Last year, I started doing yoga podcasts from time to time, and in the past few months, I’ve really come to love them. While I like taking classes in studios for so many reasons, there are also a lot of things I don’t like. But yoga podcasts solve a lot of those problems for me. Here’s what I love about them.
1. They are typically way less expensive than going to classes at a studio. I pay $10/month for unlimited streaming and four downloads a month on Yoga Download (meaning I get unlimited use of it forever once it’s downloaded), and there are a bunch of free podcasts on both Yoga Download and in the iTunes store.
2. There are tons of options for shorter classes. The 75-minute classes at most studios around here take a huge chunk out of my day when I factor in travel time and the fact that the classes rarely end on time. Plus, 75 minutes of physical activity is no joke…it’s really tiring! It’s not that I couldn’t make it work, but it definitely takes a lot of effort.
3. I’m not tied to a studio’s schedule. I like being able to do exactly what style of yoga I’m in the mood for and do it when it fits my schedule. I also don’t have to worry about other things (work, sleep) interfering with my preferred schedule.
Favorite yoga podcasts
There are tons of choices on Yoga Download so I thought I’d share some of my favorites! Most come in different durations, and I typically get a couple durations of the ones I like.
Forrest Yoga. This is definitely my favorite yoga podcast! I own all of the different durations of the podcast, though I really love the 30-minute one. I’d probably do this podcast and only this podcast if I had my way, but I make myself do others so I don’t get stuck in a rut. But I seriously love this one. There’s something about it that just feels so good.
Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. These classes from instructor Dave Farmar offer a lot of variety, which is nice. These feel more like a “classic” Vinyasa flow class that you’d take in a studio, and he fits a lot in to the shorter versions. These classes all have video options too.
Anusara-Inspired Flow. This class has a lot of heart- and chest-opening poses and I’m always left with a sore upper body after I do it. It’s got less of a flow than the other classes, but it’s still challenging and a nice change of pace.
Beyond Yoga Download, you can also find some good options in the iTunes store. Both Yoga Download and Dave Farmar have podcasts you can subscribe to so you’re always getting new classes. The Dave Farmar ones are free full-length classes (recorded during his actual classes) and they are hard. I don’t do them very often, but they are really solid. My favorite one from Yoga Download is this 20-minute Sun Salutation flow. When I want a quick but effective Vinyasa class after spinning, this is the one I choose.
Another option that I don’t use at the moment is YogaVibes; they offer streaming videos that are recorded during actual live classes. I’ve had really good experiences with their Core Fusion classes in the past and they offer tons of yoga classes.
The biggest downside to practicing at home is that you miss out on the benefits of having classmates, an instructor, and a set schedule that forces you to try new classes. There’s also the temptation to stick to the shorter/easier classes, to skip out on poses that are hard for you, or to not do poses properly because there’s no instructor to correct you. And if you’re a beginner, learning the basics from a podcast can be harder (though Yoga Download has a lot of videos and most of the podcasts come with a pose guide). I’m trying to offset these disadvantages by going to one outside class a week, and with the help of Groupons and free community classes, it’s definitely possible to make that work!
I usually do these podcast either right after work (if it’s not my night to cook) or around 9:00 (if I cooked but still am in the mood for a little yoga). Because I don’t have to leave the house, the time involved really flies by and I find myself a lot more motivated to do them. Even though I love doing them at home, you could also do them at the gym or at the office or on the road. I thought the idea of a yoga podcast was a bit strange at first (I just couldn’t imagine not having any visual support) but now that I’ve tried them, I’m hooked!
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Thanks for the idea and the review. Something to do when I cannot get to my yoga studio.
Jen Correa @ Mom’s Gotta Run recently posted..Saturday for Solidarity
THANK YOU! My non-running days were *supposed* to be devoted to going to our gym and lifting but I’ve never ever liked lifting. I’ve been in the mood for yoga recently and I’ve tried a few of the free (20 min) podcasts from Yoga Downloads. I agree, it’s not as good as a class, but it’s much more convenient for my schedule. As I’m fond of saying “the exercise you’re willing to do is much more effective than the exercise you’re unwilling/unable to do.” If my body is craving yoga, it’s a lot better than just skipping a workout because the idea of lifting makes me feel UGH.
