Recent Articles in 20-40 minutes

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we practice some variations of Mountain Pose (Tadasana). Often overlooked as a beginning/end of sequence pose, Tadasana is one of the foundational poses of yoga. The alignment that we learn in Mountain Pose sets us up for the rest of our standing poses - we are strong, steady and focussed. We'll practice Mountain Pose standing up and lying down to feel the difference, and we'll do some Downward Facing Dogs (Adho Mukha Swanasana) too, and use the wall to feel subtle differences.    

Props needed: Some wall space.

Mat direction: Whatever works best for your mat positioned with one short edge against the wall.

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  With most of the poses in this class being done lying down, and only a couple of gentle seated poses, this class is perfect for those days where you're feeling weary and under the weather but still want to do a little yoga. Expect gentle stretches for legs, hips, low back especially, plus a lovely long Savasana too.

Props needed: Two blocks and a rolled blanket (plus you might want another blanket under your pelvis as you'll be lying down for a while).

Note: I made an error in the supine twist - at 10 minutes 20 seconds, I tell you to bring your left hand to your left thigh - but I should have said right thigh .... you'll understand when you get there...

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

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis:  After two rounds of Sun Salutation A you'll move into practising 7 different variations of Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana). This pose, sometimes known as Intense Side Stretch, strengthens the legs and stretches the hamstrings, calf muscles and the back. In some of the variations it stretches the front of the shoulders and the inner forearms and wrists too. You'll explore the variations progressively, stopping where you need to along the way so you don't overstretch or cause injury. 

Props needed: Blocks or bricks to put under your hands.

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  A fun sequence that takes you from some hands and knees poses into Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svansana) and Garland Pose (Malasana) then down into Staff Pose (Dandasana) for some twists and a seated 'walk' up and down the length of your mat. The sequence is then reversed to bring you back to the beginning and then repeated.

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees if required and a block for under your heels if needed in Garland Pose (Malasana).

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  Using a yoga strap or tie from a bathrobe you'll bring mobility and flexibility to your shoulder joints in this sequence. After warming up you'll take Wide Leg Forward Bend with your hands behind your back (Prasarita Padottanasana C), using the strap if necessary, and some Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) variations which use the strap to work your shoulders in different ways. Then you'll come down to the floor for Half Dog Pose, also known as Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana) with the option to turn it into the backbend Melting Heart Pose (Anahatasana) and Snake Pose (Sarpasana). Finally, you'll take a relaxing, gentle, supported backbend lying on the blocks before Savasana.

Props needed: Two blocks or books, a blanket and a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis: Sun Salutations A and B to warm up then more Sun Salutation Bs with extra standing poses added in, repeated 3 times.

Props needed: None required except a blanket for Savasana.

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

Duration: 32 minutes.

Emphasis:  Starting with a seated warm up, we'll progress to some standing poses that lead to the standing balance called Eagle Pose (Garudasana). Then we'll come down to the floor and practise a supine variation of Eagle Pose that will strengthen the abdominal muscles too.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on and lie on if required.

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

Duration: 29 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we'll repeat the same stretches kneeling in Thunderbolt Pose (Vajrasana) and Hero Pose (Virasana), sitting cross-legged in Easy Pose (Sukhasana) and with legs extended in Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend. We'll then take some poses for strength and mobility of the hips before lying down to rest in Savasana.

Props needed: 2 blocks and a blanket

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

Duration: 37 minutes

Emphasis: This flow class will strengthen your whole body - there are lots of forearm planks! - but it's balanced with Downward Facing Dogs (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) and Standing Forward Bends (Uttanasana) to give you a little breather in between each one. In each sequence there's a variation of Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana) that will also involve engaging muscles throughout your whole body. This class will be hard work but you'll feel invigorated and empowered afterwards :-)

Props needed: Two blocks for the shoulder openers and a blanket if required for Svanasana.

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

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: 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: 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.