My Top 5 Youtube Yoga Teachers
- Ellie Hanson
- Apr 1, 2024
- 4 min read
In-person lessons are an obvious choice when deciding how to learn yoga asanas, meditation and pranayama techniques. However, this mode of learning is not always accessible to everyone. You may be in a location with no local teachers, perhaps you’re travelling and can’t attend your regular class, you have little ones that need you at home, or it’s just too damn expensive! Worry not.
I have collated five of my favourite online teachers that I used at the beginning of my yoga journey. To this day, I still refer to them to enhance my own practice and teachings. Some are significant in the online yoga world, others are well-kept secrets. They each bring something slightly different to the table so this list is in no particular order.
Adriene is the online yogi that everyone knows, whether they’re a newbie or a seasoned yogi. She offers extremely in-depth videos to walk you through the correct preparation and alignment of every kind of pose, but also has a gigantic catalogue of Youtube classes catering to all levels of yoga practitioner. She has flows of varying lengths that branch from traditional Hatha, to Vinyasa, Yin and Restorative yoga, so you will no doubt be able to find something suited to your abilities. I go to her most regularly to work on improving poses, rather than practising a full class. She is amazing if you’re struggling with or working towards a new pose and need safe instruction. Her success speaks for itself.
I found James’ Youtube account after I injured my wrist. I had never sequenced for myself at this point and I was desperate to find a yoga flow I could do without using my hands. You can often find vinyasa classes that cater for mild injuries and pain, though a flow that completely renders the arms or legs unnecessary is almost impossible to come across. James, however, has taken these more debilitating injuries into consideration and created numerous yoga flows suitable for people who can’t use either their arms or legs, whatever the reason may be. He does this without lessening the impact of the workout, in other words, these sequences are still very challenging. I didn’t feel I was missing my regular practice, despite the absence of downward dog and chaturanga! He is also proficient in Qi-Gong which he often blends into his yoga sequences. This makes for extremely therapeutic movements and refreshing transitions. He has a soothing way about him and I highly recommend him, especially if you’re feeling like you’re missing out on yoga because of a stubborn injury.
Boho Beautiful is made up of a couple, Juliana & Mark, who offer a colossal collection of free content. Mark happens to be a film maker which is evident in the stunning cinematography of every video the dream team create. Juliana usually takes centre stage in breath-taking scenery to guide you through intermediate to advanced yoga sequences, often with a heavy pilates influence. The flows may be a little intimidating for complete beginners, but once you’ve established a base understanding of dynamic yoga, challenge yourself and vastly improve your yoga along with this duo. Mark also features as a teacher regularly too. In an industry that is dominated by women (in Western culture), this is an amazing draw for the guys out there who are a little reluctant to get on the mat, making this content all the more appealing to every kind of yoga practitioner. As well as yoga workouts, they offer guided meditations and plant-based lifestyle tips.
Tana has a massive library of Youtube yoga flows appropriate for practitioners with a basic understanding of yoga. Like the duo at Boho Beautiful, she is skilled in both Pilates and Yoga so the classes she presents are often a fluid fusion of the two. Her sequences are beautifully orchestrated, with fun and original transitions. They can be challenging but her easy-going style of cueing and her relaxed delivery means you are all the more motivated to stick with it. She also has an array of guided meditations so you can unwind after working hard during your physical practice. Along with Boho, she is my go-to teacher for a balanced, fun and satisfying yoga workout. Go directly to Youtube to access her free content.
Arundhati, the founder and face of Aham yoga, is an ex Bollywood dancer whose passion for teaching yoga and its philosophy is reflected in the invaluable resources she offers to beginners, experienced yogis and yoga teachers. She has educational videos that cover traditional yoga practices like asana, pranayama and meditation, but also delves deeply into Yoga’s origin and its spiritual significance. In her studio, she specialises in teaching beginners so she is extremely articulate and breaks down complex concepts for all to understand. Her approach is endearingly genuine and is very refreshing in the intimidating sea of Instagram yogis. She has vinyasa flows available on Youtube that are perfect for beginners, though her strength as an online presence lies in her more educational content. She expels common yoga myths and answers many commonly asked questions to help you better incorporate yoga into your everyday life. She hosts the most listened to yoga podcast in the world, Let’s Talk Yoga, which is a necessary listen for all serious practitioners and teachers. In terms of philosophy and the logistics of actually practising yoga, I will always go to Arundhati for advice.
I hope this list comes in handy. Let me know your thoughts and subscribe below for more yoga tips.
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