Recent Articles in Strength

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  Grab a brick from your yoga kit or, if you don't have one, a lunchbox from your cupboard, and join me for this fun class. We'll work your shoulders and hips through their range of movement in some repetitive movements in poses such as Child's Pose (Balasana), High Lunge/Crescent Pose (Alanasana) and Candle Pose (Prapidasana), plus a good core strengthening sequence - all holding and moving the brick to challenge the body and the brain in new and different ways.

Props needed:  A folded blanket for your knees and your brick/lunchbox.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 13 minutes

Emphasis:  Some familiar poses - variations of Child's Pose (Balasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana), Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) and Forearm Plank (Makara Adho Mukha Svanasana) - done in unfamiliar ways. You'll have some fun sliding around on a blanket as you strengthen your core muscles and stretch your arms and legs.

Props needed:  Your yoga mat folded for padding plus a blanket to slide on if you're practising on a hard floor or, if you're practising on carpet, you'll need two paper plates to enable you to glide.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 33 minutes

Emphasis:  3 rounds of Sun Salutations with progressive variations of Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana) - you'll do lunges and twists, a lovely restful Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) before finishing with a relaxing Savasana.

Props needed:  A block or book to put under your hand and a blanket to kneel on if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 44 minutes

Emphasis:  In this steady flow we'll be using squats and lunges to strengthen your legs, practise hip flexion and improve your general mobility.

Props needed:  A block or book to put under your heels if you need it for Malasana (Garland Pose) and a blanket to kneel on if required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis:  Use the wall to help you balance in Tree Pose and two variations of Eagle Pose. We'll also use it for Downward Facing Dog Pose with bricks or blocks under the hands and then the feet to feel the pose in a slightly different way, and then we'll progress to a great way to practice Splits and Handstand. The wall is a fabulous prop that will really help you focus on your alignment and using it adds a whole new dimension to your practice.

Props needed:  Some clear wall space, two bricks (or four blocks or two thick books), and a belt.

Mat direction: One short edge facing the screen and the other short edge against the wall.

Duration: 56 minutes

Emphasis:  A flow class with standing sequences containing kneeling poses such as Cat/Cow Pose (Marjariasana/Bitilasana), Side Plank Pose variation (Ardha Vasisthasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana), Thunderbolt or Kneeling Pose (Vajrasana), Seated Yoga Seal Pose (Yoga Mudrasana) and a preparation for Pendant Pose (Lolasana). There's a seated and supine sequence to finish and a lovely long Savasana so you can rest and relax after your hard work. Note: if you have delicate knees please use padding and adjust the poses as necessary or choose a class where there is not as much kneeling involved.

Props needed:  Possibly a blanket to kneel on, a yoga belt or a tie or strap and possibly blocks, bricks or books to put under your hands for Standing Splits.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

Duration: 16 minutes

Emphasis:  This short sequence will help to strengthen your wrists and stretch them too. The muscles and tendons of the forearms can get tight, especially if you use a computer for long periods of time every day, so it's helpful to practice these poses regularly to keep the wrists healthy. Start gently and build up to more repetitions of each pose slowly over time.

Props needed:  A blanket to kneel on if required. 2 x blocks/bricks/thick books for under your hands for Tolasana (Scales Pose).

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

Duration: 53 minutes

Emphasis:  Sun Salutations with Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) and Warrior 1 Pose (Virabhadrasana 1) with hands interlocked behind the back to stretch the chest and the arms.

Props needed:  A blanket for under your knees and for Savasana if required. A strap in case you find interlocking your fingers behind your back difficult.

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

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis:  Slow and steady, this flow has minimal instruction from me, giving you time to make your own adjustments and focus on your breathing in each pose. There's a kneeling flow first, followed by a standing flow and the class finishes up with some supine poses before a nice long Savasana.

Props needed:  A blanket for under your knees and for Savasana if required. A block or book to put under your hand.

Mat direction: Short side of the mat 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: 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