Recent Articles in Flexibility

Duration: 34 minutes

Emphasis: A standing warm-up takes you into a standing sequence that includes Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), some variations of Wide Leg Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana), Goddess Pose ((Utkata Konasana) and Tree Pose (Vrksasana). The seated sequence includes Wide-Angle Seated Forward Fold (Upavistha Konasana) and Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasita Kamalasana).

Props needed: Two blocks and a yoga belt.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 36 minutes

Emphasis: After a slow Sun Salutation A to warm up you'll do a modified Sun Salutation B and then two more with extra poses added in. Expect some spinal rotations, hamstring stretches and strengthening squats. A seated sequence completes the practice.

Props needed: Two bricks and a blanket for under your knees.

Mat direction: Short 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: 21 minutes

Emphasis: There are lots of poses named after birds - some are challenging arm balances but in this class we practise some of the more accessible ones - Sunbird Pose, also known as Balancing Table Pose (Dandayamana Bharmanasana), Flamingo Pose (which is a variation of Natarajasana), Stork Pose (Saaras Pakshi Asana), Eagle Pose (Garudasana), Pigeon Pose (Eka Raja Kapotanasana) and Heron Pose (Krounchasana).

Props Needed: Blocks or bricks to help you balance in Eagle Pose, a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe and a blanket for under your knees if required.

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

Duration: 43 minutes

Emphasis: I loved recording this chair class - and I hope you do too. We repeat the sequence 3 times so you start to know where we're going and can focus on the sensations in the body rather than working out the instructions in your mind. Expect lots of twisting variations seated on the chair plus some poses kneeling on the floor with the hands on the chair so make sure your chair is sturdy and wont slip.

Props Needed: 2 blocks and a sturdy chair plus a blanket for under your knees if required.

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

Duration: 34 minutes

Emphasis: In this class we mobilise and stretch the shoulders, specifically moving the shoulderblades. Expect some Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana 1), Humble Warrior (Baddha Virabhadrasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana) and Wide Leg Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Parsvottanasana) for your standing poses. Following a Child's Pose variation (Balasana) and a variation of (Psychic Union Pose (Yoga Mudrasana, you'll lie down for a lovely flowy twist that focusses on the upper back and then Supine Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) before the final relaxation in Savasana. Please note: Yoga Mudrasana can be contraindicated for the neck so if you have any neck issues please skip this pose and take Child's Pose instead.

Props Needed: A blanket for under your knees and a yoga belt or tie from a bathrobe. If you have a resistance band you might want to use it for the warm-up.

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

Duration: 1hr 16 minutes

Emphasis:  This class features poses that will help release your back as we gently move from flexion to extension, do some spinal rotation and some side bends in the seated warm-up, and in the kneeling and standing poses flows. In the final part of the class we move to Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) and do some variations to open the hips and give the back and the back of the legs a lovely passive stretch.

Props needed: Some wall space, a blanket and a block.

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

Duration: 50 minutes

Emphasis: In this Iyengar-style class you'll hold each pose for a little longer than in a Vinyasa Flow practice. You'll do each pose separately, on the right side, then on the left, rather than joining poses together to make a flow.  It's strong, focussed work - feeling your way into each pose, noticing the nuances, being aware of your breathing - and then you let it go and move on to the next pose. After warming up you'll practise some different variations of the Warrior group of poses and the seated poses include Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana), Three Parts Forward Bend Pose (Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana 1 and II) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana). 

Props Needed: A blanket, a block (or maybe two if needed) and a yoga belt.

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

Duration: 35 minutes

Emphasis: All the poses in this class are done seated or lying down with straight legs (so it's a good one to do if you're nursing a knee injury). There's a seated warm-up sequence and an exercise to strengthen the thighs, then you'll lie down for some thigh and core strengtheners, a Locust Pose (Salabhasana) and a Side Reclining Leg Lift Pose (Anantasana). Then it's back up to sitting for some variations of Wide Leg Forward Fold (Upavista Konasana). Finally, you'll lie back down again for Savasana.

Props Needed: A bolster (or two pillows rolled in a blanket), two bricks and a blanket if needed for under your knees.

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

Duration: 1hr 14 minutes

Emphasis:  This is an Iyengar-style class where, after a short meditation on the five senses, we move into some seated warm-ups and then to hands and knees to stretch the torso and the shoulders. Standing poses include Eagle Pose (Garudasana), Single Leg Standing Balance (Tadasana Pavanmuktasana) and Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana). We then do some hip work in Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana), Kneeling Bow Pose (Utthita Dhanurasana), Garland Pose (Malasana) and then into Locust Pose (Salabhasana), Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) and Bow Pose (Dhanurasana). A supine sequence of Supported Shoulderstand (Salamba Sarvangasana), Plough Pose (Halasana), Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bhandasana), Happy Baby Pose (Supta Balasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) and Wide Leg Forward Fold (Upavista Konasana) finish our practice.

Props needed: A blanket, two bricks a yoga belt and two blocks.

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

Duration: 32 minutes

Emphasis: 5 sequences, each featuring flexion and extension of the spine, a twist and a hip stretch. Starting with a gentle seated hollowing and rounding of the back, you'll then move into a 'figure 4' hip opener which turns into a twist. The sequence on hands and knees includes Cat Pose (Marjaryasana), Cow Pose (Bitilasana), Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana) and Revolved Low Lunge (Parivrtta Anjaneyasana). The standing sequence includes a standing variation of Cat and Cow plus Half Chair Pose (Ardha Utkatasana) and Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana). The second seated sequence features Cat Cow Pose, a simple twist and forward bend all in Easy Pose (Sukhasana) and then the final supine sequence you'll do some gentle pelvic tilts, take Eye of the Needle Pose (Sucirandrasana) and then drop it into a twist. Finishing with a symmetrical pose, Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) followed by Savasana completes the practice.

Props needed: A brick and maybe a blanket under your knee for padding if required.

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