Recent Articles in Strength

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis:  Nearly all the poses in this class are twists - and you'll strengthen and stretch your core muscles too.

Props needed: 2 blocks and a blanket.

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

Duration: 32 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up with some Sun Salutations we'll practice a simple sequence that includes Crescent Lunge (Alanasana), Revolved Lunge Pose (Parivrtta Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana), Warrior 3 (Virabhadrasana III), Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Swanasana) and Half Lord of the Fishes Pose (Ardha Matsyendrasana) - and then we'll repeat it. We'll finish with some seated twists and forward folds before resting in Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket and a belt or tie from a bathrobe.

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

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis:  Iyengar Yoga is a style of yoga founded by BKS Iyengar. It has a strong emphasis on good alignment of the body in the poses and a use of props such as blocks and belts to enable the poses to be adapted according to the person participating. Slow and steady in pace, each pose is done first on the right side and then on the left, before moving on to the next one.

Props needed: 2 blocks, a blanket and a belt or tie from a bathrobe.

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

Duration: 42 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class the focus is on strengthening the upper body and the abdominals. After some warming up for the arms, shoulders and back, the sequence will take you through lunges with bicep curls and shoulder presses, Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) with a diagonal 'pull' with the weight and a Goddess Pose with the weights too. There will also be some side arm balances and plank poses before stretching the arms out after their hard work.

Props needed: Two hand weights (but if you don't have these you could use filled water bottles) plus you might need a blanket to kneel on.

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  We keep the hands together in Prayer Position (Anjali Mudra) for nearly every pose in this sequence, so it's a good one to do if you're resting your wrists or shoulders - there's no weight-bearing on the hands at all. But you will challenge your balance as we step forward and back from High Lunge aka Crescent Lunge (this pose also has a number of Sanskrit names - Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana, Ashta Chandrasana or, as I most commonly refer to it, Alanasana) to Half Chair Pose also known as Standing Figure 4 Pose (Ardha Utkatasana) and then hinge into Warrior 3 Pose (Virabhadrasana III). We then transition back to Alanasana to take two variations of Revolved Side Angle Pose (Parivrtta Parsvakonasana) before coming back to the starting point. There's a little seated hip opening sequence plus a short meditation to finish. I hope you find this creative sequence fun - it will focus your mind because you'll have to concentrate - no room for random thoughts here :-)

Props needed: You might like a blanket for the kneeling poses and Savasana.

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

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  We'll warm up with a relaxed and loose swing for the arms and spine and move on to a heel bounce to raise your energy and improve circulation and lymph drainage. We'll then move into some variations of Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana), adding twists and forward bends and a Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) before coming down to the floor for a final shake-out and a long, relaxing Savasana.

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

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

Duration: 1 hr 18 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy multiple Sun Salutations with an emphasis on stretching the front of the thighs. We'll also do an optional Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) and then some seated leg stretches to finish.

Props needed: 2 blankets, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe or similar and 2 blocks.

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

Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy this repetitive sequence that flows through Half Moon Balance (Ardha Chandrasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Side Lunge (Skandasana), Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I), Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana) and Single Leg Downward Facing Dog (Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana). You'll then move on to some Bridge Pose variations (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) and Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana), before counterposing in Fish Pose (Matsyasana) and Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana). You'll then rest in Savasana to complete your practice.

Props needed: 2 blankets, 2 blocks and a belt.

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class is ideal to practise first thing in the morning. After warming up the body after its night's sleep we'll do some Sun Salutations to get your blood flowing and your heart rate up, which will include the standing poses Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) and Low Lunge Twist Pose (Parivrtta Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana). We'll then come to the floor for a short sequence that includes Boat Pose (Navasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), a seated twist and a side bend, before a brief Savasana or Constructive Rest Pose to revitalise you, ready to face the day ahead.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class is ideal to practise first thing in the morning. We'll gently move the joints and stretch the muscles to warm-up then pick up the pace for a round of Sun Salutations that include Reverse Warrior Pose (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Triangle Pose (Uttitha Trikonasana) and Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II). We finish with some Seated Torso Circling (also known as Sufi Grinds) and a warming ritual to raise your Prana (your life-force energy) and send you off into the day ahead.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 1 hr 17 minutes

Emphasis:  This steady-paced flow class will challenge your balance with twists in kneeling and standing lunges and with seated poses such as Boat Pose (Navasana), Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasitakamalasana) and Embryo Pose (Garbha Pindasana).

Props needed: 2 blocks or books, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe or similar and a blanket to kneel on and to cover yourself in Savasana if required.

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

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  Flow through multiple rounds of Sun Salutations adding in extra poses each time. We'll practise One Leg Downward Facing Dog (Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana), Crescent Lunge (Alanasana), a Warrior 3 variation (Virabhadrasana III), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) and Standing Splits which also has the English name of One Foot Expanding Upwards Pose (Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana) in the flow sequences, before coming down to the floor for a Pigeon Pose (Ardha Kapotasana) and Savasana.

Props needed: Bricks or blocks for under your hands for the Warrior 3 and Standing Splits and a blanket for Savasana if required.

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