Mаnу реорlе ѕееm tо bе interested in free online уоgа сlаѕѕеѕ. Sоmе mау juѕt bе сurіоuѕ while оthеrѕ mау nоt bе аblе tо afford full уоgа сlаѕѕеѕ уеt. If уоu аrе іn ѕеаrсh оf free сlаѕѕеѕ, there are a couple of thіngѕ thаt уоu ѕhоuld have in mind fіrѕt.

Thе Bеnеfіtѕ of Yоgа

Fіrѕt of аll, іt іѕ іmроrtаnt to understand why уоgа іѕ worth your time аnd еffоrt. Yоgа hаѕ many benefits. It іmрrоvеѕ уоur physical ѕtrеngth. flexibility and keeps your organs and systems functioning properly. It аlѕо саlmѕ аnd rеlаxеѕ уоu аnd relieves раіn аnd ѕtrеѕѕ. In thе еnd, уоgа ultіmаtеlу lеаdѕ реорlе to рhуѕісаl, mеntаl аnd ѕріrіtuаl hаrmоnу. In other wоrdѕ, уоgа саn hеlр уоu to асhіеvе overall health and change thе way уоu rеѕроnd to life situations аnd conditions.

Free Onlіnе Yoga Inѕtruсtіоnѕ

Many ѕіtеѕ nоw оffеr уоgа instruction for free, аnd thеrе are many wауѕ уоu can get іnѕtruсtіоn. Sоmе ѕіtеѕ оffеr ѕtер-bу-ѕtер е-mаіl іnѕtruсtіоn whіlе others рrоvіdе frее newsletters. The more аdvаncеd sites wіll lеt уоu dоwnlоаd whole уоgа сlаѕѕ vіdеоѕ or view thе vіdеоѕ оnlіnе. The perfect choice of mode of іnѕtruсtіоn will depend оn уоur learning ѕtуlе and preference. Rеgаrdlеѕѕ of уоur mode choice, уоu ѕhоuld аlwауѕ pick a free offer thаt рrоvіdеѕ сlеаr and еаѕу tо undеrѕtаnd іnѕtruсtіоnѕ to avoid роѕѕіblе injury.

Dіffеrеnt Kіndѕ of Yоgа

Bеfоrе уоu gо fоr any frее оnlіnе yoga рrоgrаm, уоu should know that there are dіffеrеnt kіndѕ of уоgа. Yoga tесhnіԛuеѕ саn fall undеr Kundаlіnі, Hatha, Aѕhtаngа, Iуеngаr, Bіkrаm аnd оthеrѕ. Yоu nееd to fіnd out fіrѕt whаt kіnd of yoga уоu wоuld lіkе tо lеаrn аnd рrасtісе.

Frее уоgа videos саn bе fоr either bеgіnnеrѕ or more аdvаnсеd students. Chесk thе lеvеl before downloading thе mаtеrіаl. Otherwise, уоu mіght get іntо tесhnіԛuеѕ thаt аrе not good fоr уоu tо hаndlе оn уоur оwn. In ѕоmе саѕеѕ, a frее уоgа рrоgrаm may оnlу teach уоu уоgа tесhnіԛuеѕ uр to a certain роіnt, аnd уоu need to find out for уоurѕеlf whether free рrоgrаm іѕ fully geared or will leave уоu hаngіng.

Yоgа Inѕtruсtоrѕ

Just аѕ thеrе are different yoga disciplines, there are аlѕо a great numbеr of уоgа masters. This is essentially true online. Sіnсе аuthеntісіtу is a lіttlе dіffісult tо check оn thе іntеrnеt, some ѕсаm аrtіѕtѕ may еvеn роѕе аѕ уоgа mаѕtеrѕ. Do a little research on where exactly уоur free material соmеѕ from. Thіѕ саn рrоtесt уоu frоm injury and help you to асhіеvе the goal of уоgа bеttеr.

Sеlf-Mоnіtоrіng

Sіnсе you are оn a free рrоgrаm, you hаvе tо undеrѕtаnd thаt уоur расе оf improvement rеlіеѕ hеаvіlу оn уоu. Without an асtuаl іnѕtruсtоr ѕtауіng wіth you tо сhесk оn уоur performance, you hаvе tо wаtсh out fоr уоurѕеlf. Even іf уоu hаvе vеrу gооd frее material, you mау nоt fully еnjоу the bеnеfіtѕ оf уоgа іf уоu do nоt fоllоw the іnѕtruсtіоnѕ ѕеrіоuѕlу оr соrrесtlу.

