openers that we do in our yoga practice help to stretch and release them, improving posture and helping the lower back to feel more comfortable.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on, a thick book or blocks for under your forearms when we deepen the Lizard Pose and possibly a strap to loop around your foot when we catch hold of it in one variation.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.