Forrest 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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50:23Fun 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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29:38New Mums Series (3) Energise Me
An energising yoga class, perfect to start your day. This class features sun salutations to stretch out, core work to find your inner and outer strength for the day and plenty of twists. Perfect for post-natal recovery and all of us looking to strengthen and energise! You will need a block and a strap.
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22:26New Mums Series (2): Motivate Me
Get motivated with this yoga class, ideal for mornings, which focuses on the core, upper body and legs with breathwork, core work and standing poses. You'll feel stronger, happier and more motivated. Ideal for post-natal strength or for any of us who like to feel motivated and stronger. You'll need a block and access to a clear wall for shoulder opening variations.
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26:00New Mums Series (1) Nourish Me
A yoga class in the Forrest yoga style to open the shoulders and the upper back whilst strengthening the core. Feel your heart opening as your upper back opens. Starting with shoulder openers, then shoulder opening child's pose variation, abdominal strengthening and backbends. This class is perfect for those of us who need an antidote to time at a desk, or have stiff shoulders and upper back, and wonderful for new mums too. You will need two blocks.
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39:40Forrest Yoga Back Strengthener
Tense or achey back? Flush your back with goodness with this twisting bending class, while all the time building up a firm, strong core. You will need a roll, block and strap.
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39:51Vibrant Heart
A sequence to open the upper back and shoulders. Find space, find stability and open your heart in this vibrant Forrest yoga class. With a focus on keeping backbends safe, long and strong and opening the upper back and shoulders. As you would expect from a Forrest yoga class, with a focus on the abs, but with some fabulous modifications to backbends to show how they can be performed gently and safely. You will need a block, a strap and a blanket.
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35:54Slow Flow for Lower Back
A forrest-inspired yoga class which slowly flows to stengthen and lengthen the lower back by firing up the core and lengthen through back bends. You will need an extra, rolled up yoga mat and a block.
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36:17Slow Flow for Shoulders
A forrest-insprired yoga class with special emphasis on unwinding the neck, shoulders and upper-back, areas which plague most of us who spend too much time looking at computers, or for the stressed-amongst us, who carry stress in the shoulders and upper-back. A deeeply stress-relieving class, be ready to be unwound as you slow flow! You may need a strap, you will need an extra, rolled up yoga mat.
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05:14Tutorial: Unlocking the Shoulders
This short tutorial shows us in detail the action which is required by the instruction 'unlock the shoulders', a common Forrest yoga instruction. This is also a really useful exercise for those of us with tight shoulders.
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31:49Get Up, Get Strong
This leg and shoulder strengthening class is ideal for those who want to go upside down, or for those who love to feel a fiery practice. Great for getting you up and moving in the morning, this class is to be practiced by a wall. You will need a block and a strap.
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32:26Strength for Upside Downs
Enjoy this shoulder strengthening class by the wall to hone your inversion skills. You will need to be near a wall. A great strengthener to prepare for forearm balance as well as handstands.
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01:32:03Forrest Yoga for Strength and Flexibility
This live class is the ultimate antidote to modern life. With a strong focus on breath-work and with plenty of core as it's focus, this class is ideal for building strength, lower back stability, releasing tight shoulders and neck as well as gently building flexibility. You will need a rolled up mat, or a cushion as well as a block. As well as a sense of humour for strong abdominal work. This class is a toughie, but well worth it!
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06:36Quick Neck Release
The neck holds so much unnecessary tension. This short tutorial class gives you essental tools to deal with daily tension which accumulate in the neck and upper shoulders. The class releases the neck, upper trapezius, helps release the jaw, elbows and wrists and allows greater bloodflow to the brain. No need to be on a yoga mat, do this class everywhere and anywhere, every day and feel the tension slip away.
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24:59More Core Less Time
Although Forrest yoga always has a core focus, this class is a short core boost. Suitable for all levels, although you will certainly challenge yourself, beginners and improvers should stay with their own level. A great yoga class for when energy needs a bit of a boost or for when you need to feel stronger from the inside. You will need a rolled up mat, or a cushion can be used.
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01:05:17Live Forrest Yoga
Forrest Yoga Class filmed live with a focus on the shoulders. A fantastic intermediate-level Forrest class to strengthen the shoulders and core and release the neck. You will need a block.