Sоmе frее оnlіnе yoga mаtеrіаlѕ can be juѕt as gооd аѕ thе раіd ones and can trulу change your life. You nееd tо be sure thоugh thаt уоu hаvе thе rіght mаtеrіаlѕ аnd thе соmmіtmеnt tо рrасtісе уоgа techniques on уоur оwn.

The fourth chakra, or heart chakra, is the center of the entire energy system and is responsible for one of the greatest and most powerful forces in the human being: LOVE. Anahata, in Sanskrit, means “impossible to break.” It is a sacred light in each being that shows its true essence and allows you to open your hearts in a loving and compassionate union.

The fourth chakra has the virtue of generating joy and healing the individual. It is located in the center of the chest. It is related to green or pink colors. The green tones connect with nature, generate tranquility and correspond to the vibrations of healing and regeneration. Pink awakes compassion, joy of life, tenderness and expansion which is associated with the sense of touch (especially experiencing contact with existence by touching and being touched by people who are part of their own life, all other beings and the universe as a whole.

There are postures in yoga such as opening chest or arches which help invigorate, heal, and relax the fourth chakra. It is suggested to use high-waisted leggings in green or pink while in the transcendence that brings this vibration.

Some of the postures that contribute to the opening of the chest or the Anahata chakra include:

Bhujangasana – Cobra Pose

Lie face down on a yoga mat, put your feet together and bring your palms to each side of your chest. If you wear yoga leggings, you will feel more comfortable when performing the posture. The hands should be just below the shoulders and the elbows very close to the body. Rest your forehead on the floor inhale and expand the chest, activating the muscles of the back while raising the head, shoulders, and back of the body, bending the column back harmoniously like a snake. Hold the posture for fifteen seconds attentive in the breathing.

Matsyasana – Fish Pose

Lie on your back and bring your arms under your body as close together as possible, palms facing the floor under your buttocks. Keep your legs extended and your feet together. For more flexibility in movements, use high-waisted leggings. Pressing on the elbows raises the upper part of the body and opens the chest as much as possible. Keeping that opening supports the crown of the head gently on the ground. The position of the fish allows breathing fully, relieves stress, reduces respiratory problems, gives confidence and helps release stagnant emotions.

Setu Bandhasana – Bridge Pose

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet hip-width apart, parallel to each other with your arms on each side of your body. Inhale, lift the hips off the floor with the help of the muscles of the abdomen, buttocks, and pelvis. Then, exhale while supporting the back on your yoga mat. For greater comfort in the posture, the use of yoga leggings is appropriate. You can interlace the fingers of the hands or take the ankles with the hands to raise the hip and open the chest. The posture strengthens the legs and gives flexibility to the spine and shoulders. It releases stagnant emotions, filling it with energy and vitality.

These yoga postures help regulate emotions and connect emotionally with the higher Self and cultivate compassionate love.

The fourth chakra, or heart chakra, is the center of the entire energy system and is responsible for one of the greatest and most powerful forces in the human being: LOVE. Anahata, in Sanskrit, means “impossible to break.” It is a sacred light in each being that shows its true essence and allows you to open your hearts in a loving and compassionate union.

The fourth chakra has the virtue of generating joy and healing the individual. It is located in the center of the chest. It is related to green or pink colors. The green tones connect with nature, generate tranquility and correspond to the vibrations of healing and regeneration. Pink awakes compassion, joy of life, tenderness and expansion which is associated with the sense of touch (especially experiencing contact with existence by touching and being touched by people who are part of their own life, all other beings and the universe as a whole.

There are postures in yoga such as opening chest or arches which help invigorate, heal, and relax the fourth chakra. It is suggested to use high-waisted leggings in green or pink while in the transcendence that brings this vibration.

Some of the postures that contribute to the opening of the chest or the Anahata chakra include:

Bhujangasana – Cobra Pose

Lie face down on a yoga mat, put your feet together and bring your palms to each side of your chest. If you wear yoga leggings, you will feel more comfortable when performing the posture. The hands should be just below the shoulders and the elbows very close to the body. Rest your forehead on the floor inhale and expand the chest, activating the muscles of the back while raising the head, shoulders, and back of the body, bending the column back harmoniously like a snake. Hold the posture for fifteen seconds attentive in the breathing.

