Following a routine in our busy schedules is a challenge but not impossible. Walking the dog, exercising at least five days a week, or reading twenty pages daily is easy to jot down, but how many can do it?
Yoga is one such activity that many people are curious about, but it is postponed to ‘the next day.’
If and when you want to take time for this ancient activity, this article will help you with that.
Yoga is not only for religious people – a myth that has led many to stop pursuing it but for those who want a calm mind and a healthy body.
HIIT, cardio, and strength training are all great, but we need a change in everything we do, so why not try yoga and see the amalgamation of mind and body.
Yoga has several benefits, including increased flexibility, improved mental health, better posture, and of course, a well-stretched body.
Attending in-person classes is no more required, as the pandemic proved. So, there’s no better way than downloading apps to help you be more flexible.
Beginners needn’t worry, as the ten apps on the list are selected specifically for you, so yoga isn’t daunting.
Best Beginner Yoga Apps for iPhone
Yoga is an ancient practice that helps spiritually, mentally, and physically.
It was known to be an elusive practice, but it is now more accessible through offline sessions, YouTube, and the tonnes of apps floating on the App Store. Following are the ten best apps that beginners can rely on.
Apple Fitness+
Before we get to the apps, iPhone comes with a free app/service known as Fitness+. Apart from well-known exercises such as HIIT, Pilates, etc., it does include yoga as a physical exercise that you can efficiently train with. As it is integrated into your iPhone, you can practice yoga anywhere. Check if Fitness+ is available in your country as it’s slowly rolling out.
1 . Yoga | Down Dog
Down Dog is the best beginner yoga app for iPhone.
The app opens doors for routines and sessions for all levels, so beginners gear up!
There is different practice duration which range from 10 minutes to 110 minutes.
Think of Down Dog as your getaway into yoga in a non-intimidating way. Yoga is difficult but impossible, and this app will make that happen if you stay consistent.
Experts can use the app as it does feature advanced sessions.
The instructions are super clear and easy to comprehend, which is expected of an app like Down Dog.
It is a champ at generating new moves and lets you choose a pace, even a specific kind of practice. This makes sense as many don’t want to repeat their sessions.
The free version of the app will help you practice yoga, and you will love it, but once you get consistent, think about upgrading to the premium tier as its additional features – such as more options and music – are worth it.
Main features
- Customize yoga practice
- Focuses on beginner and intermediate levels
- Choose from six different instructor voices for guided practices
- Vinyasa, Hatha, Gentle, Restorative, Yin, Ashtanga, Chair, and Sun Salutation practices
Drawbacks
- Monthly membership needed to access several features
- Minimal music options with the free version
Pricing: Free to download; $2.99-$59.99
App rating: 4.9
2. Mindbody: Fitness, Salon & Spa
Mindbody: Fitness, Salon & Spa is the app to bring the yoga vibe to your home.
The app is about live-streaming yoga classes, so ensure you have a good internet connection.
When you sign up for this app, you’ll get two kinds of services – scheduling offline/live-streaming sessions or in-person classes. You can choose any option based on your requirements and kick-start your day with a yoga routine.
Many people get bored with one routine, so if you are one of them, choose multiple styles as you’ll find different types of yoga along with Pilates, dancing, CrossFit, HIIT, Barre, and many more.
Remember that the features of Mindbody will vary depending on your location.
Mindbody is an excellent app for those looking to imbibe yoga into their daily routine.
Main features
- Connects with your fitness tracker
- Yoga, CrossFit®, spin, barre, strength training, Pilates, dance, and more
- Save your favorite gyms, studios, classes, and spa to book them again
Drawbacks
- Minor bugs
Pricing: Completely free
App rating: 4.9
Download Mindbody: Fitness, Salon & Spa
3. Yoga for Beginners | Mind+Body
The best to define Yoga for Beginners is to say it’s a yoga studio in your pocket.
This app is for those who know a bit about yoga but haven’t practiced in quite a while.
Being affordable is its best quality, along with providing hand-crafted yoga workouts that are perfect for beginners. The app also lets you take advantage of its calming voice guidance that could assist you in powering through the toughest of postures.
