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
-
20:00Beginners 4: Twist to unwind
Twists help you feel yourself again. So whether you’re stiff, stressed-out, sluggish, or plain out of sorts, Clare’s simple twist practice will leave you feeling grounded and re-energised. Perfect for morning or evening. The class ends on a savasana, so feel free to lay down and soak up the practice for as long as you need.
-
20:53Yoga For Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine which can present in spectrum of different grades. For some, a scoliosis can be very mild, hardly noticeable and certainly not an issue for everyday movement and living. For others it can be very inhibiting, restricting movement, causing pain and discomfort, perhaps even leading to corrective surgery. In this video, Lucy & Ben explain what scoliosis is and explore how you can help yourself, or loved ones, with this condition. Explore the role of good breathing and gentle movement to stretch out and gain ease and comfort. Please note that all advice and recommendations in this film are given generally and do not constitute any form of an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. A consultation with a medical practitioner or registered physical therapist is recommended.
-
48:14Fiery Forrest Yoga Inspired Class
This strong, hatha yoga class is inspired by Forrest yoga and designed to ignite the light inside of us. Forrest yoga focuses on releasing a stiff neck and strengthening the shoulders. This yoga class has a particular focus on opening the back and hips with some powerful work to fire up the core and unlock our shoulders. The perfect class as an antidote to sedentary modern life! There is an intention to bring awareness to our breath and to soften, even in intensity. You will need a rolled up blanket and a towel for our abdominals.
-
01:10:19Yoga Tutorial for a Healthy Spine
A yoga anatomy tutorial all about the spine; essential for any yoga students and teachers looking to expand their knowledge! The more we know about the spine the more remarkable and astonishing it becomes; it is fundamental in so many movement patterns allowing us to move in so many ways whilst staying light, graceful and steady. This video will teach you about the intricate structure of your spine and begin to respect its subtle changes and adaptations that make life on two feet possible and enjoyable. Class starts by offering you a way to gain a felt sense of your spine and its various ranges of movement and functions. Then discover how to find good posture in standing and sitting to limit those all too common issues of back ache. Finally, learn how to use your spine to inform your alignment, ease and freedom on your yoga mat. NB: All advice and recommendations in this film are given generally and do not constitute any form of an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. A consultation with a medical practitioner or registered physical therapist is recommended.
-
36:48Yoga Flow: Root and Make Space
A grounded, well sequenced vinyasa yoga class with plenty of standing poses to energise and which focus on the upper body. Move mindfully between a range of postures for the the shoulders and back, making time to settle into the poses to cultivate release and spaciousness.
-
26:39Pilates for the Back
A back strengthening Pilates-based sequence; starting with gentle spine mobilisation then moving into spinal strength exercises. Pilates based movements are fantastic at creating postural balance and strength by working the entire body synergistically. This sequence works through the entire spine with a combination of flowing movements paired with strength exercises. You will need a block.
-
14:12Learn Safe Alignment
This is a crucial, in-depth yoga class for all of us to learn how to practice safely. It is especially good for those coming back into their yoga practice after injury of the ribs, shoulders, arms and hands. Learn how to practice in an integrated way, how to be balanced, and the correct orientation of the head and neck to the arms and torso. A really great yoga tutorial as well for all of us to learn correct arm, shoulder movements in poses like Eagle Pose.
-
29:04Gentle Yoga to Unwind
A gentle yoga class of floor based movements for when we're low on energy and needing a gentle boost. Keeping low to the ground, and with few poses which use wrists, this yoga class uses gravity to unwind the spine, open the chest and shoulder area, helping our heart centred energy to flow more freely. A perfect class if you're suffering from PMT or you're on your period. Many of our day to day movement patterns can create a rigidness to the spine and rib cage that negatively affects our respiration and levels of tension throughout the chest, shoulder and neck area. But by moving in a flowing and ‘softer’ way, working with gravity as opposed to against it, we can begin to release these areas of tightness to become more free in our body. This sequence of predominantly floor based Hatha Yoga asana will work to unravel the upper body, especially the chest area, to create increased synchronicity between the upper skeletal system, breath and ultimately the heart space. You may need a block and bolster.
