Recent Articles in Strength

Duration: 46 minutes

Emphasis:  In this class you'll move around the mat in a circular flow. Starting with 2 rounds of Sun Salutation to warm up, our next sequence will move into standing poses that take us around to face the back of the mat. The exact sequence is repeated again to bring you around once more to the front. The next sequence will also follow this circular flow, before taking you down to the ground for a supine backbend and some hip stretches.

Props needed: None required.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen will give you the best view although there will be times when you'll be facing the other way and won't be able to see the video.

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  Expect some upper body strength work in this short flow as we move from Plank Pose (Phalakasana) to Side Plank Pose (Vasisthasana) to Upward Plank Pose (Purvottanasana). You'll do some other poses that require straight legs too, including Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana) and Floating Stick Pose (Utpluti Dandasana). Just two poses require bent knees - Garland Pose (Malasana) and Archer Pose (Akarna Dhanurasana).

Props needed: Two bricks or 4 blocks or some books.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis: Sun Salutations A and B to warm up then more Sun Salutation Bs with extra standing poses added in, repeated 3 times.

Props needed: None required except a blanket for Savasana.

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

Duration: 1 hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom class which features a breathing practice, a warm-up sequence, then two sequences which focus on spinal movement - flexion, extension and rotation. We then move to the floor for Half Frog Pose (Ardha Mandukasana) followed by some more twists, and a repetitive seated sequence finishes off our physical work. A lovely long Savasana gives you time to relax and renew.

Props needed: 2 blocks and a blanket.

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

Duration: 1 hr 12 minutes

Emphasis:  Recording of a live Zoom class which features several rounds of Sun Salutations, each one adding in new poses.

Props needed: 2 blocks plus some extra height of bricks or books to put your hands on, and a blanket.

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

Duration: 32 minutes.

Emphasis:  Starting with a seated warm up, we'll progress to some standing poses that lead to the standing balance called Eagle Pose (Garudasana). Then we'll come down to the floor and practise a supine variation of Eagle Pose that will strengthen the abdominal muscles too.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on and lie on if required.

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

Duration: 37 minutes

Emphasis: This flow class will strengthen your whole body - there are lots of forearm planks! - but it's balanced with Downward Facing Dogs (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) and Standing Forward Bends (Uttanasana) to give you a little breather in between each one. In each sequence there's a variation of Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana) that will also involve engaging muscles throughout your whole body. This class will be hard work but you'll feel invigorated and empowered afterwards :-)

Props needed: Two blocks for the shoulder openers and a blanket if required for Svanasana.

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

Duration: 22 minutes

Emphasis:  Four rounds of Sun Salutation, each with a different variation of Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II).

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 13 minutes

Emphasis:  Starting with a simple hands on hips Chair Pose (Utkatasana) we move through Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) to an adapted variation of Candle Pose (Prapidasana) with blocks under the hands. Each round gets progressively more challenging but you're in control - you can revisit any of the previous options if you need to. Chair Pose is great for strengthening the legs and Candle Pose is a wonderful balancing pose.

Props needed: Blocks to put under your hands.

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

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis:  Nearly all the poses in this class are twists - and you'll strengthen and stretch your core muscles too.

Props needed: 2 blocks and a blanket.

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

Duration: 32 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up with some Sun Salutations we'll practice a simple sequence that includes Crescent Lunge (Alanasana), Revolved Lunge Pose (Parivrtta Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana), Warrior 3 (Virabhadrasana III), Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Swanasana) and Half Lord of the Fishes Pose (Ardha Matsyendrasana) - and then we'll repeat it. We'll finish with some seated twists and forward folds before resting in Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket and a belt or tie from a bathrobe.

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

Duration: 40 minutes

Emphasis:  Iyengar Yoga is a style of yoga founded by BKS Iyengar. It has a strong emphasis on good alignment of the body in the poses and a use of props such as blocks and belts to enable the poses to be adapted according to the person participating. Slow and steady in pace, each pose is done first on the right side and then on the left, before moving on to the next one.

Props needed: 2 blocks, a blanket and a belt or tie from a bathrobe.

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