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Sometimes, I don’t want to go through the rigamarole of heading out to attend a structured yoga class—I just feel the urge to stretch and want to do it from the comfort and privacy of my home. YouTube is great in these instances: there are a ton of channels on there where trained yogis offer up guided routines that are easy to follow at home. Whatever amount of time or skill you have (or don’t have), here are the ones I recommend.
(A few notes: What I look for in YouTube yoga is a mixture of accessibility and tolerability. If I want something really serious, I consider that motivation to go to an in-person class, where I can get guidance from someone in real life. I don’t pretend to be a yogi by any means, either. I’m someone who enjoys fitness classes in all forms and spicing up my activities by keeping them diverse. These are the best I’ve found for my novice skill level and needs.)
For straightforward yoga: Yoga With Tim
Yoga With Tim offers up 15-, 20-, 30- and 40-minute flows for free and you can subscribe to a paid tier that unlocks longer ones. He isn’t as—how do I put this?—infantilizing and woo-woo as some others out there, which is nice if you just don’t feel like drowning in baby talk. Many of his videos are for “all levels,” so you can enjoy a simple vinyasa flow without contorting or stressing yourself. I also enjoy that he’s always on a beach or a deck. It’s just nice to look at.
For quick flows: Boho Beautiful
Boho Beautiful offers a little more woo-woo, but it’s not cloying. The real benefit of these videos is their varied times. There are a bunch of 15- and 20-minute flows on the channel that help you feel energized, stretched, and joyful in a pinch.
A gold standard: Yoga With Adriene
Yoga With Adriene is the most famous YouTube channel on this list, and she deserves it. The channel has nearly 13 million subscribers because it’s just that good. If anything, the absolute glut of options is the only downside: She has videos for everything from waking up to doing yoga “after a disaster.” It might take you some time to pick one, but once you do, she’s clear, direct, and inspiring, while still being soft-spoken, so you get the direction you need without any distractions. The “Yoga for Beginners” playlist is a great place to start if you’re not sure what to do, as she really does take the time to explain everything you need to know.
For specific fitness goals: Yoga With Kassandra
Sometimes, the goal of at-home yoga is to leisurely stretch and be mindful. Other times, you may want to lean more toward “workout” than “relaxing.” In those cases, try Yoga With Kassandra, where you can get videos that are aimed at increasing flexibility, core strength, endurance, and more. She offers up different kinds of yoga, from the vinyasa you’re probably familiar with to yin, which has you holding the poses a lot longer than usual.
When you’re ready for a challenge: Nicole Wild
On Nicole Wild‘s channel, you’ll find a bit more of a challenge. Some of her flows stretch on for an hour and you can choose intermediate and advanced ones, too. There’s nothing wrong with sticking with novice videos forever (and, honestly, since you’re alone with no teacher to help you if the situation gets sticky, it’s not the worst idea) but if you’re looking for something a little spicier, go here. I like the production of her videos because it’s very easy to see her and exactly what she’s doing, but she also gives clear directions that come in handy when you’re trying something new.
If you want to watch real teaching: Lululemon
Interestingly, Lululemon’s YouTube channel features free, full-length classes—and I do mean classes. A lot of the videos feature an instructor and one or two other people, so you can actually watch the pro guide them. It gives the sense that you’re really in a class, which could be helpful for you. Seeing someone correct another person’s poses or posture can help you recognize what’s wrong with yours and bring some of the benefits of in-person class to your living room.