Recent Articles in Gentle

Duration: 14 minutes

Emphasis: You don't always need to find a big chunk of time to do your yoga practice, or find your mat or put your leggings on. Sometimes it's enough to slide off the sofa onto the floor and do a few simple stretches to loosen you up. Expect some familiar poses done with the support of your sofa. 

Props needed: A sofa!

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis: In this class all the poses use two blocks - expect seated variations of Candle Pose (Prapidasana) and Garland Pose (Malasana), some Standing Forward Bends (Prasarita Padottanasana), Side Lunge (Skandasana), Child's Pose (Balasana), Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bhanda) and Stomach Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana).

Props needed: Two blocks (or thick books).

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

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis: A slow, quiet Yin Yoga class for when you're feeling weary but need a good stretch. You'll move from Dragon lunge, to the gentle backbend Melting Heart and then into Child's Pose for your forward bend. Half Frog will open the hips and a Reclined Twist will rotate the spine - meaning you'll have done a rounded practice and, hopefully, feel rested and calm too.

Props needed: Two blocks, a blanket and a yoga belt.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 17 minutes

Emphasis: Enjoy this very gentle class that uses circles and spirals to mobilise and free the joints. We work through the body from the shoulders to the feet and I hope you'll feel relaxed and comfortable after this practice

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 1 hr 14 minutes

Emphasis: In this gentle class we warm-up by going top-to-toe through the body, mobilising the joints and stretching the muscles. Then there are two standing pose sequences followed by some seated twists, and forward bends. A lovely long Savasana resting on blocks or cushions completes the practice, leaving you feeling nice and loose, limber and relaxed.

Props needed: A yoga belt, 2 flat blocks or 2 cusions and a blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 9 minutes

Emphasis: A short meditation that promotes feelings of kindness towards oneself and others. This practice has many benefits - a sense of calm and relaxation, a quieter mind as you focus on this one thing, and acceptance and understanding of our emotions.

Props needed: N/A.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 15 minutes

Emphasis: Take a few minutes to rest and become quiet amidst the busy-ness of your day. This guided Savasana takes you from head to toe, inviting you to soften and release tension, then there is some silence. I hope you enjoy it and feel your heart-rate and breathing slow down and your body become still. Please note the words are by a teacher called Indu Arora, not me.

Props Needed: Whatever you need for a comfortable Savasana.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 39 minutes

Emphasis: This class is perfect for when you're feeling tired and low on energy but still want a good stretch. Most of the poses are done lying on your back, with a couple on your side and a couple lying on your front. Expect a bit of everything - forward bend movements, backbends and twists, arm stretches and leg stretches.

Props needed: A yoga belt with a loop in it, a block and a blanket for under your knees and/or Savasana.

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

Duration: 1hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  After a simple breathing practice and a gentle top-to-toe warm-up you'll move into a kneeling pose flow which includes Balancing Table Pose (Dandayamana Bharmanasana), Camel Pose (Ustrasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana), kneeling variations of Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) and Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), and Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana). The sequence is then repeated but with standing poses rather than the kneeling lunges. Vishnu's Couch Pose (Anantasana) takes us into a seated sequence which includes Boat Pose (Navasana) and Tarasana (Star Pose).

Props needed: A blanket, a belt, 2 bricks and possibly 2 bricks.

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

Duration: 1hr 5 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy some time out of your busy day to relax your mind and stretch your body in this yin class of mostly supine poses. Starting by massaging the back of the skull, the poses progress down the body to the feet, then back up to the head again to gently open and release tight areas. You'll hold each pose for 2 minutes so expect to experience some sensations but know that these longer holds allow the connective tissues to stretch and use your deep breathing to help the body relax into the poses.

Props needed: A blanket and two blocks.

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.