Recent Articles in Flexibility

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.

Duration: 1hr 12 minutes

Emphasis:  In this recording of a live Zoom class you'll do most of the poses with the support of the wall. Expect standing poses such as Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) and Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) plus Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), some seated forward bends and leg stretches and a lovely relaxing Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) to finish.

Props needed: Wall space (or you could use a door but make sure no-one is going to come in and bump into you!), a strap, 2 blocks and a blanket.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat against the wall and long side facing the screen.

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  We keep the hands together in Prayer Position (Anjali Mudra) for nearly every pose in this sequence, so it's a good one to do if you're resting your wrists or shoulders - there's no weight-bearing on the hands at all. But you will challenge your balance as we step forward and back from High Lunge aka Crescent Lunge (this pose also has a number of Sanskrit names - Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana, Ashta Chandrasana or, as I most commonly refer to it, Alanasana) to Half Chair Pose also known as Standing Figure 4 Pose (Ardha Utkatasana) and then hinge into Warrior 3 Pose (Virabhadrasana III). We then transition back to Alanasana to take two variations of Revolved Side Angle Pose (Parivrtta Parsvakonasana) before coming back to the starting point. There's a little seated hip opening sequence plus a short meditation to finish. I hope you find this creative sequence fun - it will focus your mind because you'll have to concentrate - no room for random thoughts here :-)

Props needed: You might like a blanket for the kneeling poses and Savasana.

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

Duration: 23 minutes

Emphasis:  We'll warm up with a relaxed and loose swing for the arms and spine and move on to a heel bounce to raise your energy and improve circulation and lymph drainage. We'll then move into some variations of Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana), adding twists and forward bends and a Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) before coming down to the floor for a final shake-out and a long, relaxing Savasana.

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

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

Duration: 28 minutes

Emphasis:  In this sequence most of the poses are done with the arms above the head, initially with the hands apart and then, when we repeat it for a second time, with the thumbs linked together. Expect variations of Locust Pose (Salabhasana), Warrior 1 pose (Virabhadrasana I), a variation of Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Warrior 3 Pose (Virabhadrasana III) and Candle Pose (Prapidasana).

Props needed: None.

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

Duration: 1 hour 7 minutes

Emphasis:  A lovely long and relaxing class that takes you from twist to side bend to forward bend to backbend with a little segment of exercises for sacral stability too.

Props needed: 2 blankets (you may like to have a folded blanket to pad your mat to make it comfy) and 2 blocks or a bolster for some of the poses.

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

Duration: 1 hr 18 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy multiple Sun Salutations with an emphasis on stretching the front of the thighs. We'll also do an optional Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) and then some seated leg stretches to finish.

Props needed: 2 blankets, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe or similar and 2 blocks.

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

Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes

Emphasis:  Enjoy this repetitive sequence that flows through Half Moon Balance (Ardha Chandrasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II), Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Side Lunge (Skandasana), Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I), Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana) and Single Leg Downward Facing Dog (Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana). You'll then move on to some Bridge Pose variations (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) and Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana), before counterposing in Fish Pose (Matsyasana) and Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana). You'll then rest in Savasana to complete your practice.

Props needed: 2 blankets, 2 blocks and a belt.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  Move your whole body from top to toe whilst seated on a chair. This class is perfect if you're low on energy, feeling under the weather or nursing an injury and will help you to breathe better and release tension too.

Props needed: A chair (obviously! ;-) ) plus a block or book to put your feet on so, if your feet don't fully touch the ground, they can be flat on the floor and your knees can be level with your hips, plus you might like a blanket to sit on if your chair has a hard edge.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 19 minutes

Emphasis:  Join me for a sequence of seated twisting poses that will stretch your legs, outer hips, inner hips and arms. It will offer you some spinal flexion and extension too plus the rotation from the twists as well. We'll practise, amongst other poses, Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana), Sage Twist (Marichyasana III), a twisting variation of Shoelace Pose (Ardha Gomukhasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) and Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend (Upavista Konasana).  

Props needed: A blanket or block to sit on if required.

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

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class is ideal to practise first thing in the morning. After warming up the body after its night's sleep we'll do some Sun Salutations to get your blood flowing and your heart rate up, which will include the standing poses Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II), Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) and Low Lunge Twist Pose (Parivrtta Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana). We'll then come to the floor for a short sequence that includes Boat Pose (Navasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), a seated twist and a side bend, before a brief Savasana or Constructive Rest Pose to revitalise you, ready to face the day ahead.

Props needed: None required.

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

Duration: 21 minutes

Emphasis:  This short class is ideal to practise first thing in the morning. We'll gently move the joints and stretch the muscles to warm-up then pick up the pace for a round of Sun Salutations that include Reverse Warrior Pose (Viparita Virabhadrasana), Triangle Pose (Uttitha Trikonasana) and Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana II). We finish with some Seated Torso Circling (also known as Sufi Grinds) and a warming ritual to raise your Prana (your life-force energy) and send you off into the day ahead.

Props needed: None required.

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