Hatha Yoga › Back and Shoulders
“You are only as old as your spine”
Goes the saying. It’s really important for you to keep your spine moving so that it stays strong, healthy and flexible. But you knew that already. These videos are great if you have a desk job and don’t move as much as you could, or if you already have stiff spine, shoulders or hips. Just remember to do the practices in these videos. Every day. We have got videos of different lengths here so you don’t need to put your back out trying to fit it in your schedule.
We don’t guarantee that you’ll be ready to join the Chinese circus, but we think that your back will appreciate the extra loving you give it and will reward you with less pain. You’ll start feeling that your life has some backbone, quite literally. This will lead to you making better decisions, possibly leading a life from a position of courage. You may start to feel your back is longer, you may start to sit up taller, you may start to notice when you slump or st... Show more
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45:20
Morning Vinyasa Flow 3: Replay of Live Class
Wake up, move and breathe with the MFML community. This is an all-levels, well rounded vinyasa flow class to gently energise. There is plenty of breath work and movement to warm the body. The class focuses on back bending. It explores the delight of working on foundational alignment principles for backbends to create freedom in the lower back and expansion and ease in the chest and heart. This is part 3 of a 3-part online series of live classes with the MFML community.
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30:02
Yoga for Hips and Shoulders
If you've been working at a computer or spending time sitting whilst travelling, this class is the perfect antidote freeing your hips and shoulders and regaining mobility, gently. Most of this gentle hatha yoga class is seated and can even be done in a chair, stretching the shoulders. Then the hips practice is the second half and the hip stretches are butterfly pose variations on the floor. You'll need blocks (or books) and a blanket or towel and a strap.
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22:55
Neck and Shoulders
Most of us experience pain in our neck and shoulders. Perhaps it from from sitting for long periods, using mobile phones and laptops or sometimes pain in the neck and shoulders can be from stresses from dealing with the challenges that we expereince in our lives. This classes targets the neck and shoulder with a combination of 10 stretches and movements for releasing tension, creating mobility and openess. A great daily practise or something you can integrate a few times a week in addition to your other practices. Can be done from sitting or standing and practised anywhere!
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45:34
Yoga for Full Body Strength
This yoga class will strengthen your whole body. Join Clive for an levels class focusing on how we can use our yoga practise to develop strength around both the upper and lower body, covering all the major muscle groups. Perfect for anyone looking to work on building strength and a great complement to anyone who enjoys walking, running, cycling, working out in the gym and other physical activities. A great class for those of us who are moving through the decades to keep our physical strength to prevent osteoporosis.
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55:18
Morning Yang Yoga with a touch of Yin
This energising morning yang yoga class starts in seated stillness and moves into a mobility warm up followed by a hatha flow with sun salutations at a mindful pace. Then explore poses that are held for longer, build strength and flexibility, working towards dancer’s pose by the wall. You will need one or perhaps two blocks, and perhaps a wall nearby. This morning yang class can be contrasted with Carlene’s Gently Energising Yin Class. Each practice with leave you feeling calm and relaxed in a different way. Try both each morning and let us know how you feel!
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22:36
Morning Mojo 2: 20 Minutes Morning Yoga
A short and sweet, yet juicy morning hatha yoga class which energises and leaves us feeling open, ready for anything and empowered - full of morning mojo! Focus on exploring the power and spaciousness of the shoulders.
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30:53
Yoga for Every Body: Bend and Twist
There’s no need to fear backbends in this accessible flowing yoga class that builds to various poses, including side bends, twists, backbends and forward bends for all over improved spinal mobility.
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28:29
Yoga for Every Body: Shoulders and Neck
A yummy Hatha Yoga class which flows through a simple sequence to get energy moving in an accessible way. Find freedom and mobility in the upper back, including the shoulders, upper back, neck and chest. You will need a strap, or a scarf will do.
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12:22
Tutorial: How The Shoulders Work
This yoga tutorial looks at how the arms and shoulders help to support movement, expression, circulation and spinal health. Learn how to move and open your shoulders for greater connection to your body. This is also a great tutorial to help counter the effect on the shoulders of chaturanga and to support those with previous injuries to their shoulder such as tennis elbow, frozen shoulder or bursitis. No need for a yoga mat, this tutorial can be done anywhere!
