Recent Articles in Hatha Yoga

Duration: 1hr 16 minutes

Emphasis:  We start this class with some seated straight leg poses then move to standing poses which include Chair Pose (Utkatasana), Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II) and Triangle Pose (Trikonasana). We then practise Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) before coming down to the floor for some prone backbends and stretches to the front of the thighs. We come back to the floor for more seated poses including a variation of Revolved Half Bound Forward Fold Pose (Parivrtta Ardha Baddha Paschimottanasana) and then to supine poses such as Upward Extended Feet Pose (Urdhva Prasarita Padasana) and Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana).

Props needed: A blanket, 2 blocks and a belt.

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

Duration: 33 minutes

Emphasis:  This class features the repetitive movements of Cat Pose (Marjaryasana) and Cow Pose (Bitilasana) followed by some variations of Half Side Arm Balance (Ardha Vasisthasana). You'll then move from hands and knees to sitting for Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana) and into another variation of Ardha Vasisthasana known as Stargazer Pose. Easy Twist (Parivrtta Sukhasana), Embryo Pose (Garba Pindasana) and Star Pose (Tarasana), plus of course Savasana, bring the practice to a close.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on if required.

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

Duration: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy this relaxing practice that uses props to support you as you gently move and mobilise your spine. From supported backbends to Happy Baby Pose (Salamba Balasana) to a gentle twist, this class will help your back and hips feel free and easeful and your mind to feel rested.

Props needed: A blanket and two yoga blocks.

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  This class will help you move your spine into backbends in a gentle way. Perfect if you find deeper backbends challenging, these poses will lift the chest and roll the shoulders back, creating space to breathe better. Repeated regularly they will help your posture and increase mobility. Expect a supine restorative pose to start, then move on to Cow and Cat Pose (Bitilasana and Marjaryasana), Sphynx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana), Melting Heart Pose (Anahatasana), Camel Pose (Ustrasana), Locust Pose (Salabhasana), Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bhandasana), all interspersed with some knees-to-the-chest movements as counter-poses.

Props needed: A blanket to kneel on if required.

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

Duration: 29 minutes

Emphasis:  Warm up with some dynamic squats, build some strength with 3 repetitive exercises using handweights then stretch everything out afterwards.

Props needed: Some handweights - if you've not done any strength training before I recommend you start with light weights and then build up slowly - and a yoga belt.  (It can helpful to do weights work in front of a mirror so you can check your posture too).

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  Most of the poses in this class are done from Table Top Pose (Bharmanasana) and focus on arm/wrist strength and core strength. We move from hands and knees to an optional Plank Pose (Phalakasana) and then to various 'knee-down' poses such as Parighasana (Gate Pose), Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), Half Side Arm Balance (Ardha Vasisthasana) and Lizard Pose (Pristhasana). We finish with some seated poses to stretch out the wrists and then relax in Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket if you need one to pad your knees.

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

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  Strengthen your arms, shoulders and abdominals (plus a little bit for your outer thighs and buttocks) in this short but effective weights class.

Props needed: Some hand-weights - not too heavy (I used 1.5kg), a blanket to kneel on .

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

Duration: 38 minutes

Emphasis:  After warming up with some spinal rotation, some hip circles and lunges we take a simple but satisfying sequence which includes legs stretches, twists and hip openers - firstly standing, then sitting and then repeated once again whilst lying in Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani).

Props needed: Some wall space, a blanket and you might need some blocks under your hands.

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

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: 28 minutes

Emphasis: Standing balances are really good for you (they strengthen your legs, they strengthen your core, they improve your concentration) but they are HARD! And can be so frustrating! We are often so focussed on the balancing that the alignment of the pose goes a little 'off'. In this class we will gratefully accept the support of the chair to help take care of the balancing bit and then you'll be able to open up more into the pose and really feel its benefits.

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis: There's no need to even unroll your mat for this class! Instead all the poses will be done with your mat rolled up. We'll do poses such as Child's Pose (Balasana), Lizard Pose (Uttan Pristhasana), Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) and Garland Pose (Malasana) plus some massage work on the calf muscles too.

Props needed: A rolled yoga mat and a blanket if you'd like some padding under your knees.

Duration: 1hr 16 minutes

Emphasis:  After a seated warm-up we move into a supine sequence that will alternately strengthen and stretch the hips and buttocks. Expect familiar poses such as Pigeon Pose (Ardha Kapotasana), Eye of the Needle Pose (Sucirandrasana) and Bridge Pose (Setu Bhandasana) plus some new and hopefully interesting movements that will be beneficial to your hips. The class finishes, of course, with a long Savasana.

Props needed: A blanket, 2 blocks and 2 bricks.

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