Looking for a way to redeem your New Year’s promise of finally taking up that new and exciting hobby? Ever wondered what the ever-growing buzz around yoga is all about, but don’t feel like classes at fancy yoga studios are the thing for you just yet? Looking for ways to embrace a more mindful lifestyle? No worries, the age of the internet has brought a worthy alternative for aspiring yogis around the world: YouTube yoga. This new forum for the yoga-minded is a recent, growing trend, bringing the basics of yoga available to everyone. Cultivating an at-home practice is what it’s all about now, and the tools for that are waiting for you just a few clicks away.
As the trend expands, new channels begin to form and gain subscribers. As with any yoga class, the appeal of YouTube yoga relies a lot on the charm and approachability of the yoga teacher. After a few weeks of browsing through channels, it became clear to me that there are a couple of channels steadily gaining new subscribers at the moment. They are run by committed yogis who upload new videos every week, and both of these channels already have an impressive catalogue of yoga sessions to choose from. Both have succeeded in creating a supportive community around them, which is revealed when reading the comments-sections of their videos: not a word of negativity to be found, but people sharing their personal experiences with yoga and offering words of support and encouragement. Here’s a brief overview of what these yogis can offer:
1. Yoga with Adriene
This is a wonderful channel run by Adriene Mishler, who I like to call “the Jane Fonda of yoga”: she seems to have started an enthusiastic following around her method of doing yoga with a sense of humor, and her mantra “find what feels good” resonates with the independent-minded. Whether you’re into the spiritual side of yoga or just feel like doing some fancy stretching, Yoga with Adriene is worth checking out. Most of her videos are suitable for beginners. In addition to numerous individual yoga videos, Adriene has a 30-day yoga challenge on her channel, inviting people new to yoga to try out a home practice every day for a month.
2. Fightmaster Yoga
This is a growing channel that people more familiar with yoga can appreciate. Fightmaster Yoga is run by Lesley Fightmaster, and her channel has a variety of videos, from beginner-level ones to more advanced-level sessions. You can be sure to get new videos every week, and if you really feel like committing to a regular practice, Lesley’s channel has an ambitious 90-day yoga challenge waiting for you. And for the ones interested in trying out meditation, Lesley also does guided meditation videos.
The positives and negatives of YouTube yoga
Positives: Practicing yoga at home when nobody’s looking frees you to do yoga in whatever way works for you: no need for fancy equipment, outfits, hairdos, or to feel pressure to do perfect poses while you practice. Taking yoga classes at home is an appealing option for the introverts and homebodies among us. YouTube yoga suits anyone living on a budget, which is surely much appreciated by students everywhere.
Negatives: At-home yoga practice requires more self-discipline than going to regular classes. Nobody’s expecting you to go to class, and you haven’t paid for it, so the temptation to skip yoga “just for today” (and your New-Year’s resolution to commit to a new hobby) might become a bad habit.
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