Recent Articles in Flexibility

Duration: 1 hour 1 minute

Emphasis:  After warming up, you'll use a yoga belt to help stretch and mobilise the shoulders in Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Wide Leg Standing Forward Fold (Prasarita Padottanasana) and Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana). You'll then move to the floor for seated poses including Sage Marichi's Pose 1 (Marichyasana I), Sage Marichi's Pose 3 (Marichyasana III), Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana), Revolved Head to Knee Pose (Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana), then you'll lie down on your back for Half Plough Pose (Ardha Halasana), Reclined Straddle Pose (Supta Upavista Konasana) and Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana).

Props needed: A block, a blanket and a yoga belt.

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

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  This gentle sequence will start with a simple breathing practice, then take you through some warm-ups done seated on the chair before you stand up and use it to assist you in some standing poses. Expect variations of Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana 1), a Standing Twist and Half Standing Forward Bend (Ardha Uttanasana). The sequence takes you from one side of the chair around to the other and then it is repeated back again.

Props needed: A chair.

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

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class you'll practise some of your familiar and favourite standing poses seated on a chair. Perfect for whenever you're feeling a little weary but still want to do your yoga, or if you are nursing an injured ankle or knee, for example. After some joint-loosening warm-ups, you'll do Reverse Warrior Pose (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana), Wide-Legged Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana), Eagle Pose (Garudasana), Sage Twist (Marichyasana III) and Staff Pose (Dandasana). You'll then sit and breathe for a while in Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) before taking your legs up onto the chair for a relaxing and back-releasing Savasana.

Props needed: A chair, some blocks to put under your hands in the forward bend.

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

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  The whole of this class is done sitting on a chair. After a gentle warm-up you'll do 5 rounds of seated Sun Salutations followed by repetitive sequences that include side bends, twists and different variations of Chair Pose.

Props needed: Blocks and a chair.

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

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy a slow, easeful stretch with this floor-based class of supine and seated poses. Expect some supported backbends using the blanket and/or bolster, some hip openers and twists plus a lovely long Savasana.

Props needed: Blocks, blanket and a bolster (or 2 pillows rolled up in a blanket).

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

Duration: 44 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class you'll use the wall to help your stability in a series of standing balances. Each standing balance is followed by a forward bend, also using the wall to enhance the posture. There's also a short sequence using the wall for abdominal strengthening.

Props needed: Some wall space and a blanket for Savasana if required.

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

Note: Filming this class was beset with disturbances - hedge-cutting neighbour, torrential rain beating against the window and a squeaky floorboard!!  It required a lot of editing which isn't quite seamless - but I hope it doesn't detract from the class :-)

Duration: 10 minutes

Emphasis:  In this short practice you'll combine the meditative experience of linking the breath and the movement together. It's simple - you'll raise the arms up on the inhalation and bring the hands together, down the centre line of the body on the exhalation - but effective. As well as encouraging you to focus on the present moment and deepening your breathing, it will gently stretch the muscles of the ribcage and encourage mobility of the shoulders.

Props needed: None required.

Mat direction: n/a

Duration: 37 minutes

Emphasis:  In each round of Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) we'll add in a different variation of Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) to stretch the muscles of the buttocks, thighs and hips.

Props needed: Blocks to put under your forearms in Pigeon Pose if required, a blanket to kneel on and/or use for Savasana.

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  There are lots of different variations of Locust Pose (Salabhasana) and in this class we'll do 11 of them! We'll do a kneeling flow linking each Locust Pose together so expect Cat, Cow and Downward Facing Dog too.

Props needed: A blanket to put under your back and to kneel on. 

Mat direction: You choose.

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class we'll shake and swing the arms and legs. This is a fun and playful way to warm up before you do any exercise but these movements have other benefits too - they help increase the range of movement in tight shoulders, improve the posture, improve co-ordination, increase circulation and promote drainage of the lymph. I hope they will help you to feel relaxed, loose and limber and that they'll bring a smile to your face too.

Props needed: n/a

Mat direction: n/a

Duration: 1 hour 14 minutes

Emphasis:  In this flow class we'll practice Sun Salutations and a vigorous standing flow sequence. We then move to the floor for some supine hip and leg stretches to prepare us for splits (Hanumanasana). We'll practice this using a bolster and blocks for support in this challenging pose.

Props needed: Bolster (or 2 pillows rolled in a blanket), blocks, bricks and a belt.

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

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Sometimes you need a bit of quiet to help you focus - a straightforward practice with minimal talking from me! So that's what you'll get in this class - after warming up with Sun Salutation A we move to a few rounds of Sun Salutation B, before repeating and adding in some extra twists at the end of each round. Expect a brisk pace and to work hard, challenge your balance too all with the briefest instructions. 

Props needed: None needed.

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