Recent Articles in Gentle

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.

Duration: 12 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy a little time away from your busy day to relax with this breathing practice. You'll be lying down in Savasana and visualising your breath moving from the soles of your feet up to the crown of the head and back down again. After a few rounds the instructions change to include a moment of breath retention (known as kumbhaka in Sanskrit) halfway through the inhalation. A lovely long Savasana follows, giving you time to release your focussed attention and enjoy a peaceful rest.

Props needed: A blanket if needed to keep yourself warm.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 1 hr 16 minutes

Emphasis:  Relax and restore in this class that uses props to support the body so the muscles don't have to do any work. The nervous system and your mind get a chance to calm down, the breathing becomes steadier and, practiced before bedtime, this class will help you have a good night's sleep

Props needed: A bolster (or two pillows and a blanket), another blanket, optional cushion, blocks/bricks. .

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

Duration: 7 minutes

Emphasis:  In this short practice you'll raise and lower the arms - movement in time with the breath, breath in time with the movement. Rhythmic and relaxing, this practice will help to calm the nervous system, focus the mind, stretch the ribcage and promote shoulder mobility.

Props needed: A block/blanket/chair to sit on.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 48 minutes

Emphasis:  If you have a wrist injury or arthritis or something else going on that means leaning weight into your hands is difficult, this class will be just the thing. Leaning your forearms on a chair will enable you to do poses such as Cat Pose (Marjaryasana) and Cow Pose (Bitilasana), Balancing Cat - also known as Balancing Table Pose - (Dandayamana Bharmanasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana) and Camel Pose (Ustrasana). We'll also do a little bit of wrist mobility work to warm-up and finish with a supported Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) and Savasana with legs up on the chair. 

Props needed: Some wall-space, a chair and a blanket.

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

Duration: 11 minutes

Emphasis:  Take a break from your busy day to relax with this simple meditation. The mind is often so active, incessantly scrolling through thoughts, past events and future possibilities but this short practice aims to give you some respite from this. Rest your brain as you focus on the sounds and sensations of the world around you. If possible do this meditation outside, but if the weather or technology won't allow that then sitting by an open door, or even a window, works just as well.

Props needed: A cushion/block/folded blanket/chair to sit on, either outside or by an open door or window.

Mat direction: n/a