Yoga for the (Online) People
I've gotten shit for my bougie love of yoga before, but I thought I'd let folks know about my latest obsession: YogaToday. Here's a groovy little advertisement for it:
If you've got an internet connection and a computer, you can do an hour long yoga class with gorgeous views of the Wyoming landscape. In this economy, free yoga classes are especially sweet. Plus you can make weird noises and the only one who notices is your cat. TMI. Sorry.
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What does this have to do with feminism, again? Somehow I don't think this would get posted on the Community site.
Umm... It's mostly women who do yoga? *shrugs*
Not everything has to be about feminism, does it? I find the occasional off topic post to be refreshing.
I just think it's kind of a waste of space, and not what I come to the site for.
Oh, and it's material like this that makes me consistently click the "community" button for better writing and insight.
More power to you clerbot. I'm thrilled to have people reading the community site, even if it's because you think I'm an asshole.
Ahem.
Yoga helps you to learn about and better understand the way your body works, it's a source of confidence, it helps relieve stress, and it allows people to feel empowered. Some would say the same things about feminism. Feminism helped me become more knowledgeable and comfortable with my body, it helps me define myself outside of a relationship with my chosen partners, it relieves the stress of striving for perfection or an unrealistic body type, and it empowers the hell outta me.
Now I'm off to my Power Yoga class. Don't worry Courtney, my family makes fun of me for it too. I must note, it's so cheap for me because I go to my campus fitness center.
www.yogajournal.com/podcast
the morning routine is great!
(ps i consider the sharing of resources to be hugely feminist. so i think this fits!)
Thanks! I know my one yoga video by heart so this will be fun to try.
Thanks for that video. I will add it to my Youtube and work out.
This is great, and entirely ON topic for feministing. If this post isn't your thing, thennnnn skip it! :)
Thanks a bunch for this site. I think I'll go out on my porch and do some yoga right now (and pretend my backyard is as lovely as those mountains!)
Gotta love technology and free stuff!
Yoga focuses on appreciating your own strengths and listening to yourself. Sometimes those things get lost or are overlooked in some of the bigger picture issues. Self-care and awareness is important. Many studios where I am are giving free
classes because they want to help people and know that right now many people are struggling.
I have been using YogaToday for a couple of years and it is by far the best yoga instruction I have ever had (I have taken dozens of live classes at gyms and studios and I taught yoga for 3+ years). For the record, I've always felt that doing yoga and feminism have gone hand in hand. Not sure why...maybe because you can think so much clearer after a good hour of yoga.
OMG COURTNEY I LOVE YOU! i literally spent all last friday looking for free online yoga classes, this is exactly what i wanted. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Yes, thank you! I haven't been able to practice yoga for the last year or so b/c of financial restraints, and it never even dawned on me to do online courses. THANK YOU!
This is great. I have only done yoga a few times and am still working through my beginner DVDs, but I want to start doing it more and after I get through the DVDs I have, I'm going to start watching classes on YogaToday, they seem to have a good range of classes. Thanks!
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!
Are you reading my mind? I was just thinking a few days ago that I need to find free on-line yoga classes.
I hate going to "real" classes cos yogi's are so pretentious and classes end up feeling like a fashion competition (who's got the coolest yoga gear?). Plus it's way expensive.
So I always do yoga at home with DVDs... but this is a great way to spice it up!!!
really? you think yogis are pretentious? i've had about 3 teachers and they are truly the most humble, nice, beautiful and calm people i have ever met :)
i think it depends on where you go. there are some places that are completely ridiculous and have that trendy, high-end atmosphere.
but there are others that are really about healing and getting in touch with your body. i would also urge people to check out sliding scale yoga studios (which tend to have less of the bougie atmosphere) in their areas. most big cities have at least one...
online classes are WONDERFUL if you legit studios aren't accesible...or if (like me) your insanely busy schedule only allows for you to do yoga right before bed, or right when you wake up!
Two reasons I'm glad you posted this, both of them in the "personal is political" realm. First of all, as another poster pointed out, sharing health resources is indeed feminist. It wasn't that long ago that the Women's Health Collective had to put together "Our Bodies, Ourselves" to share basic health info that women couldn't get from their own doctors. I don't think it's invalid to continue those types of conversations.
Second - I don't practice yoga as often as I did a few years ago, but I still incorporate a number of yoga stretches into my workout, both in warm-ups and cool-downs. I've had people at my (former) gym complain that my stretches were - direct quote - "too sexual." I'm really, REALLY tired of the idea that women's bodies only exist for sexual viewing and/or pleasure. Sometimes when I've just biked a few miles, I need to stretch out my hip flexors, you know? And I could give a sh*t who's watching.
Really I think the issue with yoga is that there needs to be more free or donation based classes. I was really sad that my free yoga class in town was canceled. So in turn I decided (for several other reasons too) that I want to teach yoga.
Now I am planning to start doing donation based yoga in the park. I want to bring yoga to all people, especially those who can´t afford classes at studios.
If you do yoga, organize a group free yoga practice, even if you need to use something like yoga today to help lead it. Plus yoga is fun when you get to do it with other people.
Off to a yoga class. Namaste!
Courtney, you should start a favorite things section like Oprah