Recent Articles in Hatha Yoga

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis: In this class we repeat Head To Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana) a number of times, adding in some twisting variations, before finishing with a short breathing practise and Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket or a block to sit on and a yoga belt, or the tie from a bathrobe, with a loop in it

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

Duration: 58 minutes

Emphasis: Usually in a Restorative Class you relax completely into the support of the bolster, blankets and blocks. In this class however, although you'll be really relaxed, you'll be a little more active. We'll start sitting in Hero Pose (Virasana) and add a twist, then we'll do some lovely relaxing poses with the support of a bolster. We'll then practise a supported Shoulderstand (Salamba Sarvangasana) which will engage the leg muscles, before stretching them out and finishing with 8 minutes of Savasana - delicious!

Props needed: A bolster (or I'll show you how to make your own with a blanket and two pillows), two blocks and another blanket to keep you warm in that long Savasana.

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

Duration: 31 minutes

Emphasis: If you're feeling a bit stiff and creaky and that you've spent way too long sitting on the sofa then this sequence to mobilise and free your hips might help. You'll start with some gentle hip circles then move into various Lizard Pose type lunges (Utthan Pristhasana). A long hold in Frog Pose (Mandukasana) and a nice long Savasana will help to release any last tightness and stiffness.  

Props needed: You'll need a blanket for under your knees and two blocks or books to put under your forearms.

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

Duration: 57 minutes

Emphasis: In this gentle class you'll move your joints from head to toe to help you stay comfortable and mobile.  

Props needed: Folded blanket to kneel and sit on plus some optional essential oil or body lotion to massage your feet with at the end. 

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

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis:  In this sequence we move from Childs Pose (Balasana) to Cow and Cat Pose (Bitilasana and Marjaryasana) and into Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana). From there, with blocks under the hands we move gently between lunge and half-splits, only going as far at the front leg feels comfortable. In the second sequence we add a little internal and external rotation into the Half-Splits Pose (Ardha Hanumanasana). In the third we add a twist and the fourth takes us into Gate Pose. Stretching your legs regularly is so beneficial for those who do sports or exercise and especially good for those who sit a lot - the lunges help to stretch the front of the hips and thighs too.

Props needed: Blocks to put your hands on and a blanket to kneel on.

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

Duration: 13 minutes

Emphasis:  Starting with a simple hands on hips Chair Pose (Utkatasana) we move through Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) to an adapted variation of Candle Pose (Prapidasana) with blocks under the hands. Each round gets progressively more challenging but you're in control - you can revisit any of the previous options if you need to. Chair Pose is great for strengthening the legs and Candle Pose is a wonderful balancing pose.

Props needed: Blocks to put under your hands.

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

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis:  This sequence focuses on Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana). Forward bends are known to help quieten the mind and the nervous system and will give you a good stretch to your back and the back of the legs.

Props needed: 2 blocks, 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: 1hr 12 minutes

Emphasis:  In this recording of a live Zoom class you'll do most of the poses with the support of the wall. Expect standing poses such as Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) and Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) plus Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), some seated forward bends and leg stretches and a lovely relaxing Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) to finish.

Props needed: Wall space (or you could use a door but make sure no-one is going to come in and bump into you!), a strap, 2 blocks and a blanket.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat against the wall and long side 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 hour 7 minutes

Emphasis:  A lovely long and relaxing class that takes you from twist to side bend to forward bend to backbend with a little segment of exercises for sacral stability too.

Props needed: 2 blankets (you may like to have a folded blanket to pad your mat to make it comfy) and 2 blocks or a bolster for some of the poses.

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