Mike's Yoga Podcast

A meditative session of asana with pranayamic breathing. You need to be familiar with the poses before this session - if you're a complete beginner, go to one of my other sessions. We worked through a minimal sequence of long-held poses, including trikonasana and adhu mukha svanasana, a m virasana, janu sirsasana, viloma pranayama 1 in swatikasana, viloma 2 in supta baddhakonasana, viparita karanhi, sirvasana. √

A deeply energising session of leg stretches that help elevate your spirits. We worked through trikonasana, parsvottanasana, uttanasana, supta baddha konasana, half bekhasana, parsva swastikasana, viparita karahni, sirvasana.

A sequence of simple yoga poses that explores the concept of lighter extension, coming from an effort to take your foot off the gas a little - not becoming jelly-like, but finding a space that draws us towards effortless effort. We worked through a range of limbering poses, then paryankasana variation, rajakapotasana, supta baddha konasana, setubandha, sirvasana. As with all online recorded sessions, you practice these sessions at your own risk. If you have any health conditions or injuries, you should consult your GP before commencing any programme of exercise. These sessions are taught to a group who are well practised in the basics of the asanas, so we don't cover the real basics of each pose. If you haven't practised yoga before in the past, these sessions might not be for you. Injuries and health conditions do not exclude you from practising yoga, but it's advisable to attend live sessions so that whoever is teaching you can accommodate your specific [requirements. If you would like to join in with our morning and afternoon classes, check out the details at MikesYogaPodcast.com.

A deeply calming session of forward bends that bring a genuine tranquility to body and mind. We worked through baddangulyasana, padangusthasana, padahastasana, malasana, marichyasana 3, supta baddhakonasana, sirvasana. As with all online recorded sessions, you practice these sessions at your own risk. If you have any health conditions or injuries, you should consult your GP before commencing any programme of exercise. These sessions are taught to a group who are well practised in the basics of the asanas, so we don't cover the real basics of each pose. If you haven't practised yoga before in the past, these sessions might not be for you. Injuries and health conditions do not exclude you from practising yoga, but it's advisable to attend live sessions so that whoever is teaching you can accommodate your specific [requirements. If you would like to join in with our morning and afternoon classes, check out the details at OnlineYogaWithMike.co.uk

A deeply energising session exploring the breath - drawing the energy of the breath into the skin and into the limbs. A series of long-held asanas. We worked through vrksasana, trikonasana, uttanasana, supta baddha konasana, supta padanguthasana 1 & 2, a m virasana, parva swastikasana, viparita karanhi, sirvasana. As with all online recorded sessions, you practice these sessions at your own risk. If you have any health conditions or injuries, you should consult your GP before commencing any programme of exercise. These sessions are taught to a group who are well practised in the basics of the asanas, so we don't cover the real basics of each pose. If you haven't practised yoga before in the past, these sessions might not be for you. Injuries and health conditions do not exclude you from practising yoga, but it's advisable to attend live sessions so that whoever is teaching you can accommodate your specific [requirements. If you would like to join in with our morning and afternoon classes, check out the details at MikesYogaPodcast.com.

A calming session of poses that fill you with positive energy for your day. We worked through gomukhasana, baddangulyasana, trikonasana, a m svanasana, a m virasana, janu sirsasana, supta baddhakonasana, yin frog pose, bhujangasana, a m virasana, parsva swastikasana, sirvasana.

A calming session of standing and seated forward bends to bring quietness to the mind while promoting liver and kidney function.

This energising session incorporates lots of forward bending for improved liver and kidney function. Be aware that forward bending can be detrimental for some back problems, especially middle and upper back issues. However, you can still benefit from these poses at the intermediate stage. We worked through trikonasana, prasarita padottanasana, paschimottanasana, janu sirsasana, bhardvajasana 1, viparita karanhi, and sirvasana. √

This session brings together the actions of the week to release the spine, but not without a bit of focused concentration on the legs and the front chest. Through uttanasana, we aimed to bring length into the front chest. Then into parsvottanasana, we moved into the pose incrementally - stopping when things were going wrong, and developing an awareness of how to correct them. We then worked through baddangulyasana, prasarita padottanasana, urdhva hastasana, a m svanasana, a m virasana, parsva swastikasana, supta baddhakonasana, and finishing with a restorative surfboard pose.

This deeply energising session explores the power of the breath to still the mind and bring lightness to yogasana. We worked through trikonasana, paschima namaskarasana, parvottanasana, baddangulyasana, a m svanasana, supta baddhakonasana, breathing with the bandhas, parsva swastikasana, setubandha, sirvasana.

An energising session exploring the positive energy to be generated through shoulder openers; starting and ending with supta baddhakonasana. Working through a m swastikasana, cat/cow, a m svanasana, uttansana, badangulyasana, paschima namaskarasana, gomukhasana, trikonasana, uttanasana, a m virasana, threading the needle, a m svanasana, dandasana into paschimottanasana, baddhakonasana, parsva swastikasana, supta baddakonasana, sirvasana.

