Recent Articles in Hatha Yoga

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  Work your core muscles and do some hip stretches and twists too.

Props needed: A blanket.

Mat direction: You choose - I'm mirroring you although on retrospect I didn't need to in this class, so listen to the verbal cues.

Duration: 10 minutes

Emphasis:  Bring your yoga practice into the rest of your life with this balancing challenge. There's no need to get changed or unroll your mat, just take off your shoes and socks, find a clear space in the room and give this a go. Do it regularly - don't worry about remembering the sequence exactly - and you'll notice that you get stronger in your legs, ankles and core muscles and all your balancing poses improve. Smile if it gets wobbly - and it probably will - it's meant to be fun and lighthearted :-)

Props needed: None necessary - just make sure you have clear space around you in case you wobble over, or you could practise next to a wall for added security.

Mat direction: n/a - I'm mirroring you here but, on reflection, there was no need for me to do that! Just follow the verbal cues instead.

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis:  A mostly seated and supine class, you'll start and finish lying in Crocodile Pose (Makrasana), enjoy some twists and forward bends, and try an interesting transition from a seated twist into Downward Facing Dog.

Props needed: A strap (or the tie from a bathrobe or something similar), and two blankets (you might like to use one under your knee and one under your head in the supine twist.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen and I'll mirror you so that you get the best view of the poses on each side.

Duration: 1 hour 22 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom gentle stretch class. We will do the '5 Senses Meditation', so you will need some lavender oil (or some other suitable essential oil to add a drop to your hands) and a raisin/cranberry/malteser or other tiny morsel to taste.

Props needed: A strap (or the tie from a bathrobe or something similar), two blocks or books, and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1 hour 18 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom class which includes backbends (Sphynx, Cobra and Seal Pose), forward bends (Childs and Star Pose), lunges (Lizard Pose), twists (Thread The Needle Pose) plus some variations of Pigeon Pose and a calf muscle massage too.

Props needed: Blocks or bricks to put under your forearms in Lizard Pose if needed and two blankets.

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

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis:  This sequence is all done lying down. We'll focus on your hip mobility, strengthening the surrounding muscles, stretching the legs and we'll finish with a gentle supported backbend.

Props needed: A blanket and a strap to reach your foot if needed.

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

Duration: 15 minutes

Emphasis:  A short sequence of standing balances suitable for beginners to strengthen legs, ankles and core, and improve focus and concentration.

Props needed: A yoga block or brick (or a box or tupperware of approximately the same length) and maybe a chair or wall to put your hand on if you feel wobbly.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 1 hour 17 minutes

Emphasis:  A recording of a live 'Zoom' class with seated and supine poses and Restorative poses to relax and stretch the entire body.

Props needed: A yoga bolster if you have one, or if you don't you can use 1 or 2 pillows (depending on how deep you want to go into the poses), 2 blocks or thick books, 2 blankets and a strap.

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

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

Emphasis:  A recording of a live 'Zoom' class that will gently stretch the whole body and relax the nervous system.

Props needed: 2 blocks or thick books, 2 blankets and a strap.

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

Duration: 29 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up the wrists we move through Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) with some different arm variations, and then to Wide Leg Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana). We finish in Malasana (Garland Pose) and stretch the wrists again in a counterpose.

Props needed: 2 blocks or a thick book, a blanket and you might need a strap or belt.

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

Duration: 17 minutes

Emphasis:  If your house is busy and there's no space to roll out your mat try doing some poses on the stairs. Yes really! You can use them as props to help you get a little deeper into the postures and it's useful to have walls and a bannister to help you balance. We get a bit creative with lunges and twists, forward bends, Lizard pose (Uttan Pristhasana), a variation of Ardha Purvottanasana (Reverse Tabletop Pose), Dancer's Pose (Natarajasana) and some variations of Malasana (Garland Pose).

Props needed: None required - not using a mat is, I think, better as it avoids the risk of it slipping.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a recording of a 'live' gentle stretch and relax class which includes poses in seated, kneeling and supine positions, with an Alternate Nostril breathing practice (Nadi Sodhana) at the end.

Props needed:A strap or tie from a bathrobe, a blanket, and 2 blocks or books approx 30x20x4cms.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.