Recent Articles in Strength

Duration: 45 minutes

Emphasis:  Hatha Yoga is often used as a generic term for a class that is slower paced and does each pose on the right side, then the left before moving on to the next one. It doesn't incorporate joining the poses together to make a 'flow'. In Classical Hatha Yoga the poses are held for between 5-9 breaths to build strength, stamina and focussed attention. In this class we'll move through some warm-up poses before practising Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), Parsvottanasana (Pyramid Pose), Prasarita Padottonasana (Wide Legged Forward Bend), Malasana (Garland Pose), Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend), Setu Bhandasana (Bridge Pose), Viparita Karani (Reclined Legs Raised Pose) with blocks beneath the pelvis, Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), Matsyasana (Fish Pose) and Ananda Balasana (Happy Baby Pose).

Props needed: A blanket, two blocks or thick books, a brick if you have one, and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1 hour 4 minutes

Emphasis:  Some gentle twisting kneeling poses will start our class, followed by warming Sun Salutations. Then we'll add in some standing poses such as Extended Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), Extended Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana), Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana 1) and some variations of Revolved Side Angle Pose (Parivritta Parsvakonasana). Seated poses will include various twists in Wide Leg Forward Fold (Upavista Konasana). We'll finish with some symetrical poses such as Supine Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana), a gentle supported backbend and a supported Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana). A lovely long Savasana will allow you to rest and restore after this strong flow.

Props needed: The whole lot!! - some blocks, bricks or thick books for under your hands, a blanket to kneel on if required and a strap to help you with the bind in one of the seated poses.

Mat direction: Start with the short edge of the mat facing the screen and then turn it sideways for the seated poses.

Duration: 55 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up by swinging the arms and gently moving the spine we'll take some Sun Salutations. I'll guide you through a strong but steady-paced sequence that includes some kneeling poses, including lunges and Half-Splits (Ardha Hanumanasana) and kneeling variations of Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) and Revolved Trianle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana). We then move on to a sequence of standing lunge to Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) and the standing variations of the two Triangle poses. Some seated core work follows to strengthen abdominal muscles, followed by some seated and supine twists, before we take Savasana for final relaxation. Remember the general rule for twists - lengthen and elongate your spine on the inhale to create more space, and then twist on the exhale, making sure to turn your neck gently. 

Props needed: Some blocks, bricks or thick books for under your hands and a blanket to kneel on if required.

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

Duration: 52 minutes

Emphasis:  This class is based around Sun Salutations - in each round we'll add in 3 poses and repeat them 3 times, creating a sense of rhythm and tempo to the flow. Then we'll do two seated sequences, with slightly different variations of the poses in each.

Props needed: Two bricks or thick books, 2 blocks or thinner books, and a blanket to kneel on.

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

Duration: 57 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class you'll strengthen your core (the front, sides and back of your torso and the pelvic floor) with some supine abdominal work including a preparation for Bakasana (Crow Pose), some side-lying hip mobility work which also strengthens the oblique abdominals, some Sun Salutations including Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) plus Malasana (Garland Pose) which will lead on to Bakasana (Crow Pose). You'll finish with some supine stretches to relax and soften the areas that you have been working strongly.

Props needed: Blocks, bricks or books to put under your hands and a blanket for Savasana and to pad under your pelvis for the hip work if required.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 29 minutes

Emphasis:  Strengthen your core with this creative sequence - we'll practise a kneeling version of Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana), Boat Pose (Navasana), Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana), Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasita Kamalasana) and Bridge Pose (Setu Bhanda Sarvangasana) amongst others to work the front, sides and back of the body. A strong core means better balance, less back problems and better posture.

Props needed:  A blanket to kneel on if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

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: 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: 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.

Duration: 13 minutes

Emphasis:  Some familiar poses - variations of Child's Pose (Balasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana), Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) and Forearm Plank (Makara Adho Mukha Svanasana) - done in unfamiliar ways. You'll have some fun sliding around on a blanket as you strengthen your core muscles and stretch your arms and legs.

Props needed:  Your yoga mat folded for padding plus a blanket to slide on if you're practising on a hard floor or, if you're practising on carpet, you'll need two paper plates to enable you to glide.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 33 minutes

Emphasis:  3 rounds of Sun Salutations with progressive variations of Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana) - you'll do lunges and twists, a lovely restful Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) before finishing with a relaxing Savasana.

Props needed:  A block or book to put under your hand and a blanket to kneel on if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 44 minutes

Emphasis:  In this steady flow we'll be using squats and lunges to strengthen your legs, practise hip flexion and improve your general mobility.

Props needed:  A block or book to put under your heels if you need it for Malasana (Garland Pose) and a blanket to kneel on if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.