Picture this: you have one knee bent, an arm reaching around it and the other hand somewhere behind your back. Then comes the instruction to turn your chest. Hang on… which way?

Some yoga poses can feel like a puzzle. You can see the shape, but working out how to get there is another matter. That moment of curiosity is what I want us to explore at Spooky Yoga Lab – Curious Shapes and Twists, on Saturday 31 October.

For this Halloween edition, we’ll play with twists, binds and balances that ask us to pay attention in a different way. There will be time to investigate, ask questions and try again. And yes, probably a few moments when we look at each other and laugh.

A bind is a connection made by wrapping an arm around part of the body, perhaps reaching the other arm behind the back to meet it. It can look wonderfully intricate, but the interesting part starts well before the hands touch. Where is your weight? Can your shoulder move comfortably? Is there room to turn and still breathe?

We’ll explore those questions together, using straps to bridge the distance where useful. Sometimes a small change in your starting position makes a shape feel much more accessible. Sometimes releasing the bind gives you more freedom to explore the twist. Learning to recognise that is part of the practice.

One of our main explorations will be Marichyasana C, a seated twist with one knee bent. There is plenty to discover here: how we sit, where we place the foot, how the arms support the shape and what happens when we introduce a bind. We’ll build it gradually so you can feel what each step contributes.

Then we’ll explore the pathway towards Bird of Paradise. This pose begins close to the ground, with a bind around the front leg, before moving towards a standing balance. The transition can be quite a puzzle in itself! We’ll investigate the preparation, with options to stay low, rise with a bent knee or explore further if it feels appropriate.

There is no requirement to reach the final shape. You might discover a useful preparation, understand an instruction that has always puzzled you, or find a variation you actually enjoy. Those discoveries are things you can bring into your regular classes, long after Halloween.

I also want to make room for the pleasure of learning together. In a flowing class, there isn’t always time to pause and say, “Wait, how did you do that?” A Yoga Lab gives us that space. We can observe, exchange ideas and realise that the person on the next mat may be working through exactly the same question.

We’ll finish by unwinding and settling into relaxation. After all that curiosity and coordination, there will be time simply to rest.

If twists and binds have ever left you intrigued, confused or convinced your arms aren’t long enough, come and explore with me. Bring your questions, your sense of humour and a willingness to see what happens.

Spooky Yoga Lab – Curious Shapes and Twists
Saturday 31 October 2026, 4–6pm
W G Grace Community Hall, Grove Park

Book your place: https://app.ubindi.com/Geny.Caloisi