Having an iPhone means the unspoken rule of the ecosystem, which is why this app is perfect since its integration with Apple Health is seamless.
Try the different yoga routines built into the app so that being consistent doesn’t get boring.
Main features
- Build and customize your yoga workouts
- Beginner-friendly yoga workouts
- Workout anytime, anywhere
Drawbacks
- Known inaccuracies of yoga postures
Pricing: Free to download; $3.99-$49.99
App rating: 4.8
4. Gaia TV Conscious Media
Moving on from the long name, Gaia is an app to have on your iPhone if you want to zen out.
The app aims to help users focus on spirituality and mindfulness with varying yoga postures.
When you download the app, you will find over 8,000 workout videos so that boredom won’t be a part of your routine. If you do one workout every day, it will suffice this lifetime!
Users reported that the app’s content is updated quite often, and the workout videos are improving.
Try Gaia for an exquisitely peaceful time.
Main features
- A library of 8000+ videos
- World’s best teachers and spiritual luminaries to guide you
- Compelling videos – yoga, meditation, ancient history, metaphysics, etc.
Drawbacks
- Abysmal video player
Pricing: Free to download; $11.99-$299.99
App rating: 4.8
5. Daily Yoga: Fitness+Meditation
Daily Yoga: Fitness+Meditation is a fantastic app you should try if you want to try yoga.
The app will help you become more consistent with its 70+ yoga programs and over 500 flows.
Those new to yoga can opt for a two-week program aimed at beginners so that the basic is etched in their minds. Similarly, people at an advanced level have great options.
You’ll be pleased about the app’s community platform that lets you connect with other yogis and experts in the field.
The best part about Daily Yoga is the test they ask you to take, which determines exactly how strong and flexible you are. I’d advise you to do the same, as the app will base your workouts on the results you achieve.
Main features
- The biggest worldwide yoga community
- New classes are updated weekly
- Includes 500+ asanas, 70+ yoga programs
- Over 500 guided yoga, meditation, and pilates sessions
Drawbacks
- Too advanced for beginners
- Costs significantly more than other apps
- Requires subscription to unlock classes, routines, etc.
Pricing: Free to download; $9.99-$69.99
App rating: 4.8
Download Daily Yoga: Fitness+Meditation
6. Asana Rebel: Get in Shape
Asana Rebel is one the most popular yoga apps, with over 61K ratings on the App Store.
This top-rated yoga app features everyday yoga postures, guided meditations, significant challenges, and high-intensity workouts that will suffice your workout needs.
The app will surely give you the feeling of a smooth, exhausting, yet enjoyable workout. Speaking of which, the yoga sessions are wonderfully guided and structured to help you stay fit.
Main features
- Apple Health integration
- 5-minute workouts to fun quizzes
- Guided sessions that bring clarity into your workouts
Drawbacks
- Users reported that workouts disappear
Pricing: Free to download; $15.99-$82.99
App rating: 4.7
Download Asana Rebel: Get in Shape
7. Glo | Yoga and Meditation App
Glo is a yoga and meditation app developed by YogaGlo, Inc. The app has over 4,000 classes conducted by doyens such as Kathryn Budig.
Apart from yoga sessions, Glo also offers meditation sessions with soothing voices.
The app’s preferences let you customize the level, style, time of the day, and duration so that working out is always fun.
If you don’t want to do anything manually, the app gives you an option to create a program based on your yoga goals.
As for other features, you can get the fly-in crow pose for the first time or do the headstand.
Main features
- Beginner-friendly content
- Over 4,000 classes and 16 styles of yoga
- Subscription model for educational classes to improve yoga
Drawbacks
- Premium plan required to access most features
- Monthly subscription more expensive than other apps
- Less personalized recommendations
Pricing: Free to download; $23.99-$244.99
App rating: 4.9
8. Alo Moves
Alo Moves is an excellent app that will give you a yoga studio experience.
You’ll get a library of 1,500 sessions, and more are added weekly, with which you can practice meditation, yoga, sound bath, HIIT, Pilates, and more.
Like Glo, Alo Moves lets you practice splits, handstands, or arm balances. These are series for such specific skills.