A grounding session exploring footmindedness in context with the standing poses. We worked with tadasana (defining train tracks on the underside of the feet), into trikonasana, Virabhasdrasana 2, a m svanasana, parsva virasana, a m virasana, supta baddhakonasana, setubanda, sirvasana.

A lovely session of hip openers, from trikonasana and malasana to the supta pandaguthasana sequence (with a focus on lumbar support).

An energising stretch for a Monday morning. Opening the side ribs to activate our positive energy for the day. We worked through trikonasana, Virabhadrasana 2, Urdhva Hastasana, dog down/dog up, paravrtta janu sirsasana, a little breathing with the bandhas, and setubandha. Thanks for tuning into Mike's Yoga Podcast. Over the past year and a half, I've been running yoga classes over Zoom to a live group. These are hour-long sessions, and the podcast from now on will mainly be the recordings of those sessions. To join live, go to mikesyogapodcast.com and click on the link. Simple. If you have any health issues or injuries, it's better to join a live class than use recordings, so do join in if you can. I'm releasing video sessions periodically on my YouTube channel, so give those a go as well - just search for MikesYogaPodcast on YouTube. Because these sessions are recorded live on Zoom, the audio quality isn't always as brilliant as normal. But I hope you still love participating in these podcasts. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. You should be in good health - that doesn't mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, I'd love it if you gave us a review and a star-score. Thanks. For more info and to join in for live, online classes, go to mikesyogapodcast.com Have a great session.

A gentle set of extensions that work to open up your energy. Incorporating gomukhasana, supta baddha konasana, upavistha konasana, and setu bandha to bring light and life into our bodies. Thanks for tuning into Mike's Yoga Podcast. Over the past year and a half, I've been running yoga classes over Zoom to a live group. These are hour-long sessions, and the podcast from now on will mainly be the recordings of those sessions. To join live, go to mikesyogapodcast.com and click on the link. Simple. If you have any health issues or injuries, it's better to join a live class than use recordings, so do join in if you can. I'm releasing video sessions periodically on my YouTube channel, so give those a go as well - just search for MikesYogaPodcast on YouTube. Because these sessions are recorded live on Zoom, the audio quality isn't always as brilliant as normal. But I hope you still love participating in these podcasts. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. You should be in good health - that doesn't mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, I'd love it if you gave us a review and a star-score. Thanks. For more info and to join in for live, online classes, go to mikesyogapodcast.com Have a great session.

This session focuses on releasing energy by stretching out the anterior body - the front muscles. We worked through Virabhadrasana 1 - finding that stretch at the front of the back leg; baddangulyasana, a m svanasana, paryankasana variation, a m svanasana, breathwork with bandhas, setubanda, sirvasana. Thanks for tuning into Mike's Yoga Podcast. Over the past year and a half, I've been running yoga classes over Zoom to a live group. These are hour-long sessions, and the podcast from now on will mainly be the recordings of those sessions. To join live, go to mikesyogapodcast.com and click on the link. Simple. If you have any health issues or injuries, it's better to join a live class than use recordings, so do join in if you can. I'm releasing video sessions periodically on my YouTube channel, so give those a go as well - just search for MikesYogaPodcast on YouTube. Because these sessions are recorded live on Zoom, the audio quality isn't always as brilliant as normal. But I hope you still love participating in these podcasts. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. You should be in good health - that doesn't mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, I'd love it if you gave us a review and a star-score. Thanks. For more info and to join in for live, online classes, go to mikesyogapodcast.com Have a great session.

An energising session exploring the cause and effect of action and reaction. Finding how the energy of one pose propels the next. A simple sequence including parsvottanasana, prasarita padottanasana (activating the outer thighs for lightness in the legs), supta baddhakonasana, parsva swastikasana, and sirvasana. Thanks for tuning into Mike's Yoga Podcast. Over the past year and a half, I've been running yoga classes over Zoom to a live group. These are hour-long sessions, and the podcast from now on will mainly be the recordings of those sessions. To join live, go to mikesyogapodcast.com and click on the link. Simple. If you have any health issues or injuries, it's better to join a live class than use recordings, so do join in if you can. I'm releasing video sessions periodically on my YouTube channel, so give those a go as well - just search for MikesYogaPodcast on YouTube. Because these sessions are recorded live on Zoom, the audio quality isn't always as brilliant as normal. But I hope you still love participating in these podcasts. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. You should be in good health - that doesn't mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, I'd love it if you gave us a review and a star-score. Thanks. For more info and to join in for live, online classes, go to mikesyogapodcast.com Have a great session.

Thanks for tuning into Mike's Yoga Podcast. Over the past year and a half, I've been running yoga classes over Zoom to a live group. These are hour-long sessions, and the podcast from now on will mainly be the recordings of those sessions. To join live, go to mikesyogapodcast.com and click on the link. Simple. If you have any health issues or injuries, it's better to join a live class than use recordings, so do join in if you can. I'm releasing video sessions periodically on my YouTube channel, so give those a go as well - just search for MikesYogaPodcast on YouTube. Because these sessions are recorded live on Zoom, the audio quality isn't always as brilliant as normal. But I hope you still love participating in these podcasts. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. You should be in good health - that doesn't mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, I'd love it if you gave us a review and a star-score. Thanks. For more info and to join in for live, online classes, go to mikesyogapodcast.com Have a great session.

