Recent Articles in Flexibility

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Are you up for some fun? This class will have you jumping and hopping all over your mat. Expect to practise Candle Pose (Prapidasana), Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Goddess Pose (Uktakakonasana), Wild Thing (Camatkarasana), Side Arm Balance (Vasisthasana) and more, plus some hopping forward and back and side to side. I hope it will bring your heart-rate up and put a smile to your face. 

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

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen will work best for this class.

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class you'll move from lying on your front in Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana) and a gentle variation of Frog Pose (Mandukasana), to lying on your side for a lovely flowing twist and a variation of Vishnu's Couch Pose (Anantasana), followed by lying on your back for a supine variation of Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) and supine Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana). The pace of the class is slow (we'll hold the poses for a while) and it's nice and gentle.

Props needed: A blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  A gentle class focused on stretching the legs and mobility for the ankles, knees and hips. All the poses are done lying on your back so this is good to do at the end of the day or when you are feeling low energy but still want to do some yoga.

Props needed: Two blocks (or a books of the same height) plus a blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen so you can turn your head to see while you are lying down.

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up with some circular movements, this class will take you through a variety of seated postures that will gently open your hip joints, bringing you more mobility in that area and often a sense of freedom to the lower back. You'll repeat Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) a number of times and you'll be staying in the postures for a while too - a bit like doing a Yin Yoga class. You'll then repeat some of the postures in Legs-Up-The_Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) which is deliciously quietening and relaxing. This is an ideal class for a late evening practice, preparing you for sleep, or when you're generally feeling low on energy but still want to do some yoga.

Props needed: A blanket to sit on, or for your head to rest on, or for Savasana and some clear wall space.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 36 minutes

Emphasis:  After a little warming up we'll take 3 gentle backbends to open the front of your body and help you breathe more fully, then we'll take 3 gentle forward bends to stretch the back of the body and quieten the nervous system and the busy mind.

Props needed: A blanket to roll up to make a little bolster, kneel on if required, and cover yourself with in Savasana.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen might be best for this one but it doesn't really matter.

Duration: 34 minutes.

Emphasis:  Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) A, B, and C plus a couple of extra variations to keep you moving in different ways. 

Props needed:  A blanket for Savasana and to kneel on if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 29 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we'll be moving continuously through some seated poses, focusing mainly on the hips. We'll start lying down to warm up, then move through Head To Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana) with two twisting variations, Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), Garland Pose (Malasana), Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend (Upavista Konasana) and some variations, and finishing with Urdhva Mukha Prasarita Padottanasana (Upward Facing Wide Leg Stretch).

 
Props needed:  Possibly a block or book to sit on and to put under your heels for Malasana.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 32 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we'll be moving continuously through the poses to get energised and revitalised. We'll flow through two similar standing flows which include Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Lizard Pose (Uttan Pristhasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana), Goddess Pose (Utkan Konasana) twisting variation and Kneeling Side Plank Pose (Ardha Vasisthasana). There will also be 3 rounds of the 'Ha Kriya' - breath and movement combined to rev you up, get rid of stagnant energy and bring lots of fresh oxygen into the bloodstream. (Please note, this kriya is not suitable for those with high blood pressure). 

 
Props needed:  Possibly blocks or books for under your hands in Pyramid Pose (they'll give you a bit more room to straighten your leg) and a blanket for Savasana and to kneel on if required.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration:  61 minutes

Emphasis:  This sequence, based around a Sun Salutation, uses a yoga strap/belt to assist shoulder movement, strengthen your arms and help you reach your foot in some seated and supine poses such as Krounchasana (Heron Pose), Supta Upavista Konasana (Supine Wide-Angle Forward Bend), Supta Padangusthasana (Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose), Salabasana (Locust Pose) variation and Anantasana (Side Reclining Leg-Lift), 

Props needed:  A yoga strap or a tie from a bathrobe plus a blanket for Savasana if required.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 16 minutes

Emphasis:  This sequences uses a brick (or a lunchbox as an alternative) to help improve your shoulder movement in poses such as Vajrasana (Thunderbolt or Kneeling Pose), Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2 Pose), Parsvakonasana (Side Angle Pose) and two variations of Malasana (Garland Pose). Passing the brick from hand to hand helps you to be more aware of, and accurate with, your alignment in the poses.

Props needed:  A brick or lunchbox, a block or book to put under your heels in Malasana and a blanket for the kneeling poses if required.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  Grab a brick from your yoga kit or, if you don't have one, a lunchbox from your cupboard, and join me for this fun class. We'll work your shoulders and hips through their range of movement in some repetitive movements in poses such as Child's Pose (Balasana), High Lunge/Crescent Pose (Alanasana) and Candle Pose (Prapidasana), plus a good core strengthening sequence - all holding and moving the brick to challenge the body and the brain in new and different ways.

Props needed:  A folded blanket for your knees and your brick/lunchbox.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.