Of course yoga studios are truly wonderful, but you don't actually need one to practice.
To help you choose wisely, BuzzFeed Health asked top yoga teachers around the country for their expert recommendations on where to find videos that are actually legit.
1. Yoga with Adriene
View this video on YouTube
Example video (above): Yoga For Complete Beginners
About the channel: Adriene Mishler is one of the most-followed yoga teachers on YouTube, with more than 1.6 million subscribers. She offers tons of different kinds of specialized classes, like "Yoga For Anxiety" and "Yoga For Runners," plus more basic classes for all levels. Her videos don't have any students in them; they're just of her. The channel has new episodes every Wednesday.
Experts say: "Her most-watched video, 'Yoga For Complete Beginners,' generated more than 7.9 million views. It's a 20-minute yoga routine that's great for beginners. She offers gentle poses to bring balance to the body, relieve stress, and start your day." — Serena Tom, Yoga Teacher, Equinox
2. Yoga With Tim
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Example class (above): Total Body Yoga Workout
About the channel: Tim Senesi is based in California, and, not surprisingly, people love his chill personality. His videos range from beginner to advanced, and from vinyasa to restorative — as he says, there's really something for everyone. He publishes new videos every Thursday.
Experts say: "When you watch Tim's videos, his laid-back 'California' vibe truly shines through. People love him because his yoga videos are geared for both beginner and intermediate practitioners, and he'll also throw an advance yoga posture into the mix, which makes his videos more dynamic than other typical online classes. He always gives very specific instructions, too. When you watch Tim, you feel like you are getting more than just an online yoga class — you feel like you are getting to know the 'real Tim.'" — Serena Tom, Yoga Teacher, Equinox
3. My Name Is Jessamyn
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Example class (above): Beginner-Intermediate Yoga Class
About the channel: Jessamyn Stanley is a yoga instructor, a body activist, and a self-titled "fat femme" on a mission to defy stereotypes about who can do yoga. Her channel has mostly short videos on how to do poses, but she also has a couple classes and inspirational talks. She's been featured all over, from our site to Glamour to Cosmo, and for good reason: She's a total badass.
Experts say: "Jessamyn Stanley is a rising Instagram star and has gained much popularity for using yoga as a way to promote a positive body image and a positive self-esteem in ourselves. Yoga transformed Jessamyn's life by helping her overcome depression and years of body negativity. She uses Instagram and YouTube to defy the negative statements that many people have about people who are overweight, and you can often find her posing in advanced yoga postures. Viewers love Jessamyn's videos because they're very empowering — and she's creating a new and aspirational image of a 'healthy and athletic body.'" — Serena Tom, Yoga Teacher, Equinox
4. TaraStiles
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Example video (above): Wake Up Yoga
About the channel: Tara Stiles has been making YouTube yoga videos since 2007. Stiles is also the founder of Strala Yoga in NYC. Most of her videos are of just her, though she also includes some live classes at Strala (meaning there are students in them). Stiles and Strala have been featured in tons of national magazines and newspapers; she is generally a badass in the yoga world.
Experts say: "She offers easy to simple instruction for beginner yoga poses with a non-dogmatic approach. I really loved watching her when I first got into yoga." —Diana Paschal, Yoga Teacher, Pravassa
5. NolaTrees Yoga
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Example video (above): Gentle Beginner Yoga Flow
About the channel: Dana Falsetti, the women behind Yoga Trees, came to yoga after years of struggling to love her body — and her practice helped her finally find inner peace. Her channel is mostly her quick Instagram tutorials, which are super helpful. You can also find her longer classes at Cody (see below). Falsetti has been featured in many online and print publications, including Shape, Mind Body Green, and more.
Experts say: "Initially, Dana used her Instagram account as a way for her to track her own progress. She quickly became popular on the platform because she frequently posts photos of herself contorting her body in complicated and advanced yoga postures. People love Dana because she promotes self-love and her poses are aspirational. She advocates that yoga is for EVERYBODY, that people of all ages, sizes and body types can have a regular yoga practice. Most of all, she is relatable, transparent, and authentic — which is why so many people connect with her." — Serena Tom, Yoga Teacher, Equinox
6. Fightmaster Yoga
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Example video (above): Yoga Body Workout
About the channel: Lesley Fightmaster, who teaches at Yogaworks, heads up this community. It's a mix of classes and tutorials, but all of the videos feature only her. The channel publishes new yoga videos every Monday; classes range rom beginner to advanced, and from vinyasa flow to Ashtanga.
