The word Yoga first appeared (written in Sanskrit) in ancient sacred texts, the Rig Veda, over 5,000 years ago. However, some scholars believe that this was simply the first time it was written down with its actual origins popping up as far as 10,000 years ago!
Yoga has been on a long journey, but more importantly, your Yoga journey starts today!
It makes you think, doesn’t it? The original yogis writing on palm leaves could never have imagined that this ancient, holistic wellness practice would be available to billions worldwide with a simple click.
No matter what they would’ve thought about it, one thing is for sure. YouTube yoga is by far the best way to dip a toe into the world of Yoga without having to make a big commitment at your local studio, which can be very expensive (especially if you don’t go).
But where do you start?!
Looking up “Yoga” on YouTube will get you a big taste of the weird and wonderful. From Cosmic Kids Yoga (which looks awesome if you have a little one), to Taylor Swift Yoga and even Thirst Trap Yoga (which is people mostly trying to get you to sign up to their OnlyFans... we won’t link those)
Don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work for you! Here are our favourite YouTube Yoga channels and what would make them right for you:
Best Overall YouTube Yoga channel - Yoga with Adriene
Almost 13 MILLION subscribers can’t be wrong. There is just something about Adriene that puts you at ease. Whether it’s the gentle guitar riff to introduce her videos, her soft welcoming voice, or her adorable co-star, her dog Benji.
No matter what set you off on your YouTube yoga journey, Yoga with Adriene is a great place to start. Simply for the sheer variety and specificity of her videos. A quick flick through her channel and you’ll find 20, 30 or 40 minute Yoga for Beginners, Yoga for Back Pain, Morning Yoga, Yoga for Overthinking and so much more.
Most importantly, however, there’s just something accessible about her. The ethos of her channel is FWFG (Find What Feels Good). She never wants to push you into things you can’t do and in her videos will offer alternatives if the original poses are too challenging.
Best YouTube Yoga channel for Quick Progression - Fightmaster Yoga
Before jumping in I feel like it’s important to state that this channel is named after its founder, Lesley Fightmaster (RIP), and not Yoga for UFC fighters (if you’re reading Dana White, sorry for misleading you there).
Lesley rose to prominence due to the fact that she is clearly an exceptional Yoga instructor. Her class structure and clarity of instructions in those classes are second-to-none. Where Adriene focuses on doing what feels good, Lesley ensures that you have very proper alignment and form which may make you better (in the traditional sense) down the track.
Where Fightmaster Yoga came into its own was its 30 day challenges including its Beginners 30 day challenge, which will stand you in incredible stead for your journey to come.
Best YouTube Yoga channel for Scenery - Yoga with Tim
Sometimes in life we just want to watch a gorgeous man stretching on a beach right? That was a wildly reductive way to introduce what is actually an amazing channel, but obviously, Tim (and his shredded Yoga bod) is the first thing you notice.
Tim is known for creating his videos in front of stunnings backdrops. Which adds the benefit of a bit of nature therapy into your practice. Even if you’re getting that nature therapy from the comfort of your living room.
Dive past the aesthetic beauty of his videos however, and you’re left with a really great channel. Tim is another Yogi that comes into their own on their Yoga challenges.
His instructions are clear & concise and he has a focus on building strength through Yoga which makes Tim perfect if you’re getting into Yoga for the physical, over mental benefits.
Best YouTube Yoga channel for Relaxation - Yoga with Kassandra
One of the greatest benefits of Yoga is relaxation. It’s a great way to wind down, get in tune with your body, get grounded and take a sense of zen throughout your day. If you’re looking to get into Yoga for this side, Yoga with Kassandra will be great for you.
Kassandra is a master of Yin Yoga which is “a style of yoga in which poses are held for 3-5 minutes on each side. Instead of focusing on building strength, Yin focuses on flexibility and relaxation by targeting deep connective tissue.” (Directly from her channel).
This makes this style of Yoga much more meditative and relaxed when compared to other forms.
On Kassandra’s channel you’ll find a big focus on Morning Stretches, Wind Down Stretches and even Yoga for Energy Depletion, Burnout & Mental Health (which is becoming more and more necessary in our modern day mile-a-minute world).
Best YouTube Yoga channel for Women - Brett Larkin Yoga
Another name disclaimer** Brett Larkin is a woman. (It would’ve been really odd to have our “Best for Women” Yoga channel run by a bloke called Brett.)
To any men reading, you may as well skip to the next section.
Now that the stinky boys are gone, we can discuss what an exceptional channel for women Brett Larkin has built. Her channel has two big focuses; Yoga to help women connect with their divine feminine energy & hints, tips and suggestions on how women can become Yoga Instructors themselves. If your YouTube Yoga journey goes REALLY well, then why not right?
One of the great things Brett has done on her channel is do a series on Prenatal Yoga for pregnant women. Yoga can be an incredible way to keep yourself active during pregnancy, and even prepare for labour! If you’ve got a little on the way, or know anyone that does, this could be well worth looking at.
Best YouTube Yoga channel for those with no time - Sarah Beth Yoga
It’s dawned on us that we may have already lost Sarah Beth’s target market some time ago, they simply don’t have time to be reading blogs.
So we’d just like to extend a personal greeting to all the assistants of incredibly busy, grind culture weapons who have been asked to find a good solution to fit into their boss's manic schedule.
What Sarah Beth’s videos lack in duration they certainly don’t lack in substance. At an average of 10 minutes per video, they will have you working from the start. With specific focused themes like Morning Yoga, Yoga for Stress Relief and even Digestion Yoga you won’t waste any of your precious time doing Yoga that’s not right for you.
Best YouTube Yoga channel for Variety of Wellness - Boho Beautiful
If you don’t just want to “dip a toe” into the wellness lifestyle and are ready to dive in with both feet then Boho Beautiful is for you. What separates Boho Beautiful from other channels in this category is the variety of content they provide their followers.
They don’t just do Yoga. They also specialise in Pilates and Fitness classes, Meditation and Nutrition!
If you relate with Juliana & Mark (who run the channel) and want to dive into the community they also have a Vlog about their adventures and a Podcast discussing important things to people in this community.
Conclusion
There is a reason people have been doing Yoga for up to (or maybe more) than 10,000 years. The practice is not just incredible for your physical health, it does wonders for your mental health and spirituality as well. Done right, it can have a positive transformative effect on just about every aspect of your life.
A combination of Yoga on with a regular walking schedule (geared up with proper Vitasole equipment of course) will do wonders for your health longevity.
Want to be fit, healthy and active at the age of 90? Yoga and walking for your health is the best way to do it.
Start your Yoga journey today, and the rest will follow.