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Although I love them, 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. You can get a great workout on your own as long as you have a plan. I’ve found YouTube really helpful 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. I’ve vetted these suggestions, but any time you’re looking for at-home instruction, make sure you’re finding credentialed instructors and focusing on high-quality content.
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.
They don’t release very often—maybe you’ll get one or two new ones a month—but the back catalog is extensive and stretches back years, so you’ll always find something without much hassle.
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 over 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.
I’ll add, too, that if you’re looking for more intense stretching or even a more focused workout, I’ve already rounded up some of my favorite stretching and Pilates coaches on YouTube.
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 more of 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.
If you’re a guy who feels self-conscious: Man Flow Yoga
As a spin teacher, I know from experience that, for some reason, a lot of men feel funny about taking group fitness classes or following along with an instructor. I do want to say you’re being a little silly, but I’m just one person fighting centuries of macho socialization, so if you’re a guy in that cohort, I’ll tell you about Man Flow Yoga instead. Here, Dean Pohlman offers up videos aimed directly at men, with a focus on strength and flexibility. He has routines for “complete beginners” and scales up to week-long programs that focus on certain skills or muscle groups, all while speaking directly, clearly, and evenly. There is no woo-woo to be found here. Who knows—after a few of his videos, you may be ready to go take a yoga class in real life with no fear.
For accessibility: Yoga With Zelinda
I love Yoga With Zelinda because the instructor talks the talk, walks the walk, and…well, stretches the stretches. She is all about making yoga accessible, but that’s not just some buzzword she tosses around. Highly trained and specialized, she’s spent a lot of time developing her craft and prioritizes teaching yoga traditionally, in ways that help anyone and everyone try it out. She releases new videos constantly and they include the standard challenges and routines other creators share, but she takes care to prioritize and highlight different body types. She also uploads informational and educational clips so any viewer can become more knowledgeable about the practice.
For a sense of warmth and belonging: Yoga With Bird
Like I said, you can practice yoga for all kinds of reasons, ranging from a desire to stretch to a desire to meet a certain fitness goal. But sometimes, you might want to tune in because you want some mental benefits or simply want to feel nice. Yoga With Bird is good for that. Just look at some of the video titles—”7 Min Stretch for Overall Health” and “Anytime Yoga to FEEL INCREDIBLE!” are among the recent uploads. The channel releases new videos consistently every few days. To be relaxed, welcomed, and seen, this is where you go.
To build toward a challenge: Charlie Follows
Charlie Follows has over 1,000 videos and the channel is great for anyone looking for something both playful and challenging. Video playlists are organized by time, so whether you have 10 minutes or 30, you can find what you need right away, and the goal of much of her content is to work progressively toward more challenging poses. That’s great if you want a challenge but are realistic enough to know you can’t just jump right into the hard stuff.
