Recent Articles in Beginner

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: 6 minutes

Emphasis:  If you find that your mind often skips off to think about other things during your Pranayama practice, try this simple breathing technique to help you stay focussed. You'll imagine a square box in front of you and trace the outline of it in time with your breath.

Props needed: None.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 1 hr 16 minutes

Emphasis: A flow class without the usual Sun Salutations, these sequences take you through Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottonasana), Side Lunge (Skandasana), Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Trikonasana (Trikonasana), back into Standing Forward Bend, into a variation of Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana) and the we round it off with a Tree Pose (Vrksasana) before doing the same again to the left side. The sequence is repeated again, swapping in a few different poses before we come down to the floor for some seated poses which include forward bends and twists such as Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana), two twists (Marichyasana 1 and 3) and a little bit of work on Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana). We finish with some Leg Lowering and a Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana).

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

Mat direction: Long 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: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class you'll use the wall to explore some familiar poses such as Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) and Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). Using the wall for stability and support allows you to go a little deeper into the poses and notice subtle differences compared to the usual way of doing the pose.

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees if required, 2 blocks and/or bricks.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat against the wall.

Duration: 20 minutes

Emphasis:  Move your body in these gentle and repetitive movements to help increase both the range of movement and the ease of movement in your joints.

Props needed: A chair.

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

Duration: 7 minutes

Emphasis:  A meditation on the colour blue to soothe, relax the body and mind.

Props needed: A chair to sit on.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 1hr 16 minutes

Emphasis:  A repetitive, gentle flow to stretch the whole body.

Props needed: A blanket, blocks or books to sit on and a yoga strap with a loop tied at one end.

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

Duration: 1hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  In this recording of a 'live' class I'll take you through 4 movements that will bring mobility and flexibility to your spine - in each of the sequence we'll repeat backbends, forward bends, side bends and twists. We'll start with a seated warm-up, move through a kneeling lunge sequence followed by 3 standing sequences, before coming back down to seated sequences once more. A short, simple breathing practice and Savasana round off the class and will leave you feeling ease and freedom in both body and mind.

Props needed: Two blocks or books and a blanket.

Mat direction: Long 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: 15 minutes

Emphasis:  In this short practice there's a focus on Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) to help keep the hip joints mobile and stretch the inner thighs. You'll start with the supine version of the pose (Supta Baddha Konasana), then move through some variations of the seated pose and Star Pose (Tarasana) too.

Props needed: 2 rolled blankets and a brick (or two blocks or a thick book).

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

Duration: 1 hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom class which features a breathing practice, a warm-up sequence, then two sequences which focus on spinal movement - flexion, extension and rotation. We then move to the floor for Half Frog Pose (Ardha Mandukasana) followed by some more twists, and a repetitive seated sequence finishes off our physical work. A lovely long Savasana gives you time to relax and renew.

Props needed: 2 blocks and a blanket.

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