Matsyasana – Fish Pose

Lie on your back and bring your arms under your body as close together as possible, palms facing the floor under your buttocks. Keep your legs extended and your feet together. For more flexibility in movements, use high-waisted leggings. Pressing on the elbows raises the upper part of the body and opens the chest as much as possible. Keeping that opening supports the crown of the head gently on the ground. The position of the fish allows breathing fully, relieves stress, reduces respiratory problems, gives confidence and helps release stagnant emotions.

Setu Bandhasana – Bridge Pose

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet hip-width apart, parallel to each other with your arms on each side of your body. Inhale, lift the hips off the floor with the help of the muscles of the abdomen, buttocks, and pelvis. Then, exhale while supporting the back on your yoga mat. For greater comfort in the posture, the use of yoga leggings is appropriate. You can interlace the fingers of the hands or take the ankles with the hands to raise the hip and open the chest. The posture strengthens the legs and gives flexibility to the spine and shoulders. It releases stagnant emotions, filling it with energy and vitality.

These yoga postures help regulate emotions and connect emotionally with the higher Self and cultivate compassionate love.

I’m an advocate for free things. Free with a sense of style, food free of genetically modified organisms, free ideas, and spirits. I also like my hair freed of elastic bands, clips or other accessories. However, there are instances when having hair let down is not the greatest idea. For example, when it’s hot out or when you don’t want it to get in a way during work or exercise.

Each hair type is different. Mine has always been on the thinner side. A hairdresser once told me it is hollow on the inside. I’m not sure what that means and would rather not think into it too deep. It just doesn’t sound pretty flattering. But, what the hollowness does is that it keeps it nice and curly. And curly, I’m OK with.

Possibly you think your hair is not growing out? Or, it is growing out but much more slowly than you would like it to. Nutrition is key. Try introducing foods to your diet that don’t hold on the slime in your body like millet. Foods that do hold on to lots of slime are mostly of cereals and even bananas.

Practical processes that help me grow my hair stronger include minimizing the heat to avoid damage and breakage. With my hair care routine, I found that rinsing it with cool water helps keep it vibrant and shiny while minimizing the use of products always helps it stay fresh for an extra day. I wash my hair twice or three times a week using hard shampoo and only conditioning it once a week. When I feel my curls are frizzing, I like to tap a little natural oil to their ends, so that it weighs the curls down.

However, when you’re not washing your hair every day, it is inevitable that it will collect some grease. Here are my goto looks when a second (or third) day hair sounds like the best idea.

Braiding it keeps your hair firmly in place. There are numerous tutorials easily found online. The only real hack is that your hair needs to be long enough.

I like to make mine look longer by creating a pony-tale with an oomph. Start with a pony-tale using only the bottom part of your hair. Then create another one with only the top hair. The bottom one will push the top one further off from your head to visually create a fuller hairdo.

When your outfit is nicely put together and you can afford to juxtapose it with a little more fantastic hair, a high messy bun is what you should go after. I find this one perfect for the second (or third) day hair. Pull your hair up high, tightly against your head. You could even turn your head down and pull it to the top of the head. Secure it with an elastic, I like using a scrunchy type as it doesn’t bruise my hair as much. Then get creative with the baby strands that stick out, either securing them with bobby pins or letting them shape your face.

I can be a DIY queen at times when inspiration strikes. I saved strands of silky, linen and cotton materials from other projects and used them to create hairbands I can wrap around the top of the head and tie at the nape of the neck like a bandana or a bohemian wrap. Soft materials don’t clip my hair and keep it somewhat in place, or at least off my face. Plus, the wraps work as accessories and up my style. If you’re at least a little practical with scissors, needle, and thread, I suggest you try it.

Now, I’m curious to know what are your go-to routines when it comes to hair care and styling.

Hatha Yoga encompasses popular styles of yoga that are done around the world. It is simply the physical aspect of yoga going through the different poses that are present in Vinyasa and Asthanga Yoga and Power Yoga, to name but a few. The word Hatha has two meanings: “willful” or “forceful”. The two meanings are used to explain all of the poses and sequences that are done. Yoga styles that are considered Hatha are done to center and calm your mind, body, and spirit to prepare one for the practice of meditation. 

The benefits are endless when it comes to Hatha Yoga, which as you know, encompasses many styles of yoga. If you are looking for a practice of yoga that cleanses your mind, body, and spirit, the Hatha Yoga styles are for you. The elimination of toxins from the body along with the act of purifying the body are just a few things that Hatha Yoga styles do for you. 

