The 28-Day Perfect Wheel Challenge
My step-by-step program to help you perfect your wheel pose in the next 28 days!
Before you get started there is something I NEED you to do and I promise you won’t regret it!
I need you to set up your phone and film/photograph your current wheel. I want you to do a very quick warm up:
• 30 seconds jog on the spot
• 3 x cat/cow
• 5 x body weight squats
• 5 x lifting hips into bridge
• Low lunge stretch with arms reaching overhead – 20 seconds each side
• Downward dog stretch – 30 seconds
Then move into your current version of Wheel and snap a pic! You will absolutely LOVE looking back on this as your backbend progresses and will be such an easy way to see how far you’ve come.
Go do it NOW, then come back to explore the rest of the challenge!
Day One
Day 1 of the 'Perfect Wheel' Challenge is to complete the 8-part workshop!
You can watch these 8 videos back-to-back, or break it down and complete them over a couple of days before continuing with the challenge if you prefer!
Day 2
Tight Hip Flexor Flow
Target those tight hip flexors with this 20 minute intermediate yoga class.
Day 3
Ease Into Backbends
Energise your day by expanding into the front of the body with some not-too-intense backbends, opening the chest, hips and shoulders and giving our nervous system an awakening boost!
Day 4
Wall Work Class One
This is a drills based class, that means it’s not a flow sequence, but a series of movements, exercises and specific skills to practice to help us work on the elements we need for wheel pose that we don’t really find in a vinyasa sequence.
We will be using a wall space for this class (doesn’t need to be large) as well as 2 yoga blocks.
This might be the type of class you will enjoy to film yourself doing, in order to look back on over the course of the challenge to observe any changes!
Day 5
A Little Bit Of Everything
All all-round practice to open into the shoulders, hips and legs with some interesting balances to give a try!
Day 6
Mood Boosting Backbends
Open up the front of the body and boost those endorphins with this back-bending sequence.
Day
7
Open Your Upper Back
This is the kinda class you need to find more freedom in your shoulders and spine as we focus of opening up the thoracic spine.
Day 8
Wall Work Class One
This is a drills based class, that means it’s not a flow sequence, but a series of movements, exercises and specific skills to practice to help us work on the elements we need for wheel pose that we don’t really find in a vinyasa sequence.
We will be using a wall space for this class (doesn’t need to be large) as well as 2 yoga blocks.
Day 9
Supple Shoulders: Mobility Training
This class is full of drills to improve your shoulder flexibility and stability, to give you strong, supple shoulders.
Day 10
Gentle Morning Yoga
Awaken the body with this gentle 20 minute morning yoga class, stretching out and waking up the entire body.
Day 11
Spinal Mobility
Give your spine some love with twists, side bends, strength building and finding flexibility to work on wheel pose.
Day 12
Done at Your Desk: Day 5
In this class you'll find neck stretches, upper back and shoulder openers and dynamic moves to work into the hips, hamstrings and glutes.
Day 13
Choose from either Wall Work Class 1 or Wall Work Work Class 2. There is no rush to progress to Class 2 if you don't feel ready.
Day 13
Wall Work Class One
This is a drills based class, that means it’s not a flow sequence, but a series of movements, exercises and specific skills to practice to help us work on the elements we need for wheel pose that we don’t really find in a vinyasa sequence.
We will be using a wall space for this class (doesn’t need to be large) as well as 2 yoga blocks.
Wall Work Class Two
This is your second drills class which explores some similar ideas as Wall Work One with progressions, some additional drills to try as well as looking at the elements we need to learn to drop into wheel from standing!
If you would like to keep working with Wall Work Class One instead then please do so! You can always return to this class in the future when you feel more ready.
You will need your wall space, 2 blocks and maybe also a strap for this one.
Day 14
Gentle Shoulder Mobility
This class focuses on finding space in the shoulders and upper back, working on mobility through internal and external rotation, as well as flexion and extension in the thoracic spine and shoulder joint.
