Yoga has never been more popular and chances are you have heard of some of the latest yoga crazes going around at the moment… there’s yoga on a stand up paddle board (SUP), antigravity yoga which offers yoga as you hang suspended from the ceiling or even trampoline yoga as you bounce your way from pose to pose.

But if you are finding it hard to leave the house to make it to your favourite yoga class than we have found the answer… personal yoga. Yes yoga at home! This new form of yoga is taking off in Sydney and is surprisingly, one of the oldest forms of yoga. You see, before mass yoga classes packed with lycra-clad yogis, yoga in India was traditionally taught in a one-on-one environment with careful attention paid to the individual.

And this care and attention is making a comeback thanks to personal yoga at home, meaning you can practise in your lounge room, in your backyard or even your local park. And leading the way bringing yoga to you ‘anytime, anywhere ‘is Simone Skinner-Smith from The Mobile Yogi.

Thanks to her sky blue vespa scooter called  ‘Bluey’ The Mobile Yogi travels around Sydney instructing busy mums, dads and yogis of all levels and abilities in the comfort and convenience of their own home. Yes, yoga at home! Sound good? We think so too and it means the hubby or the kids can even join in too, making it a full family yoga class.

Yoga at home means you still get the full yoga class experience plus a yoga session specifically tailored to your needs or interests (60mins meditation please!), because this yoga class is all about you.

And the more yoga at home you can do, the better! So the next time you have a spare 5 minutes, here are a few of The Mobile Yogi’s top poses that you can easily do at home yourself.

LEGS UP THE WALL

This pose is also called viparita kirani or ‘fountain of youth’. Need we say more?! It is an energising pose, especially if you have been on your feet all day.

To enter the pose, come and sit next to a wall, and then pivot your legs up the wall as you lay your back and head down on the floor. Shuffle the hips in nice and close and extend the legs up the wall, keeping the feet together. You can rest the hands on the belly, beside the body or over the head. And for an added hamstring and calf muscle stretch, flex the toes back to the face. This pose can be held for as long as you like. We recommend a few minutes to start with.

HALF DOWNWARD FACING DOG

If you are looking to stretch out the back and legs and even warm up for a yoga class or the start of a busy day, this pose is ideal. Using the wall, walk up to the wall placing your palms against the wall at elbow height and shoulder width apart. Then start to walk the legs away from the wall, pressing the hands into the wall so you come into an ‘L’ shape with the body. Keep the feet hipwidth apart and the crown of the heading drawing towards the wall. Bend the knees slightly to release the lower back as you draw your hips away from the wall. You can hold this pose for a few breaths and is great preparation for coming into the full downward dog position.

CHILDS POSE

Just need a quick time out? Childs pose is a wonderfully relaxing pose that allows you to draw inwards for just a short time to collect your thoughts and sometimes you sanity if you are feeling anxious or flustered! Come to kneel on the floor and then gently lower the forehead to the ground, bringing the arms beside the body, palms facing up. Bend into the elbows and allow them to rest on the floor beside the body as your neck and shoulders release forward, letting go of any tension. Childs pose stretches out the back of the body and is a lovely restorative pose you could hold for a few breaths to a few minutes!