Welcome to Elsie’s Yoga Kula!
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Hello!
Welcome and Namaste 😀
Let me give you a quick run down of what you can find here.
You can watch the 6 minute video above or continue reading…or both 😉
Free Online Yoga Classes
There are over 80 audio yoga classes on the site. They range from basic yoga/beginner yoga classes to more advanced yoga practices. The length of the classes also varies. Classes can be from 45 min to 90 minutes. The average class runs about 75 minutes.
You can find those classes easily via the categories on the side bar, as they’ve been split up for greater accesibility. Each class has it’s own post, that begins with a small intro article, a link to the mp3 file, which you can download or stream directly from your computer or mobile device and the corresponding sequence of classes highlighted by pictures.
Yoga Podcast and Yoga Podcast iPhone App
You also do not have to come to this site to get my classes. You can go to iTunes and search for Elsie’s Yoga Class where you will find a way to subscribe to my podcast for free, as well as my iPhone/iPod Touch app, which is $3.99. My podcast app simply gives you greater accesibility to have all my classes available at the click of a button (if you are connected via wifi or via your cell network) plus I add extra content, such as PDFs of the class sequences including pictures and relevant videos.
Yoga Product Reviews, Resources and Conscious Affiliates
In the site you will also find a growing catalogue of yoga resources, such as yoga product reviews, from clothing to books, to yoga accessories. These reviews are not only written by me but also you guys, so if you happen to have a product that you adore, please feel free to send me a written or video review and I will gladly post it! You will find information of how to submit your own review right HERE .
I am a firm believer in supporting companies and products that not only offer great services but also embody conscious and sustainable practices. I choose to deepen relationships with these companies and am proud to call them my sponsors or affiliates. You can learn all about them here.
Unique and Inspiring Yoga and Lifestyle Programs
Elsie’s Yoga Kula is growing a lot. I’m creating new yoga and lifestyle programs which will empower you to live a more committed and meaningful life. Some of the content is all created according to what you desire, such as restorative classes, breathing practices, shorter classes, stuff like that, so if you are browsing around and would like something specific, leave me a comment or send me an email @ eyogaclass AT gmail DOT com or even call me at my voice feedback line 310 651 6238. In order to stay abreast of all this information please feel free to subscribe to my email newsletter.
Eyk is simply about building community. I often share articles, people, blogs, sites, and companies that inspire me daily, and I adore hearing from you guys!
Private and Public Yoga Classes and Programs in Pittsburgh
I am based in Pittsburgh, PA. Please feel free to peruse my public class schedule around town. I’m also available to work with you privately or design a yoga/lifestyle program which suits your individual or group needs!
thanks for stopping by!
{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
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Hi Elsie,
Fabulous site. Best of luck to you.
Namaste
Thank you so much! Lovely to have you stop by 😀
So glad to have found you. What a blessing you are offering. Thank you!
Oh thank you Debbie! Thank YOU for stopping by 😀
We have an aunt who should know about your site. We’ll forward your URL to her.
Enjoyed your intro video. Thank you. Kirk and Karrie
Sweet! Thank you Kirk and Karrie, for taking the time to comment and to watch the video 🙂 Hope your aunt finds it helpful.
Elsie,
I had to comment on your most recent class about “multitasking.” I feel as though we are connected through an invisible thread. I follow along with your online classes here in NJ when I can… I have a 2 1/2 yr old daughter and a 5 month old son, work full time in my medical practice, volunteer one night a week and try to keep it all together. Moms are definitely the queens of multitasking and technology makes it both easier and harder at the same time. Thank you for taking a class dedicated to taking time for yourself and yoga practice.
-Michelle (Cherry Hill, NJ)
PS – haven’t been able to do the class straight through yet but that’s a goal. ;()
Holy Cow Michelle, hats off to you mighty Mommy! Thank you for your time to come by here to say hey and to share ♥ I know how hard it is for me to comment on someone’s blog/sharing. I always am inspired by so many people and then don’t get the opportunity to share! I totally appreciate your TIME. I am still navigating that fine line of our God given gift of multitasking and our innate sweet source of power which is each moment *sigh*. All I can say is that I’m doing my best!
Sending you and your little ones TONS of support and love and may you get sweet sparkles of ease and quiet during your days 😀
Thank you for sharing so much. My payback to you is to use yoga as a means to move forward in a positive direction, and to share that spirit with those who need. May you continue to find “Peace of Mind”.
Clay
Sweet! Thank you Clay!
Hi Elsie,
I have all your podcasts in iTunes waiting for me when I need them – I arrived in Vancouver from Brisbane, Australia after about 20hrs of transit and have just finished your class #81, which was just what I needed.
Thank you!
Kate.
(Brisbane, Australia)
(usually!)
Kate! Sweeet! Sooooo cool. I’m so glad that they’ve been of use to you. Have a great time in Vancouver 🙂 Wow, 20 hours of transit, dude, so great that the class helped to ease the body out!
Hi Elsie,
Thank you for this amazing resource and all your hard work to make this available to everyone!
Having just been diagnosed with advanced heart failure at 46,, I’m trading in mountain biking for yoga and it’s already more beneficial. I look forward to learning more!
Thanks so much 🙂
Oh my goodness!
Well I’m so glad that you’re stepping into your health more fully! Let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to help. Also, thanks tons for taking the time to say hi 😀
Hi Elsie
Im writing as I have always admired the images of your photos and your wild technical ability to create such cool and professional little podcasts. I myself am about to embark on a project of this type with another yogini and wonder if you couldn’t offer a little guidance on where you learned to edit the videos (something so simple as adding words on the screen while you’re talking). Does someone tape you, or do you have atimer on your camera?