As humans, we all develop bad habits over time and, for some these, bad habits are difficult to break. Some individuals need professional help to break bad habits while others use at-home remedies. Insert Hatha Yoga here. Through commitment and consistent practice of Hatha Yoga, it has been known to curb bad habits, such as smoking, drinking, overeating, oversleeping and taking drugs. Yoga will work for you but you have to help yoga work for you by consistently showing up for yourself on your mat. The idea is that yoga is the new habit, a new good habit to replace the bad habits that do nothing but bring negative energy and harm to individuals. The Hatha styles of yoga force you to focus on your breath and, in turn, you are focusing on the present moment. Yoga is a practice because you are always evolving and finding new qualities about yourself during each and every practice. 

If you want to become healthy or healthier than you currently are, the styles of yoga that Hatha encompasses are a great place to start. The poses require physical strength which develops over time and each pose is a different and new challenge during every practice—not to mention the improvement of your mind. If you have a changed mind, you have a changed life honestly. All changes start with the mind because whether you think you can or you think you cannot you are absolutely correct. Poses known as asanas strengthen and purify the body as well as release toxins that we have put into our body through bad habits over time. Yoga asanas are a great preventative practice by keeping your body healthy and free of toxins, you prevent yourself from becoming sick. But those same yoga asanas are good for curing existing conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Remember that consistency is key for anything in life and yoga is no exception. If you want to see a change in your mind and body, you must show up for yourself consistently.

Yoga can cure a host of ailments and that is why individuals have sworn by it for centuries. Consistent yoga practice can have significant positive impacts on your life. Hatha Yoga encompasses all of the yoga styles that require the use of asanas. The mind, body and spirit connection are possible in yoga—if you just allow yoga to do its job while you routinely show up for yourself.

Once you’ve been to enough yoga classes, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll have quality yoga leggings and have picked up your own yoga mat. But have you explored the incredibly diverse range of yoga equipment available? Below, we explore some of the options and how they can be used to enhance your practice.

1. Yoga Strap

This is one of the simplest pieces of yoga equipment. If you don’t have one, a belt is a good alternative. A strap or a belt provides support for your alignment and posture. Make sure that the strap is long enough that you can hold onto it easily without straining your muscles. You can use a strap in any poses where you cannot reach to hold yourself effectively. For example, a forward bend that requires you to hold your feet. Instead of straining or leaving your arms unsupported, loop the strap around your feet and hold onto it. Not only is this better for your posture and alignment, but over time, you should see your bend improve until you don’t need the strap at all.

2. Blocks and Bricks 

Blocks and bricks offer support, stability, and alignment. They help you to reach the floor in positions where it is otherwise impossible for you. For example, place one under your hand in a triangle pose if you are not yet able to reach the floor. This allows you to experience the benefit of the pose without falling or needing to stop. Lots of blocks are made of very lightweight material so that they are easy to carry to class or store in your bag. Alternatively, a wedge can support your heels in a downward facing dog or take the strain off your wrists in other positions.

3. Mat Grip Products

If you feel like your practice is being held back by slippery hands, then there is a range of products that can help with this. Taking the lead from rock climbers, try a chalk ball or liquid chalk to dry out your hands and keep your grip firm. If this sounds a little messy for you, try a pair of grip gloves or socks. These will help you to stay in place in even the most difficult poses.

4. Eye Pillows

Are you looking for extra relaxation in Shavasana? Pick up an eye pillow. This soothes the eyes and allows for a deeper dive into the meditation. There are many colors available, so you can pick one that suits your style. Even better, some of them are scented with lavender to enhance the restfulness even further.

5. Bolsters

Just like blocks and bricks, bolsters give you comfort where you most need it. Use them to allow you to reach into forward bends or find support for your back in floor work. They can also help to support your neck in poses that strain the area.

6. Water Bottle

Whilst not exclusively a piece of yoga equipment, it is so important to stay hydrated when working out. Pick one up with a beautiful design and you won’t forget to keep drinking water. You can even get bottles that are linked to your phone and will remind you when it’s time for a drink.

Committing to a yoga practice requires arranging and organizing the time to do so. Staying afloat with work and other priorities while trying to be physically active can be challenging. Amongst the people with hectic schedules, being consistent can seem like an additional task to prioritize. Despite the busy lifestyle, there is always an adjustment that can be made to fit exercise, or in this case, yoga, into daily schedules. After all, it should never feel daunting or frustrating to find time to take care of yourself. 

