Yoga

My very own 5-minute yoga video

An FAQ: How long have you been practicing yoga?

The first yoga class I ever took was at a summer camp I did back in high school (2001?). I did a few random classes over the next 6-7 years.  Sometime in fall 2007 I downloaded an hour-long yoga video that I started doing sporadically (1-2 times a week, then not for a few weeks, etc…).

In fall 2008 I started doing yoga regularly (almost every day).  The video that got me into it was Tom Morley’s Cardio Yoga on Exercise TV.  Then I found yogadownload.com and it snowballed from there.  Keep reading for more of my favorites.

Prior to being a yogi I was a ballerina (10 years) and I also dabbled in tap and jazz.  I’ve done pilates off and on since 2000.  I think all of these factors contributed to my flexibility and how I was easily able to jump into yoga.  If you’re not flexi yet – keep trying!  Yoga is really amazing and it does wonders (body and mind).

Summary – I have done yoga sporadically for 9 years (since 2001), and regularly for about 2 years (since October 2008).

These are my other recommendations for yoga.  Most are free.  My favorite way to practice yoga is through class podcasts – I don’t have to get myself to the studio, it feels like a real class, and I’m not craning my neck to look at a video.

1. YogaDownload.com is a wonderful resource. They have yoga mp3s (with pose guides in PDF format) that you can download. The 20-minute ones are free; you can pay for longer sessions.  The best way to access the free downloads is through iTunes.  Go the the iTunes Store and search for “yogadownload”, then subscribe to the podcast.For beginners I recommend:
   • Gentle Hatha Yoga #1
   • Gentle Hatha Flow #2

   For a good workout:

   • Core Yoga #1
   • Power Vinyasa Flow #4
   • Power Yoga #2
   • Power Vinysas Flow #3

   Other favorites:

   • Yoga for Runners #1
   • Detox Yoga #2
   • Power Yoga #4 (full-length class – donation based)
2. Eoin Finn has some great free podcasts to download. His style is mostly Ashtanga, and it’s great for beginners.
3. YogaToday.com has new classes every single day. The classes that I’ve found on YogaToday have generally been a slower and calmer form of yoga. Even the Ashtanga classes (normally faster paced) have been slower than I’m used to.
4. If you’re in the Bay Area, I highly recommend the Yoga is Youthfulness studio on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View.
5. Sadie Nardini‘s Power Half Hour series is a fantastic workout and will make you sweat. She has a bunch of other workouts posted on YouTube, so check them out as well.
6. Yoga to the People has 7 60-minute Power Flow classes available for download in mp3 format. They don’t have pose guides, and if you’re not familiar with yoga poses, I would hold off on these. But if you know what you’re doing, go for it!
7. OnDemand’s Exercise TV (I think Verizon has this too now):
   • Sweaty yoga: any class by Tom Morley. He’s wonderful. I hope to take a class with him when I’m in LA this coming March (cruise with John Mayer and Guster!!!).  My favorites: “Buns and Thighs Yoga”, “Cardio Yoga”
   • Slightly sweaty yoga: “Yoga Sculpt” with Maura Barclay
   • Gentle yoga: “Less is More Yoga”