It’s overcast as I write this, not that it matters much when you’ve spent half an hour with YouTube star Adriene (and Benji) doing yoga. That’s the real beauty and reward of spending just 10 minutes rolling around on the floor of your living room with ‘Yoga With Adriene’. Serenity.
There’s no way I’ll be able to replicate the cosiness and poetry of Adriene Mishler’s weekly love letters, but I’ll try anyway. If I can convince just one person to give yoga a go, it will all be worth it.
Finding serenity
Serenity is a calm feeling and a quiet, peaceful state of mind. Before Yoga With Adriene, this beautiful and sometimes bewildering sensation was only achieved in those rare moments when all the stars align. When you wake up 5 minutes before your alarm and bask in the silence. Or halfway through the second week of your holiday when you’ve finally dropped all the stress from work.
But Yoga With Adriene can help you slide into this state of mind whenever you need it. I’ve been practicing with Adriene on and off for the past three years, using her free yoga tutorials on YouTube to practice in the mornings, evenings, weekends or whenever the mood strikes me.
I’ve managed to pinpoint her formula for serenity (for me, at least):
- Calm, controlled breathing,
- Mindful movements,
- Stretching out the kinks,
- A little bit of a workout,
- Talking with a friend.
Whether Yoga with Adriene will work for you really depends on your flow. Mindful movements can help you tap into your flow and figure out what you need – not unlike meditation. If you’re looking to YWA to improve your connection with your inner compass, try reading about Meditation Practices in the Navigation Codex next.
How it works
That’s just one of the beginner yoga videos you can start with, but to be honest, even the non-beginner ones aren’t that daunting when you get started. As Adriene always says, getting on the mat is the hardest part.
For the next 5 to 60 minutes (there’s a variety of different video lengths) you listen to the calming, friendly voice of Adriene, take mindful breaths, and stretch.
That’s it. So, it’s no wonder that so many people have taken to YWA over lockdown for a little bit of calm and peace of mind.
You don’t need fancy gear and stretch Lycra leggings to join, just wear some stretch pyjama bottoms and a comfy top. I do recommend getting a yoga mat, however. This cork yoga mat on Amazon is on my wish-list.
It’s not always sunshine and rainbows
I prefer yoga to other exercises especially when I’m anxious. Adriene’s calming voice and her gentle yoga practices really help to clear and balance my mind. But I want to point out that it’s not always sunshine and rainbows.
This is one of the videos specifically designed for anxiety, but every single move requires very flexible and open hips. Which I don’t have. You also spend a good portion of the video doing alternate nostril breathing, which is a nightmare for me. At the end of the practice, I’m feeling a lot worse than when I started.
There are other components that irritate me. The pop culture references I don’t get, for example. I also find that Adriene moves too fast for me sometimes. And finally, my breath never matches up. Without fail, when Adriene directs you to take a big inhale or exhale, I’m inevitably doing the opposite and struggle to switch quickly to catch up.
But it’s still worth it
The point I’m trying to make is that if you want serenity, calm, tranquillity and peace, you need to work for it a little. Yoga With Adriene is a great tool, but you need to put in the effort to get that great feeling that all the reviewers are raving about.
That means brewing up a hot cup of calming tea, getting in the right mindset to start, accepting that not every YWA video is going to be good for your body type, and genuinely listening to all the crazy things Adriene says!
What yoga mat do you need for Yoga With Adriene?
You don’t need expensive equipment to practice with Adriene – she often says getting on the mat is the hardest part. However, after slipping around on the carpet for a few months, I’ve found that a decent yoga mat makes a real difference.
I’ve been eyeing up this cork yoga mat which is non-slip and eco-friendly. Adriene herself uses a Liforme mat apparently (don’t quote me on that), but any non-slip mat works perfectly for YWA practices.
What to look for:
- Non-slip surface (crucial for balance poses)
- At least 4mm thick (joint protection)
- Long enough for your height
- Easy to clean
What to wear for Yoga With Adriene
You don’t need expensive Lycra leggings to practice yoga at home. Pajamas or any loose-fitting clothes that allow you to move will be fine. If you want to buy dedicated clothes for your yoga practice, I’d recommend finding natural fibres and comfy fits. My favourites in the UK are:
- Handmade Origami Pants – made with organic cotton by a Not On The High Street seller in Liverpool. Pictured above.
- Adidas and Puma – not natural fibres but great quality and you can buy them from La Redoute rather than Amazon.
- Cotton Harem Pants – most leggings are made from stretch Lycra to help you move. Pure cotton is too restrictive if it’s made into tight-fitting leggings. Look for loose
FAQs
Yes! YWA is one of the best free resources for beginner yoga. Adriene specifically designs many videos for complete beginners, and her calm, encouraging style makes even challenging poses feel accessible.
Adriene Mishler primarily teaches Hatha yoga with elements of Vinyasa flow. Her style is gentle, accessible, and mindful rather than fast-paced or intense.
No! I love that Adriene herself emphasizes that you don’t need special yoga gear. Comfortable stretch clothing works perfectly. I practice in pyjama bottoms. If you do want dedicated yoga leggings, look for high-waisted, non-slip options with four-way stretch.
Yes, all of Adriene’s yoga videos are free on YouTube. She also has a members app called FIND, which offers structured programmes for a monthly fee.
Videos range from 5 minutes to over an hour, making it easy to fit a practice into any schedule.
Good luck, and namaste.