Day 15
Strengthen Your Wheel
What helps our Wheel pose feel better? Strong bums, strong arms, flexible hips and open shoulders. So expect lots of strong standing postures, some juicy kneeling stretches and even some arm balance practice before taking it up into Wheel, and maybe even One Leg Wheel too.
Day 16
Intermediate Yoga for Shoulders
Tight shoulders holding you back? I gotcha covered.
Day 17
Happy Hamstrings
This class is all about the hamstrings! Strong hamstrings help lift those hips up in wheel, so it's important we don't overlook them!
Day 18
Choose from either Wall Work Class 1 or Wall Work Work Class 2. There is no rush to progress to Class 2 if you don't feel ready.
Day 18
Wall Work Class One
This is a drills based class, that means it’s not a flow sequence, but a series of movements, exercises and specific skills to practice to help us work on the elements we need for wheel pose that we don’t really find in a vinyasa sequence.
We will be using a wall space for this class (doesn’t need to be large) as well as 2 yoga blocks.
Wall Work Class Two
This is your second drills class which explores some similar ideas as Wall Work One with progressions, some additional drills to try as well as looking at the elements we need to learn to drop into wheel from standing!
If you would like to keep working with Wall Work Class One instead then please do so! You can always return to this class in the future when you feel more ready.
You will need your wall space, 2 blocks and maybe also a strap for this one.
Day 19
Yoga for Glutes
Today we strength that peach 🍑
Day 20
Working to One Leg Wheel
This backbend class works on all the elements that help us feel strong and open in Wheel Pose as well as exploring variations such as One Leg Wheel and transitioning into Wheel from Camel.
Day 21
Shoulders, Upper Back + Neck Release
If you've had a long day at the desk, done your fair share of driving or simply feeling a little tired and stressed, this upper back, shoulder and neck release class is here to help!
A gentle, slow class to ease a bit of life back into this notoriously stiff area.
Day 22
Full Body Flow & Wheel Exploration
Retake the workshop flow from Day 1 of the challenge.
Day 23
Work Towards King Pigeon
A beginner friendly peak pose class! Preparing the body in terms of strength and flexibility for King Pigeon pose - optional Mermaid variation too.
Props needed: Strap
Day 24
Wrist Strength
This yoga wrist strength routine will help build strength so you can Plank, Downdog, Crow or Wheel to your heart's content.
Day 25
Deep Hip Stretch: Glutes
Tight hips be gone! This low intensity, stretchy class is mostly seated, with postures like Firelog, Pigeon and Cow Face and will leave your hips feel juicy goosey!
Day 26
Morning Shoulder Stretch
This morning yoga class is focused a little more into the shoulders, stretching away any stiffness and setting you up for a lovely day ahead!
Day 27
Finding Forearm Wheel
Work on overhead shoulder mobility and strong spines for backbends throughout the class as we work towards forearm Wheel. Try out transitioning from Malasana to Wheel before a few different options of how you can approach the forearm variation.
Day 28
Choose from either Wall Work Class 1 or Wall Work Work Class 2.
Day 28
Wall Work Class One
This is a drills based class, that means it’s not a flow sequence, but a series of movements, exercises and specific skills to practice to help us work on the elements we need for wheel pose that we don’t really find in a vinyasa sequence.
We will be using a wall space for this class (doesn’t need to be large) as well as 2 yoga blocks.
Wall Work Class Two
This is your second drills class which explores some similar ideas as Wall Work One with progressions, some additional drills to try as well as looking at the elements we need to learn to drop into wheel from standing.
You will need your wall space, 2 blocks and maybe also a strap for this one.
You did it!
Don't forget to snap a pic of your new Wheel and compare it to that photo you took way back on Day 1!
I hope you're proud of the progress you've made!
You've done a lot of hip flexor lengthening in this challenge, which is also of huge benefit when working on Front Splits - so why not make that your next challenge as you've already done half the work!