Recent Articles in 1-20 minutes

Duration: 20 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a short circular flow, perfect for when you don't have much time but want to fit your practice in. Expect Sun Salutations to warm-up then you'll add on some poses such as Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I) and Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) facing the front of the mat, Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana) facing the side of the mat and then repeating the Warrior poses facing the back of the mat. The whole sequence is then repeated to take you round in a circle and back to where you started. The sequence is then repeated once more at a slightly faster pace. Then it's onto the floor for some supine core strengtheners and a relaxing twist before a short Savasana.

Props needed: None needed.

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

Duration: 9 minutes

Emphasis:  A simple meditation to help you feel a sense of stillness, peace and relaxation.

Props needed: N/A.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 16 minutes

Emphasis:  This technique can be really helpful when you can't sleep or can't settle into your Savasana after your yoga practice. It's a little journey through the body tensing and relaxing different groups of muscles - you can't do it wrong but follow along with me for the first time then you can use it whenever you need it.

Props needed: A blanket to keep you warm.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 10 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class can be used on its own when you haven't got much time but still want to do a bit of movement, or it can be used as a warm-up before doing another class or even another form of exercise. These simple, repetitive movements will take your shoulders and arms into internal and external rotation and your spine into rotation, flexion and extension. Practising this type of movement regularly will help to keep your shoulders stable and strong.

Props needed: None required.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 5 minutes

Emphasis:  Take a few minutes to pause and breathe, stepping away from all the busy-ness that pulls you in so many directions. With your hand over your heart, experience warmth, peace and comfort and, hopefully, a sense of equilibrium to help you face whatever comes next.

Props needed: N/A.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 20 minutes

Emphasis:  In this short practice you'll circle the hips and do some squats to warm up, then do a standing pose sequence that includes Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana) and Warrior 2 Pose (Virabadhrasana II), then move down to the floor for Half-Frog Pose (Ardha Mandukasana) and Pigeon Pose (Ardha Kapotasana).

Props needed: A blanket for under your knee if you're practising on a hard floor. 

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  Work on your arm strength and shoulder mobility whilst sitting in your chair. We'll move the arms in all directions and then do some exercises using a brick which include twists and a core strengthener. A brief seated meditation finishes this practice.

Props needed: A chair and a brick.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 8 minutes

Emphasis:  This guided visualisation, from the book 'The Spirit of Yoga' by Cat de Rham, is one of my favourites. It asks you to focus within, paying attention to the way the energy travels around your body. I hope you enjoy it and feel refreshed and reenergised afterwards.

Props needed: None required unless you'd like to sit on a chair.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 15 minutes

Emphasis:  Take 15 minutes out of your day to move your body. This simple class will work your arms and your shoulder joints, gently mobilise your spine and there's a little bit of core work in there too.

Props needed: A chair and a brick or block.

Mat direction: n/a.

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  All the poses in this class are done sitting or lying down. Slow and steady repetitions of twists and a supine variation of Crow Pose (Bakasana) will work your abdominals without putting weight on your legs - a useful class to do if you have a leg/knee/ankle/foot injury but still want to do your practice.

Props needed: Two blankets to put under your knees.

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

Duration: 15 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy a few minutes of quiet time in this meditation which invites you to take a journey up the spine, stopping off briefly at each chakra. On reaching the crown of the head there's a visualisation on the 1000 petalled lotus flower that is the symbol for the Crown Chakra, Sanskrit name Sahasrara. .

Props needed: None needed.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Big arm circles and sweeping shoulder openers start this class, followed by a Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). Thread The Needle Pose (Urdhva Mukha Pasasana) and Child's Pose (Balasana) come next, then we move to sitting in Easy Pose (Sukhasana) for some more arm circles, a side bend and the arm position from Eagle Pose (Garudasana). A gentle neck stretch (no pushing down on the side of your head please) will help to release the shoulders - I hope you'll really be able to feel the difference between each side - and then we'll lie down for a final neck massage using a block before resting in Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees if needed, a block and 2 bricks.

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