Stress Relief Yoga
Teacher: Suzanne Deason
Location: A Hawaian beach.
Time: 20 minutes
Level: Beginner

This video has been designed to reduce the stress caused by the fast pace of modern living. Many of the poses have been modified to less extreme forms, so they do not cause muscle strain and also to be more accessible to beginners. Both goals are also addressed through the extensive use of props. The video has been divided into four sections, which should normally be performed in a single session. After a short introduction, Suzanne Deason takes us through a five minute standing pose sequence, before coming down to child's pose, cat and downward dog and some kneeling twists. These are followed by a set of seated leg stretches. The sequence is performed rapidly, with no long holds. Beginners may find this a little daunting at first but none of the postures are dfficult and once learned, the sequence flows as vinyasa.

Three quarters of the way through the video, Suzanne Deason takes us to our backs with leg stretches, spinal twists and bridge pose; followed by supported bridge pose, with a brick under the pelvis. The sequence is completed with relaxation in corpse. All the postures are beautifully performed on the beach, just metres from the water line. The tranquility of the ocean backdrop enhances the feeling of relaxation developed by the postures. Props, which include a brick, a belt and a bolster, make the positions easier to achieve and in many cases, allow us to relax more into them. There is a separate section in the studio on the correct use of props, including a ten minute "restorative practise".

The need to compress a relaxing yoga routine into twenty minutes has resulted in some compromises and some may find the rapid changes between poses to be less relaxing than they had hoped. On the other hand, once learned the moves are easily performed and accessible to beginners, for whom Suzanne Deason suggests: "My advice for someone just starting yoga would be not to have an agenda. To become clear that it's not about having a goal, that it's really about becoming quiet with yourself and see where it takes you". If you need to fit a relaxing yoga routine into a busy schedule, then consider finding out where this video takes you.

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