Recent Articles in Flexibility

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  Seated side bends, Cat and Cow Pose, some gentle twists and forward bends plus two sets of circling to release tension in the low back and bring mobility to the hip joints.

Props needed:  A blanket to sit on if required.

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

Duration: 53 minutes

Emphasis:  Sun Salutations with Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) and Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana 1) with hands interlocked behind the back to stretch the chest and the arms.

Props needed:  A blanket for under your knees and for Savasana if required. A strap in case you find interlocking your fingers behind your back difficult.

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

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  Slow and steady, this flow has minimal instruction from me, giving you time to make your own adjustments and focus on your breathing in each pose. There's a kneeling flow first, followed by a standing flow and the class finishes up with some supine poses before a nice long Savasana.

Props needed:  A blanket for under your knees and for Savasana if required. A block or book to put under your hand.

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

Duration: 15 minutes

Emphasis:  A strong class for your shoulders and arms - you'll strengthen and stretch them and take them through their full range of movement. And we'll add in some squats for strength for your legs too.  Please note though, this is not a suitable class if you have any injury to your shoulders.

Props needed:  A strap.

Mat direction: n/a

Duration: 30 minutes

Emphasis:  A full-body stretch to do after your run or cycle to loosen up tight muscles and help you recover and relax

Props needed:  A blanket to sit/kneel on and a strap

Mat direction: Long side facing the screen

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis:  Some backbending and lunge sequences with a little bit of quad stretching too.

Props needed:  Blocks or a thick book to put under your forearms in Lizard Pose, a strap to help you reach your foot and a blanket for under your knees.

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  Another sequence for neck and shoulder mobility - this time all done lying down. There's a little bit of core strengthening in there too.

Props needed:  A blanket to roll into little bolster to support your spine, and a strap if clasping your hands together behind your back is difficult.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen so you can turn your head to see when you're lying down

Duration: 33 minutes

Emphasis:  In this sequence of seated poses we'll be gently moving the head, neck and shoulders through their range of movement to create more freedom and mobility.

Props needed:  Blocks or books to sit on and a blanket to make a roll for spinal support.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 38 minutes

Emphasis:  In this sequence we'll be gently moving the head, neck and shoulders through their range of movement to create more freedom and mobility.

Props needed:  Strap for between the hands if needed and a blanket for under the knees if needed too.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis:  A sequence of poses (mainly standing) with straight arms, legs and spine. We will practice Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Half-Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) and Revolved Half-Moon Pose (Parivrtta Ardha-Chandrasana) plus some variations of Wide Legged Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana). We finish with some variations of Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend (Upavista Konasana).

Props needed:  Blocks (or a thick book) as required for your hand in Ardha Chandrasana, 2 yoga straps (or use long scarves or dressing gown ties), plus a blanket for Savasana if required.

Mat direction: Long side of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 48 minutes

Emphasis:  We'll start slowly with a top-to-toe warm up, bringing mobility to the joints and warmth to the muscles. We'll then move through some slow Sun Salutations, adding some variations of postures such as Salabasana (Locust Pose) and Ustrasana (Camel Pose). We'll then take a slow cool down and relax from toe-back-up-to-top before Savasana.

Props needed:  Blanket for padding the knees and for Savasana if required. Blocks or bricks if you have them for one of the Ustrasana variations.

Mat direction: Long side of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  Stretch out your back and shoulders with this slow sequence of Thread the Needle, Downward Facing Dog, Cat, Child's Pose, Eye of the Needle and some rocking and rolling for a good back massage too.

Props needed:  A blanket for Savasana and to put under your back for the spinal rolling if required.

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