Gentle Yoga
All the videos in this section have been hand picked for those who are looking for something really accessible. Whether your feel like your body is stiff, sore, old or tired, there is something for you here including seated yoga. We also recommend checking out our Yin and Restorative Section for more slower paced options.
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04:39Hot Flush Remedy
A simple visualisation exercise to help to manage hot flushes often associated with the menopause. This yoga class is one simple pose, breathing deeply whilst lying in a constructive rest position. You can do this any time when experiencing uncomfortable feelings of heat. Expect a short demonstration of Petra’s Hot Flush Wave, with Ocean breathing and 3-part breath. If you practice this daily to reduce stress, you will also develop the simple skills for managing hot flushes, as you learn to allow the heat to flow calmly through you, rather than resisting it.
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50:03Menopause 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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04:57Waiting for the Kettle to Boil
A short practice designed to do next to your counter top while you wait for the kettle to boil (or a great short class to step away from your desk). We'll do chair pose, quad and hip/glute stretches as well as some deep breaths. A great way to use the time before your cuppa to feel better, stronger and more at peace.
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05:43Five Minute Stress Buster
Just sit down on the floor wherever you are (your office, your kitchen floor, a waiting room or even an airport!) and de-stress for five minutes. You'll be surprised the difference you can feel with very simple breath work, side stretches, twists and deep, relaxing breaths.
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35:49Yoga for Osteopenia
This is a brief yoga tutorial of some of the ways you can use a chair to modify your yoga practice if you have osteopenia (weakened bones) which can affect women as they go through the menopause. If you have osteoporosis, you must always consult your GP before practising yoga, and ask your osteopath or physiotherapist which range of movement is suitable for your body.
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09:20Your Daily Feet Practice
This short movement class helps to mobilise, strengthen, and relax the feet and ankles through their full range of motion. 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 massage ball or tennis ball.
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41:44Restorative Yoga for Pregnancy
Support and soothe your pregnant body with this peaceful restorative pregnancy yoga class. Find deep rest with relaxing and nourishing postures (supported sukhasana, legs up the wall, supported twist, reclining savasana). With restorative yoga, less is more. Spending extended time in each posture carries lots of physiological benefits. Beyond the physical, we can use the stillness as an opportunity to really be present with baby. You will need a bolster, yoga bricks if you have them, and access to a wall.
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15:21Breath Work: Break Down and Breakthrough
A breath break down/breakthrough. This yoga class is a breath work tutorial to feel the breath and discover more about how we breathe. It is semi meditation and semi instructional, with practical tips which could change your life by helping control anxiety or simply staying calm and present. It could be done sitting on a chair or on the floor, at work, at home, or wherever you find yourself today. A great class for breathing and feeling, to ground and to be in the present moment.
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17:51Your 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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01:00:23Your Difficult Emotions Practice
A beautiful hatha yoga class to give you permission to feel all the things you're feeling, along with a safe space to process difficult or strong emotions. This class begins with a meditation and a breath-oriented slow yoga flow bringing space and warmth all around your heart along with many opportunities for self-soothing and embrace. Then we will take advantage of this compassionate environment and allow plenty of time for rest, processing, and healing in a few restorative shapes. You will need a strap, bolster, a blanket, and a couple bricks, although you can improvise with whatever you have at home.
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22:41Restorative Yoga for Gut Health: Find Calm
Taking a moment in our busy lives to find calm and be present with ourselves is so important for overall health and wellbeing. In this calming and restorative class Gabriella guides us through a self-massage and breath practice to help relax the abdominal area and deepen our ability to listen to our bodies. Props: one bolster, two blankets and one block
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01:13:18Yoga for Pelvic Floor Health
This yoga class brings awareness to the pelvic floor and lower body through breath, gentle movement and deep relaxation. Starting with a long relaxation, we then bring gentle movement to the body, practicing yoga poses to bring tone and range of movement to the pelvic floor. Class ends with a guided lower body relaxation. Pelvic Floor health is essential as we transition into Perimenopause and Menopause. As our levels of oestrogen begin to fluctuate, this can have an effect on the tone and elasticity of the pelvic floor. Increased levels of stress and anxiety during this time can also lead to hypertonic or overactive pelvic floor muscles caused from too much tension or tightening of the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor muscles can also be weak or hypotonic meaning the muscles are not providing enough support for the bowels, bladder, and uterus. You will need a bolster, blankets, two cork bricks (if you have them, or books), a belt, sandbag or weights (optional).
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35:11Morning Yoga for Vitality
This morning yoga class class takes its inspiration from the natural vitality, creativity and growth of nature. Start with legs up the wall, and relaxing, nourishing, gentle poses. When we start the morning feeling fully rested we are able to give so much more to the day! After the relaxing start, expect lots of balancing poses including tree and warrior three. You will need to use a clear wall.
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35:41Your 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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39:28Love 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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37:53Yoga for Osteoporosis & Osteopenia
Osteoporosis is said to affect over 3 million people in the UK (NHS). This condition (and it’s younger sister osteopenia) affects the density of the bones and so their strength, resilience and support. In this video, Lucy & Ben explain in clear and simple terms what proactive measures can be taken to reduce the risks of developing these conditions. They explore how to work within certain parameters to help should you have a reduced bone density and finally offer a better understanding of opportunities to maintain the health of the bones. Remember, many people only learn of any weakness in their bones when they have suffered a fracture. As we age it’s vitally important that we protect the strength of our bones and respect the role they have in our health and mobility. Prevention really is key here, watch this video to find out how and why! 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.
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24:16Yin Yoga: Quickly Find Calm
The practice of tuning in to go outwards in the world is crucial to the practice of yoga. This very simple Yin yoga class helps you to move inward to then move outward into the world with clarity and calm. You do not need lots of time or effort to go inwards in order to feel the effect in a potent way. You will need a block and a blanket.
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08:04Three Yoga Poses to Support Digestion
It might not be easy to find time to move our bodies or practice a yoga flow in our busy lives, but it is important to aid our bodies and help support our digestive system throughout the day. In this quick yoga class, Gabriella will guide you through her top three poses which can help support our digestive systems along with a diaphragmatic breath technique to help create calm. These will only take a few minutes and can all be done at your desk!