Recent Articles in Flexibility

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.

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: 25 minutes

Emphasis:  4 types of movement in 4 different sequences.... Expect some work for the toes and feet, a side bend, a twist and then a hip opener.

Props needed: You might need a blanket under your knees.

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

Duration: 16 minutes

Emphasis:  This class features repeated spinal rotations to help keep your back mobile and comfortable. Spiral just as far as you feel comfortable - keep it nice and fluid - and repeat this class often to improve your range of movement. Expect these twists in kneeling lunges and standing poses, finishing with a lovely relaxing supine one and time to rest in Savasana.

Props needed: You might need a blanket under your knees and blocks under your hands.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen. Please note: If you're wondering why the background looks a little different it's because I've flipped the video around - I'm now mirroring you so that the majority of the time you're facing me, with just one pose facing away.

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: 20 minutes

Emphasis:  This is a short circular flow, perfect for when you don't have much time but want to fit your practice in. Expect Sun Salutations to warm-up then you'll add on some poses such as Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I) and Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) facing the front of the mat, Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana) facing the side of the mat and then repeating the Warrior poses facing the back of the mat. The whole sequence is then repeated to take you round in a circle and back to where you started. The sequence is then repeated once more at a slightly faster pace. Then it's onto the floor for some supine core strengtheners and a relaxing twist before a short Savasana.

Props needed: None needed.

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

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.