You could get overwhelmed with the series and the sessions for different activities, but you’d be glad about the quality of videos and instructions provided.
Main features
- Yoga, Guided Meditation, Strength, Cardio, HIIT, Barre, Pilates, Core Workouts, etc.
- ‘Class Finder’ sorts style, difficulty, time, and instructor
- Syncs sessions with the Apple Health app
Drawbacks
- Known issues with the play/pause button
- Basic filter functions
Pricing: Free to download; $19.99-$199.99
App rating: 4.9
9. Simply Yoga – Home Instructor
Simple Yoga is an excellent app for kids or adults who want to learn more about basic yoga postures.
The user interface is quite simple and will make navigation easy.
The free version of Simple Yoga provides three beginner-level sequences with a duration of 20, 40, and up to 60 minutes.
You’ll find that the videos with clear voice-over instructions are pretty straightforward, so you’ll get done with your practice soon enough.
If the beginner plan is too mundane for you, the advanced level has excellent sessions, but you’ll need to upgrade to the premium version.
Main features
- Classes for adults and kids that last 20-60 minutes
- Free version has several classes appropriate for beginners
- Video and audio instructions
Drawbacks
Nominal features compared to other yoga apps
Pricing: Completely free
App rating: 4.7
10. The Underbelly
The Underbelly app is created by Jessamyn Stanley, an internationally known yoga teacher.
Stanley created this app to cultivate the idea of mindfulness in day-to-day life.
All you have to do is download the app, choose a suitable track, and start practicing yoga.
The app wants you to look within so that you are calm and perform every activity to the best of your ability.
Jessamyn Stanley, who’s also a body-positive advocate, wants users to take some time out of their minds and start listening to their bodies, and the app will help you with that.
You should give this app a try so that you find your light and get your life together.
Main features
- 35+ Yoga poses
- Six predefined workouts – 20 to 60 min
- Suitable for beginners to advanced students
Drawbacks
Meddling advertisements
Pricing: Free to download; $9.99
App rating: 4.9
Bonus: YouTube
YouTube is the best app for learning anything, including yoga. My first stint at yoga came from two Indian channels that guided me into proper sun salutations.
If you choose to endure YouTube’s relentless ads, you’ll learn yoga for free. Various yoga channels will help you kick-start your yoga journey.
You can subscribe to YouTube Premium if you don’t want those pesky. The subscription also unlocks background playback and YouTube Music.
Before you freak out about finding an open channel, I have listed the five best who will teach you yoga so that you can make it a part of your daily routine.
Some channels to follow:
Main features
- Unlimited library of videos
- Make your playlists
- 1080p-4K content
Drawbacks
- Ad-free viewing needs a subscription
- Annoying advertisements
Pricing: Free to download; $11.99
App rating: 4.6
FAQs
Which Yoga app is the best for beginners?
Down Dog, developed by Yoga Buddhi Co., is the best yoga for beginners and intermediate levels.
What equipment do I need for Yoga?
It doesn’t matter where you practice yoga – a gym, studio, or at home – you will need a mat as it offers cushion and stability, especially on hardwood floors. If you work outside the home, you should wear a good pair of shoes.
If you have been practicing yoga for a long time, you’ll need a few other props, such as straps, blocks, wheels, or bolsters, as they may help enhance specific postures.
Is Yoga good for my health?
Doing yoga at least three times a week boosts your mental and physical health. Mentally, it’s known to improve sleep, help with self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and is suitable for overall mental health. As for material benefits, it increases flexibility and improves strength, balance, and cardiovascular functioning.
Conclusion
These are the 10 best beginner Yoga apps for iPhone which will help you in the pursuit of wellness.
There are various options on the App Store, which could be great but selecting a yoga app that suits you will be hard.
Instead of some trial and error, it will be easier to select among ten apps.
The apps mentioned above are worth your fitness routine and the money they might cost.
Use your iPhone as a tool to inch closer to your fitness journey. Yoga is an ancient practice; if done every day, you’ll notice a difference very soon.
Choose an app or two that will act as your wellness buddies.
Not just yoga apps for iPhones, I write about all things Apple. Follow us for more such coverage.