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05:28
Short Shoulder and Neck Relief Class
A quick but powerful class, done standing or seated, with just a strap. Create relief and release in the neck, shoulders and upper back - amazingly effective if you've been hunched over a computer.
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35:41
Your Calming Yoga Practice
This yoga class helps to ground and calm an anxious body or mind and bring us back to the present moment. Start with some grounding self-massage, then move gently with simple, repetitive, and breath-led movements to stabilise the nervous system. Additionally, we will pay particular attention to releasing tension in the head, neck, and shoulders to bring about a profound sense of relaxation and ease. This class is perfect after a long day or when we're overwhelmed. You will need a narrow block or a folded blanket and a brick.
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36:07
Yoga for Beginners: Introducing Backbends
The third class of the yoga for beginners course has us build on the learnings of the previous classes and discover more new poses such as low lunge and locust, plus develop a gentle supported backbend with bridge pose. There will also be time for a seated meditation on the breath, and rest in Savasana.
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29:23
Yoga for Sacroiliac Stability
Sacroiliac (SI) pain can be common in many yoga practitioners. This series of movements, all done on the back when done daily can help address instability and discomfort in the sacroiliac area. It’s also ideal if you’re short on space and time. You’ll need a blanket, block and strap.
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50:03
Menopause Yoga: Befriending Your Body
A soothing and calming yoga class to cool hot flushes and help you surrender to the natural process of change associated with the perimenopause and menopause. Expect hip opening stretches and simple somatic movements through the spine which lead to a restorative yoga practice, followed by a deep relaxation, a guided meditation and a mantra. This class is taught wholly on the floor and is very gentle and grounding. It is designed to help you befriend your body with kindness and self-compassion at a time when your body is transforming and can feel out of your control. You will need a yoga mat, a strap or belt, 1 bolster and 2 cushions (or household equivalents), and 2 blocks (or thick books). NB - Modifications: take extra care with hip and knee injuries. Osteoporosis: avoid flexion rounding your back in forward folds; keep your spine straight. Trauma: please note that hip opening poses and stretches across the chest can release tension but may also trigger trauma. Follow your own breathing pace, pause the practice when needed and find a comfortable resting pose.
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40:00
Yoga for Stress Relief: Neck Release
When the muscles of our neck are chronically tight we are more likely to maintain our nervous system in a state of stress. On the contrary, when we allow them to soften, our body and mind can more easily shift into a calm state. This floor-based yoga flow is specifically designed to help you release tension from your neck and shoulders, so you can feel more spacious and relaxed. This class is perfect for when you're busy at work, when you're feeling overwhelmed, when you've been driving a lot or are feeling stressed. This calming yoga practice will help you create more space and relaxation in your neck and stabilise your shoulders as you move.
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17:51
Your Daily Shoulder, Neck & Head Practice
This short yoga class mobilises, strengthens, and relaxes the shoulders and neck through their full range of motion. This is so important for our sedentary lives, and is a vital class for when you've ben busy at work, when you're feeling overwhelmed or when you're travelling. Additionally, you will give yourself a face, head, and jaw massage to help you release tension and find calm. Practise this class regularly as a preparation for your time on your mat or simply to feel good in your body. You will need a yoga brick or block.
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39:28
Love Your Back: Gentle Yoga
A gently paced yoga class to put some love back into your back. This class starts supine with gentle somatic and yoga movements, unwinding the tension lying down and then incorporates standing poses to help with the release of tension throughout the day. This is the perfect class if you have a hard day and feel the tension in your lower back, it's a great antidote to having been sedentary at work or travelling.
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50:23
Fun Forrest Inspired Yoga for Strength
This strong, hatha yoga class is inspired by Forrest yoga; it is strengthening and really great fun! Start with abdominal work and strengthening goddess pose, then explore how to lean into support: support of the props; of our experience; of our deep, considered breath. If you have dipped your toe into the Forrest Yoga pool already, this class is a chance to play with some arm balances and some stronger hamstring work. You will need two blocks, a blanket and a bolster (if you have one) for our exploration of splits and frog over a bolster.