Experts say: "I like Lesley's channel because it offers a nice variety of classes, and because her instruction is clear, simple and encouraging. I feel like she would be a great teacher for anyone who's new to yoga. The video above is particularly great because it's nice and relaxing." —Brent Laffoon, Yoga Teacher, Equinox
7. Anacostia Yogi
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Example video (above): Yoga Booty Workout
About the channel: Anacostia Yogi is a yoga, lifestyle, and wellness site for black women run by Sari Leigh, who is based in Anacostia, Washington D.C. The channel has quick yoga videos, like "Easy Yoga For Stress Relief," plus cooking tutorials, dance videos, travel videos, and interviews with other inspirational women.
Experts say: "The mission of my channel is to showcase and bring visibility to the black women in yoga movement. Many of us struggle with health ailments and cannot afford or get to a yoga studio. I want women to click a button and get the free and simple yoga support to stay mentally healthy and happy." —Sari Leigh, Founder of Anacostia Yogi
8. KinoYoga
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Example video (above): Yoga Basics Workout
About the channel: Kino MacGregor is a yoga teacher, author of three books, founder of Miami Yoga Magazine, and more. Her channel offers full-length classes, tutorials on postures, and more general lifestyle discussions, all of which feature only her (i.e., no students in the videos).
Experts say: "Kino's videos are great for beginners, and for experienced practitioners looking to refresh their knowledge. In the video above, MacGregor takes the time to discuss the importance of breath, sun salutations, and foundation postures. She also explains both the purpose and the benefits of each pose, all while moving through a simple and meditative flow." — Serena Tom, Yoga Teacher, Equinox
9. Nazaahah Amin
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Example video (above): Seated Flow Practice
About the channel: Nazaahah Amin is a leader in the wellness community for women of color. "Yoga is an excellent tool that can foster sisterhood and promote healing in the Black community," she writes on her website. She invites women to join her tribe by either coming to her DC- and Baltimore-based classes, or joining in online on her website or YouTube. Her channel is a mixture of classes and motivational messages and reflections.
Experts say: "As an African-American yoga teacher who is also Muslim, Amin is uniquely positioned as a yoga teacher to serve both the community of American Muslims and others. She offers the physical, mental and spiritual qualities of yoga in a way that does not detract from Islamic beliefs. She is an embodied example of the Oneness that is the true reality of life." —Jana Long, Yoga Teacher and Director of Power of One Yoga Center
10. Gaiam
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Example video (above): Yoga For Facing Your Fears With Colleen Raidman
About the channel: Gaiam is a lifestyle brand originally founded in Colorado that focuses on yoga, fitness, wellness, and the environment. As part of their brand, they have a YouTube channel where they offer classes by well-known yoga instructors, like Rodney Yee and Colleen Raidman. Most of the videos are of just teachers, though some of them have students in them, too.
Experts say:
"Gaiam has excellent videos from amazing teachers, like Rodney Yee and Seane Corn." —Diana Paschal, Yoga Teacher, Pravassa
"Rodney Yee and Colleen Raidman are the real deal. They have super intelligent sequencing, and they’re oldschool yoga badasses. They also have short videos, which make them perfect for traveling." —Krissy Jones and Chloe Kernaghan, co-founders of Sky Ting Yoga
11. Curvy Yoga
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Example video (above): Morning Wake Up Yoga
About the channel: Anna Guest-Jelley, founder of Curvy Yoga, set up her channel to both inspire and help train curvy yogis and teachers. The channel has pose tips, full-length videos, and discussions about yoga and body image. Guest-Jelley also runs an online studio. It's $20 per month (or $197 per year), which gives you access to a new video every month, a podcast, a private Facebook group, and more.
Experts say: "My channel is all about finding support for creating a body-affirming yoga practice that fits people's regular lives. On the channel, folks can find pose tips, practices, and discussion about making yoga work for people of all shapes and sizes and how yoga can be a powerful tool for body acceptance." — Anna Guest-Jelley, Yoga Teacher and Founder of Curvy Yoga
12. YogaGlo
13. OneOEight
14. YogaVibes
What it is: YogaVibes streams online yoga classes through their subscription service, but in case you don't want to join, they also offer free videos. They divide their videos by category, so you can just pick what you're in the mood for each day — say, "vinyasa flow" — and go for it. Some of the classes are group classes, whereas others feature just one teacher. There are over 5,000 classes total, taught by over 100 professional yoga instructions, and they have an app, too, so you can download classes to use offline.
Price: $19.95 per month (or $198.95 per year). You can also take classes on-demand (prices vary).
Expert recommendation: Sri Dharma Mitra is an absolute legend in the yoga world. "And his Yoga Nidra class is a guided form of meditation and deep relaxation that is appropriate for anyone and everyone." —Adam Frei, Program Manager of Dharma Yoga New York Center
15. Cody
Got all that? Now go do some yoga at ommmm — or on the road.
Namaste.