Yoga can provide a fantastic way to stretch and strengthen your muscles, practice mindfulness, and boost your energy. But some newbies become intimidated when they see yoga poses on social media that seem to defy the laws of physics. Maybe you've even tried to do some of these poses yourself, with frustrating or hilarious results. (or both!) What you need to know is that most yoga masters didn't start out as experts. They started as beginners, just like you.
Your app store is bursting at the seams with yoga apps. If you're new to yoga, looking through them can feel overwhelming. So, we've simplified the process for you. Use this basic information about the best beginner yoga apps to help you choose how you want to begin your yoga journey.
The Best Yoga Apps for Beginners
There are a few things that you'll want to consider when looking for a yoga app to try. First, keep budget in mind. Some apps provide free classes, others require a subscription, and a few offer a combination of both. If you're concerned about cost, see if your app of choice has a free trial. Then experiment with different classes to get a feel for the type of yoga experience offered before making a decision to invest.
Then you'll also want to look for class variety. As a new yogi, it is beneficial to try different styles of yoga, different instructors (with different approaches) and different class lengths to really dial into what works best for you. We found that these apps provide a good experience if you are new to yoga.
DoYogaWithMe
This popular yoga website has recently published an app for Apple and Android. DoYogaWithMe (DYWM) offers classes for a range of yogis from beginner to advanced. You can choose classes to fit your schedule, from 10 to 90 minutes long.
DYWM offers yoga videos for specific groups and goals including anxiety, motherhood, athletes, seniors, and sleep. You can also choose videos to focus on specific muscle groups like hips, back, and tummy muscles.
DWYM offers live classes but they also provide a substantial library of on-demand videos, so you can do yoga whenever you want, wherever you are.
Cost
DYWM offers a monthly subscription at $9.99/month and a discounted annual rate of $109.99.
Reviews
DYWM rates 4.8/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.1/5 stars on Google Play. Some users reported the app doesn't provide summaries for videos, so you're not always sure what you're getting when you press play. You also can't download videos, so this app is not great for areas of low connectivity.
The good reviews talk about DYWM's fantastic teachers, beautiful video settings, and large library of content. One fan said, " I'm so glad you guys have made an app! It's so much easier to access and cast since I'm usually on a tablet or phone when I do a class! Thank you again and I'm so glad it was easy to sign in and cast my first class from the app seamlessly!"
Alo Moves
Alo Moves offers a wide variety of yoga for fitness, meditation, sleep, relaxation, and focus. When you sign up for the app, you can take a survey to personalize your class recommendations.
From there, you can download videos, do a 10-class series, or shop for yoga gear. This app offers a handy "My Practice" tab where you can save all your favorite classes and see the videos you've done.
Cost
Alo Moves offers a monthly subscription at $19.99/month and a discounted annual rate of $199.99.
Reviews
Alo Moves rates 4.9/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.2/5 stars on Google Play. Some users complain about some glitching issues in the app, such as trouble uploading photos. However, the positive reviews are a mile long.
One reviewer said, "I love alo moves! Yoga/meditation were always on the peripheries of my mind, but I never fully embraced them...I'm so happy to be practicing every day because of genuine interest and feeling supported by the instructors in the classes I've taken. It's amazing how they can do that even though I've never taken a class with any of them in person!"
Asana Rebel
As soon as you download the app, Asana Rebel gets you started with a survey. After choosing your goals and answering some questions, they build your daily plan. They recommend a number of days per week, but you can change this to your needs.
Asana offers reminders and schedules to keep you on track. They set you up with a program based on your level and goals, but you can peruse their large library of classes and videos anytime.
Cost
Asana offers a monthly subscription at $15.99/month and a discounted annual rate of $35.99.
Reviews
Asana Rebel rates 4.7/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.6/5 stars on Google Play. Some users have complained that the app doesn't save their spot in the video if they are interrupted. Most reviews talk about the fantastic content and engaging instructors. One user wrote, "This is the first time I've done any workout/yoga program where I truly look forward to doing it every day, and at the end I'm like 'its already done?', also that I don't even have to psych myself up and 'just do it.' Even the hard ones are a pleasure to do."
CorePower On Demand
CorePower prides itself on offering classes for anyone. Whether you just learned the word yoga, or you are ready for a new challenge, CorePower has a huge library of classes to choose from. If you feel like venturing out to an in-person class, CorePower offers many class locations around the U.S.
If you want to stick to your living room, no problem. You can choose your on-demand classes by length (one minute to 60 minutes), teacher, or skill level. They offer collections like "Beginner Basics" and "Back to Balance" to focus your practice on your goals.
Be sure to download "CorePower on Demand" and not "CorePower Yoga." The second app is older and users like the new version much better.
Cost
CorePower on Demand offers a monthly subscription at $19.99/month and a discounted annual rate of $99.99.