-
32:38Protect & Recover 3: Healthy Spine
Perfect for recovering from illness or injury, or for those seeking more gentle variations to the usual yoga class. This yoga class can be done either standing or in a chair. This class helps to very gently mobilise and create a sense of awareness and balance through the back - the vertebra, ribcage, shoulders and arms and hands as they relate down into the hips, and up through the neck. The slow pace gently brings the spine into flexion, extension, side bending and twisting either in sitting position or through standing. You will need a chair.
-
44:25Backbend Toolkit
In this vinyasa yoga class, while we flow we solidify the fundamental principles behind back bends. We learn tips and tricks that support a back-bending practise which will help you take care and avoid injury when moving into backbends. Expect a heating, energising flow yoga class with practical tips that you can incorporate into all of your future yoga practise.
-
35:34Barre Energy Flow
Feel positive, optimistic and full of energy! This lively Barre class will boost your strength and your fire. This class is full of positivity and is a total body workout; expect to feel your thighs, glutes, abdominals, arms and calves. It is great for working towards building strength to avoiding injury in your other practises and every day life. This is a challenging workout to make you sweat and move your energy.
-
52:00Forrest-Inspired Yoga Foundations
This Forrest-inspired yoga class is for grounding and strengthening. Although all Forrest yoga classes are challenging, this class is perfect if you’re new to this style. This yoga class brings awareness to our foundations: our legs, hips and core. Expect a strong, centred practice that plays with some wobbly lunge and powerful pigeon variations. Class begins by building our inner strength with brahmari breath and deep abdominal exercises; preparing us to move through a warrior-based standing sequence. As we move through our grounded practice today, perhaps consider your relationship to earth - to the ground we walk on. What can we offer up to earth in this practice? What can we feel is being given back? You will need a blanket and a towel rolled up.
-
01:46:17Forrest Yoga Ceremony 2: Walkabout
Reason and intellect can only take us so far, there comes a time when we need to go Walkabout. Walkabout is an ancient ritual of the Australian Aborigines. This is the deliberate action of physically moving (using yoga poses) to release worries and distractions. . This Forrest Yoga class is a luxurious two hour backbend sequence that includes standing poses deliciously interwoven with therapeutic backbends, musical sun salutations, and some exciting apex poses. We culminate this ceremonial Forrest yoga class with a dreamy savasana, where José takes us on an internal journey through our own mystery.
-
28:09Work Break Yoga
A simple and practical toolkit of creative movement to remedy unhelpful sitting positions. It is especially good as a break from work, sitting on the sofa, and after travel to bring relief to tension headaches, sore necks and backs. This is a hatha style yoga class to stimulate your energy and cool your nerves and it contains loads of tips and tricks to use in any moment where you need to refresh, re-energise and relieve aches from being stationary for too long. You will need access to a wall.
-
24:39Move Gently to Reconnect with your Body
This session allows you to connect with your body and to explore gently and mindfully your range of movement following illness. When our bodies are fatigued, movement can feel demanding. This sequence focuses on stabilising the shoulders and finding space in the front and back of the body while feeling grounded and supported. Although we recommend you take very gentle movements when you’re not feeling great, please seek your doctor’s advice if you are in any doubt.
-
07:07All Trimesters: Shoulders & Spine
A wonderful, gentle pregnancy yoga class suitable for all trimesters which is designed to stretch out the shoulders and lower back. Expect a selection of simple poses which will help to open up the chest, shoulders and the back of the body. This is a short sequence you can do anytime when you feel you need to stretch out and release these areas of the body. You will need a wall and a chair.
-
08:00Easy Spine: 1
Stiff or painful back and shoulders? Maybe you’re wondering how to build movement into your daily life? Take this 4-part series with Leila and benefit from this easy to follow straightforward routine. Easy and effective pain relief and maintenance for those of you who are new to yoga, who are working with injuries or those with very limited time. Props: Yoga block or stack of books. Yoga belt or tie/scarf.
-
11:44Easy Spine 3
Stiff or painful back and shoulders? Take this simple daily sequence to add freedom and mobility to the spine. In practice 3, Leila builds on the flexes, twists and side stretches building on last week’s class to create a greater range of movement for the back, neck and shoulders. Easy and effective pain relief and maintenance for beginners, those with injuries or those with very limited time. Props: Yoga belt or tie/scarf.