Salabhasana (Sanskrit for Locust) is a short, intense posture, done first lifting one leg, then the other and, finally, both legs together. It's part of the spine-strengthening sequence of a Bikram class, designed to work each part of your spine independently.Salabhasana: Step by...

Before we get down to the serious yoga business, let's get something out of the way. Translated into English from Sanskrit, Pavanamuktasana means ‘wind removing’. Cue sniggering, giggling and snorts of laughter from the back row.Whilst it’s indeed designed to remove wind, I’ve ye...

The eleventh pose of the Bikram yoga series, Tadasana or Tree marks the end of the standing series. Yes, you finally get to lie down after this one.Like all Bikram postures, Tadasana is repeated twice. As with Standing Head to Knee pose, the second set can be developed further, b...

As we mentioned in our previous blog, the second set of Tree is actually a different pose altogether, but you pick up the posture where you left off with Tree. Toe Stand (Padangustasana in Sanskrit- you really should be fluent by now) requires patience, concentration and a strong...

If there was ever a pose to focus the mind of a runner, Tuladandasana (or balancing stick pose) is it. With four ten-second bursts of pulse-racing intensity, the pose often feels like 90 per cent mind : 10 per cent matter. Like most yoga postures, this pose requires a strong core...

If you've harboured secret desires of having the flexibility and grace of a ballet dancer, you'll love Dandayamana Dhanurasana.Even if you're just looking for a more flexible lower back or an end to back pain, you'll love the sixth pose in the Bikram sequence, also known as Stand...

Welcome to posture three of the 26 postures in the Bikram yoga series. This blog is brought to you from the sunny surroundings of South Beach, Miami, where your intrepid reporter is researching Bikram as practised over the pond and running up and down the beach in 84 degree heat....

Our first two blog posts introduced Bikram yoga, and now we're getting into the nitty-gritty of how the 26 specific postures in the Bikram sequence can improve your running performance.Practising yoga in the heat brings huge benefits, but the flipside of the 104 degrees farenheit...

No, I can't pronounce it either. So let's call this posture by its equally catchy English name: Standing Head To Knee Pose. This pose is the first pose after the warm up; and introduces the standing and balancing series of the 90-minute class.I can't really compete with Kerry's l...

Alexandra Rees is a qualified sport and exercise scientist, ex-club runner and Bikram yoga devotee of six years, who can now touch her toes with sickening ease.Like Kerry McCarthy, who in our first blog admitted that he thought yoga was solely