Reviews
CorePower on Demand rates 4.6/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.8/5 stars on Google Play. Some users say it can be hard to find classes, and that some of their favorite teachers don't post many videos. However, a positive review for CorePower read, "These classes are great! Challenging but not unattainable; the instructors are clear and provide important posture cues."
Glo
Glo gives you the option to choose your focus based on yoga style or for goals like "Back Care" and "Postnatal." You can choose the type of teacher you prefer, whether that is inspiring, challenging, or informative.
In the app, you can pick live or on-demand classes for any level of yoga practitioner. They also offer Pilates and barre to add to your workout.
Cost
Glo offers a monthly subscription at $23.99/month and a discounted annual rate of $244.99.
Reviews
Glo rates 4.9/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.8/5 stars on Google Play. The general consensus from reviews is that the classes and instructors are wonderful, but the app can be glitchy, stopping videos and crashing at times, especially with ndroid devices. The ratings are still very high, and one user wrote, "I absolutely love Glo! This app is beautifully designed and very user-friendly!"
Find What Feels Good
Find What Feels Good (FWFG) is an app version of the popular YouTube channel "Yoga with Adriene." With an easygoing teaching style, Adriene leads you through simple yoga exercises to get you started.
You can plan your yoga days with FWFG's in-app calendar and create your own playlist of yoga video favorites. You can download your videos and do a class at the park or on the beach if you wanted to!
Cost
FWFG offers a monthly subscription at $12.99/month and a discounted annual rate of $129.99.
Reviews
FWFG rates 4.9/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.6/5 stars on Google Play. It's hard to find a bad review for this app, but they mostly seem to be related to app bugs like difficulty making the video full screen or login problems.
The big win for this app is the instructor, Adriene. The reviews burst with praise for her teaching ability. One user wrote, "The right instructor makes a huge difference, and Adriene is truly gifted. Many of the practices, like the Chakra series, are unique to this app (as is the community), and why I just cannot give it up, ever."
Yoga for Beginners
Yoga for Beginners offers yoga classes to meet many goals. Their collections have names like "Beginner Friendly" and "Find Relaxation." Class times run from 15 to 45 minutes.
You can choose a focus area like neck and shoulder or abs and core. This app also offers a "Quick Start" option to get a new unique workout each time you open the app. You can also save your favorite videos or see recent workouts.
Cost
Yoga for Beginners gets you started for free, and offers various extra classes for anywhere from $4.99 to $59.99.
Reviews
Yoga for Beginners rates 4.8/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.5/5 stars on Google Play. Some users have complained about a recent update that locked some content out behind a paywall, but overall reviews are still good.
One user said, "It's very easy to use, and perfect for beginners since you can choose your workout based on whatever level you're already on...My flexibility has improved, I feel more energized, and I'm excited about moving on to more difficult workouts."
Gaia
Gaia focuses on the mental benefits of yoga. Folding into poses and matching your breath can do wonders for your mental health. In the Gaia app, you can peruse and download over one million videos.
You can find yoga instructional videos, but also documentary-style videos teaching you about the history and practice of these poses. One reviewer called Gaia "the Netflix of yoga." This app is great for beginners who want to learn about mindfulness and decrease stress in their lives.
Cost
Gaia offers a monthly subscription at $11.99/month and a discounted annual rate of $99.99.
Reviews
Gaia rates 4.8/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.7/5 stars on Google Play. Some users have had trouble watching downloaded videos or turning off auto-play on the videos.
Almost every review mentions how much people love the content in this app. If you're looking for a full mindfulness yoga experience, this one may be worth a try.
Yoga Studio
Yoga Studio allows customization so you can make a yoga plan just right for you. It also offers guided meditations to help you de-stress after (or before!) a long day.
You can choose your session length from 15 to 60 minutes, and pick which video you'd like to try based on your goals, like flexibility or strength. Classes are marked as beginner, intermediate, or advanced, so you know just where to start.
Cost
Yoga Studio offers a monthly subscription at $9.99/month.
Reviews
Yoga Studio rates 3.2/5 stars in the Apple Store and 4.1/5 stars on Google Play. Most of the bad reviews referred to the recent pay structure update. But one happy user said, "the app is simple yet powerful, and the instruction is beautifully assembled for all levels."
Why Choose a Beginner Yoga App?
If you have never tried yoga before but feel much too intimidated to get started, these apps can help. Apps allow you to try a variety of different styles and class formats without the commitment of joining a studio or a gym. You can also do these classes in the privacy of your own home, which eliminates the intimidation factor. Of course, doing yoga in a live studio with an instructor (who can correct your form) has benefits as well. But for many new yogis, an app is the way to go.
When you're new, try to give yourself at least a month or two to commit to a yoga practice. You're likely to feel better after your first class, but the more you commit, the more benefits you reap. Yoga can be relaxing and calming, but can also build strength and get your heart pumping. The great thing about yoga is that you can choose exactly what kind of experience you want to have. Pick an app and have some fun!