Thanks for the recommendations because I’ve been unsure what to try.
PS is that photo one of yours? love it!
Yes!! Thanks for noticing!! I spent a lot of time working on photography this weekend so I really appreciate that. :)
I was going to say the same thing! Nice work!
“The exercise you’re willing to do is much more effective than the exercise you’re unwilling/unable to do.” You’re a wise woman! This is so true and I think this is why I love the podcasts so much. Are they the best workout EVAR? No but they make me feel good and they are super convenient, so that makes them pretty awesome to me! I think sometimes it’s so tempting to hold out for the “perfect” workout in lieu of actually working out.
Agreed! These are a great supplement to a studio routine. I feel like going to the studio once a week or maybe every other week is so important when it comes to making sure you’re doing poses correctly and avoiding injury but in between these are great. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you SO MUCH for this. I have a year-old back injury and while I’ve never been a yoga person I’ve had doctors, physical therapists, colleagues, and friends recommend light yoga. I think it’ll also help de-stress me at night before I head to bed. Thanks for the recommendations!
Caity @ Moi Contre La Vie recently posted..Looks of the Week
Love the yoga mat photo! Question – do you ever come across a pose during the podcast that you aren’t familiar with?
Dori recently posted..Workout Plan: Week of January 13, 2013
Thanks! And yes, it happened once during the Anusara podcast, so I just paused it and looked at the pose guide PDF. (It would make more sense to just read the pose guide first but I tend to like to be surprised…silly, I know.) It also happened during one of the free Dave Farmar podcasts that didn’t have a pose guide; at that point, I just did something similar that I knew how to do.
Another good option I use for yoga at home is yogajournal.com. It’s got a LOT of free videos that go up to 35 minutes. It’s great for a quick session when I just need to unwind or maybe stretch after a run. Just another suggestion! I’d love to look at some of these podcasts.
I love most things Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga, but especially when Baron himself is speaking…I find his voice so soothing! I’m doing his 40 day challenge right now and there’s yoga involved, of course, but also a lot of meditation. Boy, am I bad at meditating. Maybe when the challenge is over I’ll give Yoga Download a try…
I love Yoga Download. The Boy, two of our friends and I are all running the Flying Pig as a relay this year and for the Stretch and Strengthen days I plan to do Yoga Download Podcasts in the guest bedroom. I need to get a new mat.
Also – great photo :-). I love the perspective on it!!
deva at deva by definition recently posted..A Findlay Market Adventure
I’ve been really digging the at-home workouts this month and have been aiming to try NEW-to-me workouts at least 75% of the time I’m doing them – so this post is oh-so-timely! thank you!
Heather recently posted..Twosday XXIV
I know I’m a couple days late to the game on this one, but…. THANK YOU for this. I’m starting a 40-day challenge on Sunday through my studio. I did it last year too, so I know that mixing in shorter practices and home practices is key for success for me. Now I’ll have Yoga Download podcasts all ready to go! Yesss!
emily hassman recently posted..this is what home looks like.
I just finished a 20 minute Forrest session (downloaded the free one first to try it out) and considering I’m relatively new to yoga & had never done a strictly audio session before I think it went pretty well! However, I blame my somewhat lack of relaxation on my 2 cats that were roaming around my mat the entire time. Nothing ruins corpse pose more than a cat walking over your face.
Yeahhhh I was telling AJ how Chuck likes to come in and do downward dog on my mat to show off…her cat was quite interested in her Savasana pose too haha!
Thanks so much for posting this! I’ve been doing yoga for a while, and always really miss it on work trips. I’ll make sure to try out yoga download.
…If only it was possible to do Bikram remotely :)
HA! I’ve thought about turning up the heat in my house and giving it a try.
Thank you for this! I have a membership to CorePower Yoga, but on weeks when I travel for work, I miss my workouts. I never drag myself to the hotel gyms, but I can see myself doing this in my hotel room. I’m gonna check out your recommendations.
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