Recent Articles in On-Demand Video Library

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.

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Expect to work hard in this class as we strengthen the 3 layers of abdominal muscles and your back muscles. Please note: you need a strong back for the most challenging variations of these poses - please don't overdo it! Build up slowly by repeating the class regularly to increase your strength. We'll be lying down for all the poses and we'll practice Leg Lowering, both single and double, and the Stomach Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana) with the legs bent and straight.

Props needed: None needed.

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

Duration: 53 minutes

Emphasis:  Starting with the most gentle variation of Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana) with your forearm resting on your thigh, we'll practice this pose repeatedly adding props as we make the pose a bit more challenging each time. We'll also visit some different variations of Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana) as we change from the right side to the left.

Props needed: Blocks, bricks or a stack of books to put your hand on as we deepen the pose.

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

Duration: 1 hour 21 minutes

Emphasis:  Multiple Sun Salutations take you through variations of Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) and Extended Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana 1), Tree Pose (Vrksasana) and Eagle Pose (Garudasana) before coming down to the floor for some seated poses, including a double-belt variation of Side Seated Wide Angle Pose (Parsva Upavista Konasana). We finish with an optional brief Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) at the wall before a well-deserved Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket, plus an extra one if you'll be doing Shoulderstand, 2 yoga belts or ties from bathrobes or similar, plus optional 2 flat blocks or books to help with balance in Eagle Pose.

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

Duration: 1 hour 18 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we're using a Tupperware style lunchbox to help us with our sequencing! The lunchbox will be passed from hand to hand to encourage you to use your full range of movement to reach, stretch, twist, strengthen and balance - I hope you enjoy this playful practice.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on plus your lunchbox.

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

Duration: 1 hour 21 minutes

Emphasis:  Energise, stretch, strengthen and focus with multiple creative sequences based around Sun Salutations. Postures you'll practice include Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) and Revolved Triangle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) and Revolved Half Moon Pose (Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana). You'll also do some seated and supine poses to strengthen your core muscles and, at the beginning of the class, there's a calming and centering breathing practice called Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Sodhana) to enjoy too.

Props needed: A strap or tie from a bathrobe, a blanket, and 2 blocks or books to put under your hands.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  When you've been cycling or running certain muscles in certain parts of your body have been contracting and working hard. In this class you'll target those muscles and stretch them out, counterposing all that tensing, and stretch the rest of the body too. Please note: you don't have to be a runner or cyclist to do this class - you'll get a lovely stretch for your body whatever you've been doing.

Props needed: None.

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

Duration: 7 minutes

Emphasis:  This is the final variation of Sun Salutation where I take you through Four Limbed Staff Pose, usually known as Chaturanga Dandasana and into Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana). This is a strong variation where you will be supporting your bodyweight on your hands and toes as you lower down from Plank Pose and also in the deep backbend.

Props needed: None.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 12 minutes

Emphasis:  In this short and gentle sequence you'll be seated on a chair to stretch the front, back and sides of your body, take a twisting pose, bring mobility to your feet and ankles and take a variation of Chair Pose (Utkatasana).

Props needed: A chair.

Mat direction: n/a

Duration: 8 minutes

Emphasis:  This is the standard form of Sun Salutation that I offer in the majority of my classes. We're progressing to Plank Pose (Phalakasana) to Eight Limbed Pose (Ashtanga Namaskara) and in to Cobra Pose (Bhugangasana) to strengthen the body and create both physical and mental stamina.

Props needed: None.

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

Duration: 10 minutes

Emphasis:  In this next in the series of tutorials on modifying Sun Salutation to suit your needs, we swap the traditional lowering down to the ground via Knees Chest Chin Pose, aka Eight Limbed Pose, (Ashtanga Namaskara) followed by Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) or 4 Limbed Staff Pose (Chaturanga Dandasana) followed by  Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) for a version that takes the weight off your wrists and onto your forearms, making it more accessible for those who have wrist and shoulder problems or just find the actions of lowering down too challenging. We then take Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana) which is a gentler backbend than Cobra.

Props needed: Maybe a blanket to kneel on.

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

Duration: 8 minutes

Emphasis:  In this variation of Surya Namaskar (the Sanskrit name for Sun Salutations), I show how you can progress to the next stage without having to lower down to the ground to take a backbend, or compromise your wrists and/or shoulders in Downward Facing Dog. Instead, we'll do Cat and Cow Pose and half variation of Downward Facing Dog that will help you keep the pressure off those tricky areas.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on.

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