Recent Articles in Strength

Duration: 1hr 15 minutes

Emphasis: You'll start with a short and simple meditation and then move onto some kneeling and lunge warm-ups which focus on loosening up your shoulders. This week's Sun Salutation sequences feature practising stepping through from Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) to Lunge (Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana) and then moving the arm in circles in Half Side Arm Balance (Ardha Vasisthasana) and Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana). In the next sequence there is some optional progression to Side Arm Balance (Vasisthasana). Seated poses include Torso Stretch Pose (Bharadvajasana), Archer Pose (Akarna Dhanurasana) and Heron Pose (Krounchasana).

Props required: A blanket, a brick and a belt.

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

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis: This class is a bit of a workout - but it's very do-able! Multiple rounds of Sun Salutations which feature a different exercise with hand weights at the end of each one. 

Props needed: If you don't have hand weights you can use water bottles or tins of tomatoes/beans instead.

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

Duration: 1 hr 10 minutes

Emphasis: In this recording of a Slow Flow Zoom class, there is a focus on two mudras (hand positions) - Kali Mudra and Anjali Mudra. Seated and keeling warm-ups with repetitive movements followed by Sun Salutation A prepare you for the standing sequence which includes Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana), Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II) and High Lunge (Alanasana). A floor sequence includes Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), Balancing Table Pose (Dandayamana Bharmanasana) and a Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) variation and then you'll move into a seated sequence with Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), Head To Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)

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

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

Duration: 27 minutes

Emphasis: In an Iyengar-style practice you'll hold the poses for a little longer than in a flow class and do each pose on both sides before moving on to the next one. This style of yoga has a focus on the alignment of your body too so expect quite a lot of instruction in each pose. The pace is slow and the poses (a mix of standing and seated) are straightforward - it's good to go back to basics every now and then.

Props needed: Blocks and a blanket.

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

Duration: 42 minutes

Emphasis: After a warm-up round of Sun Salutation A you'll do three more rounds that include a standing balance - Warrior 3 (Virabhadrasana III) variation, Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) and Revolved Half Moon Pose (Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana). A supine sequence featuring leg stretches followed by Savasana will complete your practice..

Props needed: Two bricks and a yoga belt.

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

Duration: 42 minutes

Emphasis: In this class you'll warm up and build up to full Sun Salutations, then in subsequent rounds there will be a squat variation - Chair Pose (Utkatasana), Half Chair Pose (Ardha Utkatasana), Candle Pose (Prapidasana) and Garland Pose (Malasana) - at the end of each round. Then it's down to the floor for some Bridge Pose variations (Setu Bandhasana), Happy Baby Pose (Supta Balasana), Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) plus a twist, a seated hip opener plus twist and finally Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasita Kamalasana). and Revolved Abdomen Twist Pose (Jathara Parivartanasana) and then a well-deserved Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket and a block.

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

Duration: 16 minutes

Emphasis: Sometimes core strength work is hard and there can be a resistance to doing it. This class has very doable strengthening poses that I hope you won't hate too much! ;-) Give it a try!

Props needed: None needed.

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

Duration: 9 minutes

Emphasis: If you want a quick warm-up before you go out to do your other exercise or you just want to get the heart rate up a little and move the joints, then this short class will be just what you need. Progressing from Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) through to Lunge Pose (Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana), to Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) to a full Sun Salutation, plus an extra round with a little variation - the pace is steady but you don't stay in any pose for very long.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis: This flow will take you through a variety of twists - firstly, kneeling in the warm-up, then through two Sun Salutation sequences and then finally some seated poses too.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on, blocks and/or bricks for under your hands and to sit on and you might want a belt for the final pose.

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

Duration: 1hr 13 minutes

Emphasis: In this class you'll use the wall for most of the poses. It will offer you stability in the balancing poses, support in the resting poses and a way to explore some other postures in a slightly different way - and there will be a couple of rounds of slow Sun Salutations too.

Props needed: Wall space, blocks, a blanket and a yoga belt.

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

Duration: 1 hr 14 minutes

Emphasis: This is an Iyengar style class, with each pose being done separately rather than flowing together. Expect to hold the poses for around 3 breaths to cultivate focus, strength and resilience. Standing poses in this class include - Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Warrior 3 variation (Virabhadrasana III) and Eagle Pose (Garudasana). The floor poses include Half Frog Pose (Ardha Bhekasana), Bow Pose (Dhanurasana), Head To Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana) and Paschimottanasana and then it's back to standing for the Padhungustasana leg stretch series using a chair. The final relaxation is done with the legs up on the seat of the chair.

Props needed: Two bricks, a blanket, a belt and a chair.

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

Duration: 13 minutes

Emphasis: Short and sweet, this class will get you moving and doing your practice when you don't have much time. Expect to visit side bends, backbends and forward bends, plus twists, a balance pose and some leg stretches - there's a lot packed into these 13 minutes but you won't feel rushed, just glad you got on your mat :-)

Props needed: None required.

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