Recent Articles in Strength

Duration: 42 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class the focus is on strengthening the upper body and the abdominals. After some warming up for the arms, shoulders and back, the sequence will take you through lunges with bicep curls and shoulder presses, Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) with a diagonal 'pull' with the weight and a Goddess Pose with the weights too. There will also be some side arm balances and plank poses before stretching the arms out after their hard work.

Props needed: Two hand weights (but if you don't have these you could use filled water bottles) plus you might need a blanket to kneel on.

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  We keep the hands together in Prayer Position (Anjali Mudra) for nearly every pose in this sequence, so it's a good one to do if you're resting your wrists or shoulders - there's no weight-bearing on the hands at all. But you will challenge your balance as we step forward and back from High Lunge aka Crescent Lunge (this pose also has a number of Sanskrit names - Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana, Ashta Chandrasana or, as I most commonly refer to it, Alanasana) to Half Chair Pose also known as Standing Figure 4 Pose (Ardha Utkatasana) and then hinge into Warrior 3 Pose (Virabhadrasana III). We then transition back to Alanasana to take two variations of Revolved Side Angle Pose (Parivrtta Parsvakonasana) before coming back to the starting point. There's a little seated hip opening sequence plus a short meditation to finish. I hope you find this creative sequence fun - it will focus your mind because you'll have to concentrate - no room for random thoughts here :-)

Props needed: You might like a blanket for the kneeling poses and Savasana.

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

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  We'll warm up with a relaxed and loose swing for the arms and spine and move on to a heel bounce to raise your energy and improve circulation and lymph drainage. We'll then move into some variations of Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana), adding twists and forward bends and a Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) before coming down to the floor for a final shake-out and a long, relaxing Savasana.

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

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

Duration: 1 hr 18 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy multiple Sun Salutations with an emphasis on stretching the front of the thighs. We'll also do an optional Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) and then some seated leg stretches to finish.

Props needed: 2 blankets, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe or similar and 2 blocks.

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

Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy this repetitive sequence that flows through Half Moon Balance (Ardha Chandrasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Side Lunge (Skandasana), Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I), Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana) and Single Leg Downward Facing Dog (Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana). You'll then move on to some Bridge Pose variations (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) and Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana), before counterposing in Fish Pose (Matsyasana) and Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana). You'll then rest in Savasana to complete your practice.

Props needed: 2 blankets, 2 blocks and a belt.

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class is ideal to practise first thing in the morning. After warming up the body after its night's sleep we'll do some Sun Salutations to get your blood flowing and your heart rate up, which will include the standing poses Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) and Low Lunge Twist Pose (Parivrtta Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana). We'll then come to the floor for a short sequence that includes Boat Pose (Navasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), a seated twist and a side bend, before a brief Savasana or Constructive Rest Pose to revitalise you, ready to face the day ahead.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class is ideal to practise first thing in the morning. We'll gently move the joints and stretch the muscles to warm-up then pick up the pace for a round of Sun Salutations that include Reverse Warrior Pose (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Triangle Pose (Uttitha Trikonasana) and Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II). We finish with some Seated Torso Circling (also known as Sufi Grinds) and a warming ritual to raise your Prana (your life-force energy) and send you off into the day ahead.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 1 hr 17 minutes

Emphasis:  This steady-paced flow class will challenge your balance with twists in kneeling and standing lunges and with seated poses such as Boat Pose (Navasana), Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasitakamalasana) and Embryo Pose (Garbha Pindasana).

Props needed: 2 blocks or books, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe or similar and a blanket to kneel on and to cover yourself in Savasana if required.

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

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  Flow through multiple rounds of Sun Salutations adding in extra poses each time. We'll practise One Leg Downward Facing Dog (Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana), Crescent Lunge (Alanasana), a Warrior 3 variation (Virabhadrasana III), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) and Standing Splits which also has the English name of One Foot Expanding Upwards Pose (Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana) in the flow sequences, before coming down to the floor for a Pigeon Pose (Ardha Kapotasana) and Savasana.

Props needed: Bricks or blocks for under your hands for the Warrior 3 and Standing Splits and a blanket for Savasana if required.

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

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Expect to work hard in this class as we strengthen the 3 layers of abdominal muscles and your back muscles. Please note: you need a strong back for the most challenging variations of these poses - please don't overdo it! Build up slowly by repeating the class regularly to increase your strength. We'll be lying down for all the poses and we'll practice Leg Lowering, both single and double, and the Stomach Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana) with the legs bent and straight.

Props needed: None needed.

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

Duration: 53 minutes

Emphasis:  Starting with the most gentle variation of Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana) with your forearm resting on your thigh, we'll practice this pose repeatedly adding props as we make the pose a bit more challenging each time. We'll also visit some different variations of Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana) as we change from the right side to the left.

Props needed: Blocks, bricks or a stack of books to put your hand on as we deepen the pose.

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

Duration: 1 hour 21 minutes

Emphasis:  Multiple Sun Salutations take you through variations of Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) and Extended Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana 1), Tree Pose (Vrksasana) and Eagle Pose (Garudasana) before coming down to the floor for some seated poses, including a double-belt variation of Side Seated Wide Angle Pose (Parsva Upavista Konasana). We finish with an optional brief Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) at the wall before a well-deserved Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket, plus an extra one if you'll be doing Shoulderstand, 2 yoga belts or ties from bathrobes or similar, plus optional 2 flat blocks or books to help with balance in Eagle Pose.

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