Luckily, there are exercise and yoga apps that you can download for free or pay an inexpensive price on your phone or tablet. They are also convenient for people who want to save money on memberships by starting at home. It can also be a perfect situation for someone who doesn’t want to attend classes anymore. The great thing about yoga apps is customized workouts for each individual. They provide plenty of variations of yoga so people can explore different styles and also different time lengths depending on how long you can exercise for. If downloading or purchasing a yoga app is contingent on your lifestyle, it would be best to look into. For this current year, there are lists comprised of yoga apps that are trending and popular.  

• Yoga Studio

Yoga Studio is an app that is available for Apple and Android users. If you are an Apple user, it costs $3.99. For Android users, it is free. The price is very inexpensive, which makes it possible for anyone to purchase it. It features about 65 yoga and meditation classes with different levels and focuses areas. It also gives options to play various music and sounds which set the atmosphere for practice. When you schedule classes, it will synchronize in your email and remind you about the class at the appointed time. Last but not the least, you can select and custom design sequences for your preference. 

• Fit-Star Yoga 

Fit-Star Yoga is founded by Tara Stiles who is a yoga guru. It is a training app that aims to help users lose weight and improve flexibility. It personalizes users’ fitness with introduction sessions to ease their way into more advanced levels. It uses feedback from users to design more workouts suitable for the user’s ultimate weight and fitness goal. All videos are high-definition quality. It also features a playlist and a soundtrack and permits users to track their progress and achievements. 

• Daily Yoga 

This app features 50 yoga videos in high-definition quality. Luckily, it also offers music selections. It is free for both Apple and Android users. It is beginner friendly, and gradually, when the users advance in their workout, there are other levels to choose from. For those who may be further in their yoga practice, there is a subscription fee to pay for classes that further your skills. 

These are some of 2017’s best yoga apps. It is highly recommended to read reviews about them and choose the one that will best accommodate your lifestyle. 

When you first start a brand-new yoga practice, learning the endless asanas can seem like an impossible challenge. You wonder how seasoned yogis ever learned to tell them apart as they flow effortlessly through a class. It takes time to memorize and adjust to each of the postures, but your entire yoga practice will develop with time. It’s a continual process of learning how to move your body deeper into the practice and enjoy the postures.

However, that sentiment doesn’t help much as you’re floundering your way through the very first yoga class. All beginners have to start somewhere, so we put together this list of the top yoga poses you should learn first.

Downward Facing Dog

Downward Facing Dog is the most iconic yoga posture that all beginners tend to snicker at. You invert your body to form a triangle with the floor, hands, and feet supporting the rest of the body. Your hindquarters should be raised high in the air with a beautifully elongated spine. This pose is essential to most warmups because of its presence in a Sun Salutation. However, it can also help you to build upper body strength, core strength, and spinal health.

Warrior II

Warrior II is another asana that you might already be familiar with from yoga class. In this pose, you stand with legs wide apart, toes facing the front edge of your mat. Bend the front leg and open up sideways with arms raised to shoulder-height. Your gaze should be over your fingertips. While it may not feel difficult at first, holding the Warrior II pose is a great way to open up the hips and build strength in the legs. Not only that, but it is a great pose for cultivating focus and steadying the breath.

Plank Pose

Plank pose is integral to the vinyasas that help yogis transition from one pose to another. You will move into a position similar to a pushup with your hands directly beneath your shoulders. Pull in the lower abdomen and keep all of your muscles engaged to help you build more core strength. Eventually, you will learn to lower down into chaturanga (low plank) with the elbows pressed into the sides of the body. However, beginners should focus on getting the form of the Plank Pose correct first.

Child’s Pose

Every beginner should have a resting pose in their repertoire. This gives them a safe option if the practice becomes too much for them at any given point. Move to all fours and then bring the big toes together, opening the knees wide. Sit back on the heels and fold forward, extending the arms as far forward as they will go. Rest the forehead on the mat if you can. This is a great pose to center yourself, catch your breath, or cool down from an intense posture.

These four poses are absolutely essential for every yogi to learn before they head to their first yoga class. Familiarize yourself with the concepts and the basic shape of these movements before you move on to the more complicated asanas.

For many, yoga might be a new aspect or addition to their lives that they would want to either undertake as a shared experience, to broaden their knowledge by learning from others who are more familiar with the practice already or simply to have some backup guidance and support for when they need it. Well, if you want to make yoga your lifestyle without having to commute from home or work to a yoga center or studio, below are a few online communities that have been trending lately which you could very possibly enjoy being part of.

