Recent Articles in Gentle

Duration: 16 minutes

Emphasis:  If you've been sitting at a desk or driving all day this short class will help to ease out your back. Gentle Cat and Cow Pose (Marjaryasana and Bitilasana), Childs Pose (Balasana), Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana) and High Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana). You'll then do a lovely supine moving twist which will rotate the spine, give you an outer thigh stretch and an upper chest stretch. Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana), Supine Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) and Constructive Rest Pose complete the practice Please note: although this class is intended to be helpful for a stiff or achey back, if you are experiencing pain please do get it checked out by a medical professional.

Props needed: A blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen will give you the best view in the supine poses.

Duration: 20 minutes

Emphasis:  This class is all about gentle movement to help loosen up your back. You'll start with some swinging movements to warm-up the arms and shoulders and rotate the spine. Then Standing Cat Pose (Marjaryasana variation) and Standing Cow Pose (Bitilasana variation) move the spine into flexion and extension before moving onto some old-school hip rotations, which you'll also feel loosening up the lower back muscles. A gentle standing pose sequence of Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana), a standing side stretch which is a variation of Lord Shiva's Cycle of Life Dance - great name! (Tandavasana) and - here's another great name - Standing Wind Release Pose Arms Raised (Tadasana Pavan Muktasana Arms Raised) follow before a good stretch for the spine using the wall. Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) takes you down to the floor, followed by Child's Pose (Balasana) and then Savasana. Please note: although this class is intended to be helpful for a stiff or achey back, if you are experiencing pain please do get it checked out by a medical professional.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 14 minutes

Emphasis:  Breathing and meditation practices can be really helpful if you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed or unsettled by what is happening in the world around you. In this video I read to you the words of the revered Bhuddist monk Thich Nhat Hanh which might help to bring you a little peace in the present moment. I'll invite you to do the breathing as we go along, following Thich Nhat Hanh's instructions. If you want to copy out the prompts for future use they are "in/out, deep/slow, calm/ease, smile/release, present moment/wonderful moment".

Props needed: None.

Mat direction: N/A

Duration: 13 minutes

Emphasis:  You'll begin sitting on the chair for a gentle, repetetive warm-up for shoulders, arms, spine and hips and then come to standing for some variations of classic poses such as Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) and Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) that use the chair to work the hips in a slightly different way to usual. The class finishes with a few poses seated back on the chair again and a brief breathing practice.

Props needed: A chair.

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

Duration: 1 hr 11 minutes

Emphasis:  We start with some warm-ups seated on the chair then progress to seated variations of Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana) and Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana I). We then swap to using the chair for support under the hands as we do some standing poses including Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Revolved Triangle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana) and Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Poses 1, 2 and 3 (Padanghustasana I, II and III).

Props needed: A chair and 2 blocks or a brick.

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  This class takes you through some poses that offer you both forward bends and leg stretches. The slow pace will give you time to regulate your breathing and feel your way deeper into the poses if and when your body is ready. The perfect antidote to a busy day spent rushing around, the sequence will allow your mind to quieten down and your nervous system to relax while giving the legs and back a good stretch.  Note: please make sure you have done some warming up before practising this class - some marching on the spot, some pedalling the legs in Downward Facing Dog or a slow round of Sun Salutations for example. 

Props needed: A strap, a blanket (or two if you need extra padding) and a block.

Mat direction: Doesn't really matter, you choose what works best for you.

Duration: 9 minutes

Emphasis:  In this short class you'll combine foot mobility with balancing. In the first sequence you'll balance on one leg whilst circling the foot and then in the second sequence you'll challenge your balance a little more by standing on a block. You'll finish with some supine poses to stretch the legs.

Props needed: A block plus a wall or chair to put your hand on to help with your balance if needed.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  Keep your feet mobile and supple with these quick stretches. Repeat often for best results - we tend to forget about our feet and, when stuck inside shoes for many hours a day, they can become inflexible and poorly aligned which can lead to problems in the ankles, knees, and up into the hips and spine, so a little bit of regular maintenance will be well worth it.

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

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

Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we'll do some gentle, repetitive sequences interspersed with some contemplation about letting go of the past year and welcoming in the new. You'll be invited to choose a 'Word of the Year' to help guide you through the coming months and also, if you wish, to set a Sankalpa - the yogic equivalent of New Year's Resolutions.

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees and for Savasana and possibly a block for under your hands - plus a pen and paper to note down your thoughts and words.

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

Duration: 9 minutes

Emphasis:  Welcome in the New Year with these beautiful words (author unknown) that invite us to remember what is truly important as we look forward to the next 12 months. If you'd like to read these words again after the practice, I've posted them on the Blog. 

Props needed: A chair or a blanket to sit on.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  Slow and gentle sequences to soothe and relax your body, mind and spirit. There are a few balancing poses at the end using the chair to help keep you steady.

Props needed: A chair, a couple of blankets and possibly blocks to put under your hands if needed.

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

Duration: 27 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up we'll move slowly down through the body with poses to help bring mobility to the neck, shoulders, chest, back, hips, legs and feet.

Props needed: A chair and a belt.

Mat direction: n/a.