Practicing gratitude has been proven by research to improve mood, wellbeing, and help you through times of sadness. Practice this meditation in bed before you get up each morning or at any time during the day where you feel that your mood is dipping.

Thanks for tuning into Mike’s Yoga Podcast. Today, we’re working on thighs and knees - connecting with them to provide access to the spine in the standing and seated poses. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. You should be in good health - that doesn’t mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, I’d love it if you gave us a review and a star-score. Thanks. For more info and to join in for live, online classes, go to mikesyogapodcast.com

Thanks for tuning into Mike’s Yoga Podcast. Today, we’re working on forward-bending poses. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in standing and seated forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back, or use a belt around your foot to avoid coming forwards too far. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. You should be in good health - that doesn’t mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, I’d love it if you gave us a review and a star-score. Thanks. For more info, go to mikesyogapodcast.com

Thanks for tuning into Mike’s Yoga Podcast. Today, we’re working on shins - connecting with them and bringing them into action during the standing poses. This action can help with forward bending seated postures also. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in standing forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. We’re practicing Tadasana, Am svanasana, VII, and baddhakonasana. You should be in good health - that doesn’t mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, I’d love it if you gave us a review and a star-score. Thanks. For more info, go to mikesyogapodcast.com

Thanks for tuning into Mike’s Yoga Podcast. Today, we’re working on opening the backs of the thighs and bringing flexibility into the hips. You’ll need two yoga bricks to help you find the required action. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. You can bring your hands onto a wall or a windowsill in uttanasana to prevent overworking a sensitive back. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. We’re practicing AM Svanasana, half uttanasana, and the cat/cow stretchs. You should be in good health - that doesn’t mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. For more information or to read our blog, go to mikesyogapodcast.com

Thanks for tuning into Mike’s Yoga Podcast. Today, we’re going to work towards an action within the upper thighs that help you come forward in forward bending poses. You’ll need a brick and possibly a belt to help you find the required action. If you have a bad back, you should practice caution in forward bending; avoiding coming forward too far. Nonetheless, you can still benefit from forward bends, even if you keep the torso at a right angle to the floor. Additionally, you might need an additional block or brick to support the bent knee in janu sirsasana. We’re practicing utt trikonasana, a variation of p. padatonasana, and janu sirsasana. You should be in good health - that doesn’t mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. For more info, go to mikesyogapodcast.com

Thanks for tuning into Mike’s Yoga Podcast. Today, we’re going to focus on the breath - the rising action of the in-breath and and falling action of the out-breath. We’ll be doing A.M Virasana (the forward extension), AM Svanasasa (dog-down), uttanasana (standing forward bend), trikonasana (the triangle pose) and prasarita padottonasana (wide-legged pose). When we focus on breath activity, it has a calming effect on the brain. Breath work can temporarily slow down your reactions, so be aware that your responses may be a little slower than usual for a short while after the session. So if you’re going to jump into a car and drive, for example, or have to operate machinery, give yourself fifteen minutes to aclimatise before you do. You should be in good health - that doesn’t mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. If you have high or low blood pressure, breath work can be quite strenuous. If you feel dizzy, just practice the poses as we go through them with normal breath. For more information and to read my blog, go to mikesyogapodcast.com

Thanks for tuning into Mike’s Yoga Podcast. Today, we’re going to look at the Tree Pose (aka Vrksasana). We’re going to explore the stability of the standing leg by focusing attention towards the heel of the standing foot. We’re also going to do Prasarita Paddotanasana - the wide-legged forward extension. You might need some blocks for underneath the hands if you can’t reach the floor: the aim is to keep your legs and your back straight in this pose. You should be in good health - that doesn’t mean that you need to be flexible: that comes with time. Consult your doctor before you practice if you have any health concerns. For more information and to read my blog, go to mikesyogapodcast.com

We’re going to be doing a short practice that focuses on the turn of the upper thigh in Uttitha Trikonasana. This leg technique and the foot placement is appropriate for many of the standing poses including VII (bent-legged warrior pose), U. Parsvakonnasana, Parighasana, and Ardha Chandrasana. Try the same technique in those poses for a firmer leg-foundation. This practice is for everyone, but you should be in good health - that doesn’t mean you have to be flexible - that comes with time. Please consult your doctor before you start your practice if you have any health concerns. For more information or to get in touch, please visit mikesyogapodcast.com

Mike Heath is a qualified yoga teacher with over 10 years of teaching experience. He teaches in Manchester, England, but now you can join in from wherever you are. You'll need a yoga mat and bare feet for this class. Wear some comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. * If you have any back problems, you should be particularly cautious when coming into Uttanasana: the standing forward bend. Use a wall or a window-sill for your hands rather than bringing the upper body all the way down into the floor. If you have health concerns, consult your doctor before taking this class. If you're pregnant, please don't do these classes: please find a specific pregnancy yoga class with a qualified instructor. For more information, please go to mikesyogapodcast.com