The House of Yoga

This yoga community was born in Amsterdam and offers an online place where you can learn about real and authentic yoga. Finding yoga, meditation, and pranayama guided practices as well as videos featuring qualified teachers and gurus from around the globe; their promise is to keep passing on the true practice that was conceived and developed in ancient India. They offer sources for both beginners and advanced practitioners. As a subscriber you are also able to choose the style of yoga that you wish to practice, the teacher with whom you wish to take the lesson and the class’ duration.

Do You Yoga

They provide a web comprised of people that are on the same journey of trying to achieve a healthy life full of happiness and, of course, yoga. This community is made up of thousands of yogis that share their experiences, knowledge, photos and sometimes texts surrounding yoga. You can also find online video courses (featuring some yoga challenges that are at times free) for which you can obtain recognition for your achievements, mostly by collecting badges as rewards, while also keeping in touch with other members that are following the same course.

Online Yoga Community

Having been founded by a woman who started its yoga practice when she was in her early adulthood quickly making it her dharma or life purpose, this network brings together yoga loving people and gives them a chance to share advice, videos, inspiration, tips, amongst others with a predominant focus around the three categories of physical wellbeing, food and philosophy. You can find some videos of Claire’s lessons for free, while others you can only access after subscribing.

Do Yoga with Me

This community was started by a few dedicated yoga instructors who wanted to transmit their knowledge to an online audience. By posting most of their content for free and supporting their website with volunteer subscriptions and donations, this community has become a large library that contains audiovisual content for all beginner, intermediate and advanced practitioners that last from quick twenty-minute sessions to thorough sixty-minute lessons (or plus). You have the chance of choosing from eighteen different instructors and seventeen different yoga styles ranging from Hatha to Kundalini yoga or Pranayama to Vinyasa yoga.

Grokker

Lastly, if what you are looking for is a practice that focuses on getting your body fit and toned over everything else, this may be the online place for you to consult. Though it is one of the most expensive options, in the end it all depends on what you are looking for.

Although yoga sounds like a very new trend in America, it’s not. It dates to almost 150 years. The very first time it was introduced to the American populous was in 1893. This happened during a speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. It was a speech presented by Swami Vivekananda.

Vivekananda had learned yoga from a guru by the name of Sri Ramakrishna. In his speech, he talked about the relationship of the body, mind, and spirit. It was his salutation however, that received the greatest applause from the religious leaders present at the event. After that initial introduction, yoga found a new mainstay in America.

In 1920, another pioneer, Paramahansa Yogananda, came to the US as an emissary of his Guru, Babaji. His goal was to teach the Westerners about yoga. He accomplished this in his 1946 book titled, Autobiography of Yoga that has been a classic of yoga ever since.

Many events happened that cemented the place of yoga in the United States. First, the American government passed a law limiting the entry of Indians into the US. This created the necessity for those already hooked to yoga to go to India instead to learn about it. One of the first people to do so was Theos Bernard. On his return to America in 1947 he published the book, Hatha Yoga: The Report of a Personal Experience

In that same year, a yogi by the name of Indra Devi opened a yoga studio in Hollywood. She too studied yoga in Indian, bringing her knowledge to the West. In 1950, another Westerner by the name of Richard Hittleman came to teach yoga in New York after taking studies in India. He is responsible for spreading yoga in the United States. His approach has made teaching much easier than the rest thus far.

Although he was a spiritual yogi like the rest who had come from India, he did not present it as such. His teaching majored on the physical benefits of yoga instead. His hope was that by doing this, those who received the training would later desire to learn the spiritual path as well. Millions of copies of his book were bought across America and his television program became quite popular in the states.

Vivekananda’s influence also spread to San Francisco, where Walt and Magana Baptiste opened a studio in the mid-50s. They learned their skills from Walt’s father, who also learned from Vivekananda. To date, their influence is still felt in America.

Another influencer of yoga in the 50s was Swami Vishnu-devananda. He was born in India and learned yoga from Swami Sivananda Saraswati. He too taught yoga in San Francisco. However, it was his book, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, published in 1960 that influenced most people. Most modern practitioners have learned their yoga skills from this book.

Thanks to Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, an organization that he established, yoga practice spread tremendously. It is still one the largest networks of yoga schools in the world today. Since then, many other large and small organizations have sprung up and started teaching several types of yoga in the United States.