Recent Articles in Flexibility

Duration: 30 minutes

Emphasis:  A full-body stretch to do after your run or cycle to loosen up tight muscles and help you recover and relax

Props needed:  A blanket to sit/kneel on and a strap

Mat direction: Long side 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.

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  Another sequence for neck and shoulder mobility - this time all done lying down. There's a little bit of core strengthening in there too.

Props needed:  A blanket to roll into little bolster to support your spine, and a strap if clasping your hands together behind your back is difficult.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen so you can turn your head to see when you're lying down

Duration: 33 minutes

Emphasis:  In this sequence of seated poses we'll be gently moving the head, neck and shoulders through their range of movement to create more freedom and mobility.

Props needed:  Blocks or books to sit on and a blanket to make a roll for spinal support.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 38 minutes

Emphasis:  In this sequence we'll be gently moving the head, neck and shoulders through their range of movement to create more freedom and mobility.

Props needed:  Strap for between the hands if needed and a blanket for under the knees if needed too.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis:  A sequence of poses (mainly standing) with straight arms, legs and spine. We will practice Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Half-Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) and Revolved Half-Moon Pose (Parivrtta Ardha-Chandrasana) plus some variations of Wide Legged Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana). We finish with some variations of Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend (Upavista Konasana).

Props needed:  Blocks (or a thick book) as required for your hand in Ardha Chandrasana, 2 yoga straps (or use long scarves or dressing gown ties), plus a blanket for Savasana if required.

Mat direction: Long side of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 48 minutes

Emphasis:  We'll start slowly with a top-to-toe warm up, bringing mobility to the joints and warmth to the muscles. We'll then move through some slow Sun Salutations, adding some variations of postures such as Salabasana (Locust Pose) and Ustrasana (Camel Pose). We'll then take a slow cool down and relax from toe-back-up-to-top before Savasana.

Props needed:  Blanket for padding the knees and for Savasana if required. Blocks or bricks if you have them for one of the Ustrasana variations.

Mat direction: Long side of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  Stretch out your back and shoulders with this slow sequence of Thread the Needle, Downward Facing Dog, Cat, Child's Pose, Eye of the Needle and some rocking and rolling for a good back massage too.

Props needed:  A blanket for Savasana and to put under your back for the spinal rolling if required.

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

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  Had a long day? Feeling tired or hot and bothered but still want to do some yoga? We'll be lying down for the whole of this class but still getting a good stretch.

Props needed:  None required except a blanket for Savasana if required.

Mat direction: Long side of the mat facing the screen so you can turn your head to see more easily.

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis:  Move the spine in all different directions to increase mobility with this sequence of twists, cat and cow pose and child's pose.

Props needed:  A blanket for under your knees when kneeling if required.

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

Duration: 26 minutes

Emphasis:  It feels good to stretch and open up the front of the body, especially if you've been working at a desk or sitting in a car all day. In this slow class we'll do some gentle backbends to open the chest, create more room to breathe and more room for the internal organs too. You'll strengthen the back of your body too while you're doing it.

Props needed:  Blocks, bricks and a blanket or, if you don't have these, use 3 folded blankets and a couple of thick hardback books instead.

Mat direction: Long side of the mat facing the screen will give you the best view when you're lying down.

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis:  Warm up with a Surya Namaskar A then try some variations on a Surya Namaskar B which include some press-up dips to strengthen the upper body and some seated twists to finish. Please note: I'm having some problems with the focusing of my camera at the moment - having played with all the various settings to no avail I think it might be time to retire it and get a new one. You might notice the video goes out of focus a couple of times for which I apologise. I hope it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of your class.  

Props needed:  Blocks or a thick book to sit on in Virasana (Hero Pose) if required.

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