10 video yoga guide to follow based on how you are feeling, what time of day it is, or if your body just needs some extra love, featuring Yoga with Adriene.
Devin doesn’t call me “Yoga Rowan” for nothing! I have truly fallen in love with yoga & the way it makes my body feel. I wanted to put together this yoga guide for you, based on some of my favorite yoga videos featured on Yoga with Adriene’s YouTube channel.
For a little regarding my yoga journey, I have always been aware of yoga because my mom practiced while I was growing up. I would sometimes do yoga with her, but not often. I knew basic poses & have always had levels of flexibility from a dance background, but that was the extent of it.
After I stopped playing basketball, my body was begging me to slow down, so yoga it was. I started taking yoga at my University 3-4 days a week & it was life changing.
The two teachers I had were wonderful & they taught me so much.
It wasn’t until I started taking yoga from a true yogi, that I really tapped into my full potential regarding my yoga practice. I joined a gym about three minutes from my house in New Hampshire & I started taking class with a woman named Rose. She was incredible.
Rose is in her sixties but due to her committed yoga practice, she can bend & twist every which way. Everyday she gardens in her bare feet, does yoga on her porch, & is truly the sweetest woman. She once meditated for 6 hours. Let me repeat that. SHE ONCE MEDITATED FOR 6 HOURS STRAIGHT. Insane.
She had such an extensive knowledge & sweet spiritually regarding her practice…I would look forward to her next class as soon as I stepped off my mat. I think learning from Rose, really gave me the push I needed & helped me turn yoga into more of a lifestyle practice rather than a leisure activity. Now, I do yoga almost everyday. It has transformed & lengthened my body. I truly believe it can change anyone’s life, if they allow it.
I wanted to put together a series of videos that I have found & or practice. Most days I just do my own yoga flow, but sometimes it’s nice to just turn on a video.
Yoga with Adriene is an incredible YouTube channel that I found last summer. Adriene is such a gem within the online yoga community. She provides so much value, warmth, & hope to her viewers. There are SO many short & full class yoga sessions on her channel….& they are all free!! She releases a new video each Sunday!
Yoga Guide – 10 Videos to Follow
1. Yoga for Beginners – watch the video here
You have to begin somewhere! I think there is so much power in learning something for the first time or expanding your knowledge. This is the perfect yoga video to watch if you are new to the practice or just looking to brush up on some of the basis postures. It’s important to keep in mind that even experienced yogis had to start with the basics.
Some of these practices, you can get by with limited yoga knowledge, but I would recommend watching this practice at least, before the others, in order to reap the full benefits from each practice found on this yoga guide.
2. Morning Yoga – watch the video here
This morning yoga sequence really sets the premise for a good day by igniting a fire throughout the body. Adriene focuses on stabilizing & centering which helps cultivate the right mindset as you leave the mat & continue on with the rest of your day.
3. Bedtime Yoga – watch the video here
Bedtime yoga is extremely relaxing & can really help calm & relax your body if you struggle falling asleep. This practice sets the mood for a really sound sleep. The easy flowing poses help release any built up stress from the day. Limited yoga knowledge is needed for this practice. Adriene invites you to use a pillow or blanket, & instead of trying to conquer poses, this peaceful practice is all about relaxation.
4. Deep Stretch Yoga – watch the video here
This deep stretch video is intense & if you are needing a thorough total body stretch…look no further. Especially if you experience any sort of hip pain, this practice has some excellent hip openers. Side note: did you know that we hold emotion in our hips? By focusing on alignment & staying low to the ground, this 40 minute deep stretch will help strengthen your joints & increase flexibility.
5. Yoga for Headaches/Migraines – watch the video here
I am fortunate to say that I rarely experience headaches. One day in Sweden I had a random headache, so I wanted to try this yoga for headaches sequence to see if it would bring me any relief. For this practice, Adriene invites you to bring a glass of water, a pillow, eye pillow (if you have it), or lavender essential oil. I used all four items when completing this practice & found relief afterwards, which is why I included this practice on this yoga guide.
The premise of this practice is to mentally prepare yourself to be healed from the inside out. Yoga for headaches is a wonderful & gentle practice that will help you leave the mat feeling very relaxed & hopefully feeling better.
6. Hip & Lower Back Release Yoga – watch the video here
As I mentioned in the deep stretch description, our hips hold a lot of emotion. With that in mind, this practice is extremely mindful regarding any sensitivity & tension found in the back or hips. No matter your level of yoga, you will be able to get something out of this practice. This video is wonderful if you want to focus on your hips & lower back specifically, or simply if you want a practice to lengthen, stabilize, & elongate your body.
7. Yoga for Weight Loss – watch the video here
I love Adriene’s videos for weight loss because she is so kind with her words & instead of focusing on losing weight, she steers the practice towards focusing on empowerment through lengthening, toning, & strengthening your muscles. This practice is a vinyasa flow & is one of the longest videos on this yoga guide.
8. Yoga for Digestion – watch the video here
This practice is focused on digestion & the feeling of being full after over-eating. It is a short practice & can be completed without any yoga experience. Throughout this practice, Adriene focuses on simple movements to help you release any uncomfortability that follows an indulgent meal.
9. Stress Melt Yoga – watch the video here
The day I was supposed to leave Sweden (you can read more about my travel tips here) I did this practice in order to de-stress because I had a lot of traveling ahead of me. Literally two minutes after I finished the video, I got an email saying that both of my flights were cancelled. CUE THE STRESS LOL!
Anyways, this practice can really help you find alignment & balance. Just under 30 minutes, this stress melt begins by focusing on your breath, which can really be beneficial for calming purposes. During the practice, Adriene mentions how important it is to take care of & to speak kindly to ourselves. She questions our ability to take care of others if we don’t make time to take care of ourselves…which I think is genius.
Yoga is a wonderful way to make time for & take care of yourself, not to mention, yoga is an extremely healthy way to manage & deal with stress.
10. Self-Love Yoga – watch the video here
This is one of my favorite videos to practice. Self-love yoga ignites a fire within by allowing yourself to cultivate your energy towards authentic self-love, self-esteem, & self-care. For this video, I would recommend building a base knowledge regarding yoga poses before completing this practice. It is a full 50 minute class. Throughout this practice, you can really feel the energy flow throughout the body & can easily work up a sweat! I would highly recommend this video to anyone…it leaves you feeling refreshed & empowered!
These 10 practices are included in this yoga guide because I believe they are all extremely worth-while & can assist with different situations, feelings, & parts of the day. I have completed all of these practices & continue to resort back to them & others on Adriene’s channel, when I want to practice with a guide.
Have you ever done one of Adriene’s flows?
I would love to get into Yoga. I’ve tried it years ago and I was so bored. The problem is that I can’t quiet my body and mind of the busy New Yorker inside me. Any tips for people like me?
Absolutely Christine, I feel like many people experience similar opinions of boredom during yoga. I would recommend starting off with short practices or even 5 minute meditation sessions in order to quiet the mind & body. Focusing on your breath is another way to take your mind off of things going on off the mat & it will also cue in your concentration!