Recent Articles in Vinyasa Flow Yoga

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: 13 minutes

Emphasis:  A quick warm-up followed by 3 rounds of Sun Salutation to move and stretch your body, raise your energy, focus your mind and get you ready for the day ahead.

Props needed:  None required.

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.

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: 39 minutes

Emphasis:  Join me for this flowing sequence that will open your hips and help to free up your back. The flow will include the usual elements of a vinyasa (Sphynx/Cobra to Downward Facing Dog), with some standing poses including Standing Splits, Side Angle Pose and a standing balance. We'll finish with Anantasana (Vishnu's Couch Pose) and Mandukasana (Frog Pose) - both the half variation and then we'll have a go at the full pose!

Props needed:  A blanket to pad your knees. Blocks/bricks/thick books for under your hands if required.

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: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  Practice Table Pose (Bharmanasana) and Chair Pose (Utkatasana) and some variations of these poses in this short flow. These poses will strengthen the whole body.

Props needed:  None required.

Mat direction: Short side of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 48 minutes

Emphasis:  We'll start slowly with a top-to-toe warm up, bringing mobility to the joints and warmth to the muscles. We'll then move through some slow Sun Salutations, adding some variations of postures such as Salabasana (Locust Pose) and Ustrasana (Camel Pose). We'll then take a slow cool down and relax from toe-back-up-to-top before Savasana.

Props needed:  Blanket for padding the knees and for Savasana if required. Blocks or bricks if you have them for one of the Ustrasana variations.

Mat direction: Long side of the mat facing the screen

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis:  Warm up with a Surya Namaskar A then try some variations on a Surya Namaskar B which include some press-up dips to strengthen the upper body and some seated twists to finish. Please note: I'm having some problems with the focusing of my camera at the moment - having played with all the various settings to no avail I think it might be time to retire it and get a new one. You might notice the video goes out of focus a couple of times for which I apologise. I hope it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of your class.  

Props needed:  Blocks or a thick book to sit on in Virasana (Hero Pose) if required.

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  An all-round flow with lots of standing postures which will strengthen and stretch your legs and move your shoulders through their range of movement. There are some forward bends, gentle backbends and side stretches, all done in quick succession to give you a complete full-body class in under 20 minutes.

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

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

Duration: 45 minutes

Emphasis:  A strong flow class with 6 rounds of Sun Salutations with a quad stretch and a backbend in each one.

Props needed: A blanket to put under your knee, possibly a block for under your hand and a strap to loop around your foot if you can't reach it.

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

Duration: 48 minutes

Emphasis:  This class focusses on working your arms and shoulders in slow and steady Sun Salutations. In each round there is an added Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana 2) pose with a different arm variation.

Props needed: Blocks or a thick book to put under your hand in Half-Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana), blanket for Savasana. 

Mat direction: Short edge facing the screen.