Vidya Heisel's Yoga Classes
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56:04Shining Heart Vinyasa Flow
An interesting and varied fusion-vinyasa flow yoga class, with plenty of inspiration from other yoga styles, including Iyengar and Kundalini. This class includes challenging and strong poses including flying splits and arm balances. Starting with breath work, the class then gives some wonderful chest-opening warm ups, which also work on neck and shoulder release. Then join Vidya for a fun vinyasa yoga flow, with some Kundalini breath work and poses mixed in, and an Iyengar variation of Downward dog. As ever, move at your own pace, and don't feel you need to join in for things that might not suit you on this day. You will need two blocks and a blanket. After this class please do follow with a long savasana.
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36:52Yoga Nidra for Relaxation
Yoga Nidra is a 'yogic sleep', but the aim is not to fall asleep! This is a rewarding relaxation practice which will help melt tension in your body and mind by rotating your consciousness and awareness. You may want a bolster under your knees, a blanket under your head and an eye pillow, or you can simply lay in savasansa. Find what is most comfortable for you.
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10:25Handstand Tutorial for Beginners
This yoga tutorial works on the different stages and how to approach a handstand, and is great if you've never tried handstand before. Work on long holds in downward facing dog and plank to build strength, then work on progressing to handstand with this class! You will need your mat by a wall.
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07:12Forearm Balance Tutorial
A tutorial for pincha mayurasana, or forearm balance. Build strength and confidence with some preparatory poses, then learn the correct and safe way to enter and hold this asana, using props if need be. You will need a strap, block and your mat against a wall.
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08:54Headstand Tutorial
This yoga pose tutorial offers two variations of the headstand; the standard headstand and the tripod headstand. If you have never tried headstand before, this is a great place to start. It is also a handy reminder on alignment for those more experienced in this pose.
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15:51Peacock Pose Tutorial
This tutorial for peacock pose (mayurasana) starts with a short sequence to warm up the body. Mayurasana is an arm balance, so this tutorial is the perfect way to build strength and confidence to reach the peak pose over time if you need. You will need two blocks and a blanket.
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31:45Fiery Yoga for the Hips
A yoga class to deepen, strengthen and open the hips, moving to a peak pose of Crescent Moon. Start with sun salutations, then prepare the body with backbends. You will need access to a clear wall, as we use a wall first of all for a modified inverted Crescent Moon, and then to deepen our crescent. You will need two blocks, a strap and a blanket.
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08:13Shoulder Stand Tutorial
A shoulder stand tutorial which works through the preparations to build up to this inversion. If you're not quite ready for a shoulder stand, use this class to find suitable alternatives and learn how to grow your strength and confidence. You may want to place your mat by and will need a blanket.
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14:48The Eighth Limb: Samadhi
In this yoga philosophy class, we explore the concept of Samadhi. Samadhi is the eighth and final limb of Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga, and it means enlightenment. This can be quite a challenging concept for us to grasp, but it is often thought of as freedom from the limited sense of self.
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16:17The Seventh Limb: Dhyana
The seventh limb of yoga is Dhyana, or meditation. The eight limbs of yoga represent the path of meditation, which is considered to be the greatest tool in our yoga practice to help us experience Samadhi by understanding and mastering the mind to experience equanimity and balance.
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08:50The Sixth Limb: Dharana
Patanjali's sixth limb of yoga is Dharana, which means concentration. This limb is all about refining your ability to focus and concentrate, so your mind doesn't wander and resist the practice.
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10:33The Fifth Limb: Pratyahara
The fifth limb of yoga is Pratyahara which means withdrawal of the senses or turning inwards. This refers to the first step of meditation after laying the groundwork with the practices in the previous limbs. Withdraw from external stimulus by turning off your phone or retreating to a quiet room for a time and take your attention inwards.
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14:48The Fourth Limb: Pranayama
The fourth limb of Patanjali's path is Pranayama which means life force energy. It is thought that the more of this life force energy we can cultivate, the more healthy, awake, alive and aware we will be, and the greater our longevity. Learn about some of the different types of breath work used to practice pranayama.
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17:53The Third Limb: Asana
Patanjali's third limb of yoga is Asana, or the physical practice of yoga. Despite there being very little mention of yoga postures in the Sutras, asana traditional refers to the practicing of sitting for meditation, which then evolved to encompass the yoga poses we know today.
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14:16The Fifth Niyama: Isvara Pranidhana
The fifth and final Niyama is Isvara Pranidhana, or surrender to the absolute. This Niyama is all about how we respond to occurances beyond our control; are we a victim living in fear or can we see and embrace the beauty in the unknown?
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15:42The Third Niyama: Tapas
The third Niyama is Tapas, which means self-discipline. It also translates as 'burning' which can be looked at in a few different ways, including a burning passion for leading a spiritual yogic life.
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07:02The Second Niyama: Santosha
The second Niyama is Santosha, which means contentment. We can look at this Niyama in a couple of ways; to practice contentment with who we are and what we have, and to practice the Yama of Aparigraha, or freedom from greed.
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17:30The First Niyama: Saucha
The Niyamas are observances, the first of which is Saucha, which means purity. Both of cleanliness of the body and the space of around us, and purity of thoughts, intentions and behaviour.