Recent Articles in 40-60 minutes

Duration: 56 minutes

Emphasis:  We'll start with some rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) to warm the body up and then move on to practise Virabhadrasana III (Warrior 3 Pose), Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana (Standing Splits), Padangusthasana (Standing Forward Bend), Vrksasana (Tree Pose), two variations of Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose), the option to take Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall Pose) or, if you are comfortable and familiar with it, Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), Halasana (Plough Pose) and Matsyasana (Fish Pose).

Props needed: Two blankets, two blocks or thick books and a strap if you need it around your foot in Tree Pose.

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

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: 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: 47 minutes

Emphasis:  Each consecutive Sun Salutation will offer a different version of Lizard Pose (Uttan Pristhasana), deepening it each time. Lizard Pose is a lovely hip-opener and stretches the ilio-psoas muscles which are situated close to the spine and within the pelvis, joining the lumbar spine to the top of your legs (click HERE to see a previous post and diagram of them). These core muscles get shortened in our culture of spending so much time sitting down and all the lunges and hip openers that we do in our yoga practice help to stretch and release them, improving posture and helping the lower back to feel more comfortable.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on, a thick book or blocks for under your forearms when we deepen the Lizard Pose and possibly a strap to loop around your foot when we catch hold of it in one variation.

Mat direction: Short edge 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: 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.

Duration: 56 minutes

Emphasis:  A flow class with standing sequences containing kneeling poses such as Cat/Cow Pose (Marjariasana/Bitilasana), Side Plank Pose variation (Ardha Vasisthasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana), Thunderbolt or Kneeling Pose (Vajrasana), Seated Yoga Seal Pose (Yoga Mudrasana) and a preparation for Pendant Pose (Lolasana). There's a seated and supine sequence to finish and a lovely long Savasana so you can rest and relax after your hard work. Note: if you have delicate knees please use padding and adjust the poses as necessary or choose a class where there is not as much kneeling involved.

Props needed:  Possibly a blanket to kneel on, a yoga belt or a tie or strap and possibly blocks, bricks or books to put under your hands for Standing Splits.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 53 minutes

Emphasis:  Sun Salutations with Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) and Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana 1) with hands interlocked behind the back to stretch the chest and the arms.

Props needed:  A blanket for under your knees and for Savasana if required. A strap in case you find interlocking your fingers behind your back difficult.

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

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  Slow and steady, this flow has minimal instruction from me, giving you time to make your own adjustments and focus on your breathing in each pose. There's a kneeling flow first, followed by a standing flow and the class finishes up with some supine poses before a nice long Savasana.

Props needed:  A blanket for under your knees and for Savasana if required. A block or book to put under your hand.

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

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis:  Some backbending and lunge sequences with a little bit of quad stretching too.

Props needed:  Blocks or a thick book to put under your forearms in Lizard Pose, a strap to help you reach your foot and a blanket for under your knees.

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