Also, Im wondering what your background is or your daily practice is like to be able to do such awesome postures with ease and alignment.
Warmly,
Namaste
Eryn
Thank you Eryn!
congratulations on your endeavor! I can’t tell you how much I totally ♥ it 🙂 I learned to edit my audio and video by fully diving into it and wanting to do it. I basically taught myself by trial and error and by listening to TONS of podcasts and ready TONS of blogs.
I have to say that the moment that I purchased my 2006 Macbook my ability to do all that I do became EVER so much easier. So, what you see now is all done on a Mac, primarily using GarageBand for audio (with occasional use of a free Mac/PC audio editor called Audacity) and iMovie (that’s where I add all the titles and all that jazz).
I do all my videos by myself. I would do more if it wasn’t so darn hard to set up a tripod and make sure that I’m all in the frame. I have so many videos with my head cut off 😉 I carry my camera and tripod with me everywhere, just in case I get inspired or have the opportunity to video something.
My daily practice…HA! Man oh man. I’m working on doing 5 min a day (at this point in my life.) Before I had my daughter I would practice about 3 to 5 times a week, both at home and in public classes. I’m so out of yoga shape! All my muscles have all but disappeared and my stamina is pretty darn low 🙁 My yoga practice has shifted to be about something other than the postures themselves as I don’t have the option at this point to practice asana as much as I desire.
I had really great teachers who taught me very well, so I can work very strongly implementing the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment and I can do a streamlined asana practice. I look forward to strengthening and growing the next stage of my practice!
I hope that helped! Thank you tons for asking the questions and stopping by!
Hi Elsie,
Been listening to your podcasts for over a year now, I’m embarassed to say I am finally making my way to your site, sorry it has taken me so long. Very cool stuff. You’ve helped so many people out, including myself, just with your words, your meditations and your big heart. Your little girl is so adorable, I have two of my own…. the only thing better for me making my daughter laugh is having her little sister make her laugh. You gotta go for a sibling, girl! I know, easier said than done, but family is so awesome. Keep up the great work! My wife is from Pitt and if we get back up that way, I’ll totally check you out.
Brian 🙂
Yeay! You made it to the site! I’m a huge podcast listener and there are many podcasts whose sight I’ve never visited. I hear ya 😉 I decided to add the RSS feeds to my Google Reader so that at least I was informed if they posted something that wasn’t a podcast!
My little one is SO cute! And Duuuude….just trying to get myself all together with this one, haven’t even let my mind wander to the ‘other’ one yet 😉 Yikes! Their giggles are the best..THE BEST.
If you do come on round the Burgh, come on by!
I wrote my first post to your website about a year ago (see above). And yes, I told you your little girl needed a sibling. I hear you took that advice (I’m sure I had everything to do with it…:-)), albeit a few months later. Awesome Girl, congrats. your life is about to get fuller and richer and when the two of them play together, it is so much fun to watch. Still trying to make it to Pitt. In the meantime, keep the content coming, though I know it’s about to get oh, just a little bit harder. 🙂 Be sure to post pics of the new addition!!!
Hi Elsie,
Just wanted to let you know I downloaded your App from iTunes and I LOVE it!
I have been practicing yoga at home daily for 14 yrs and absolutely need it to keep me sane! I fractured my left patella 3 yrs ago, when I fell I landed in the split position thus causing damage to the muscles and tendons , as soon as I was given the go ahead, (7 LONG months later) I eagerly jumped back onto my yoga matt. I was quite discouraged that I didn’t have the flexibility that I had before. I couldn’t even sit in Hero’s Pose without the feeling that my knee would split open…that is until I came across your podcast! You made me work it! I am so glad to have your podcasts as I have become quite bored with my DVD collections, they are too scripted. I was becoming stagnant and lazy in my practices; I was also favouring my left leg so I wasn’t giving it my all. I like the natural and human interaction you offer, it is as if I am in your class.
You remind me to keep those muscles doing their job, now I can sit in Hero’s Pose pain free and other poses are becoming easier to hold. I also enjoy hiking and now I can go for hours without my leg dragging behind me.
I enjoy listening to your words of encouragement and aspire to have a positive outlook on life such as you do. Your class (and family) are fortunate to have you. If I lived in Pittsburgh I would join your class in a heartbeat. Thank you, thank you thank you!
Namaste,
A fan from Canada, Lynn
Your thinking is so different.. Fabulous work..
Just found your site today and did one of your classes. Wonderful teaching. Thank you so much for recording and sharing your classes freely online. I will be using them on the days I don’t attend my regular Anusara classes here in Portland, Oregon.
You are a gift. A GIFT! Yoga bliss.
Warmly
Gordon Kelley
Today? and you already rocked out a class? Sweet!!!! Gordon, such a pleasure to have you practicing along with the online kula 🙂 Yipeeee! So honored to have you play with us 🙂
Thank you tons for the sweet support!
Hi Elsie,
I love your podcasts and do them regularly – you have a great yogi vibe that I respond to, love how you can be so knowledgeable and yet not take yourself too seriously.
I’ve recently started blogging and just wrote a post about how much I love yoga podcasts, and you of course figure prominently in this post – you can find it at: http://reganrants.wordpress.com/
Keep up your fantastic work – isn’t it amazing that people ALL around the world do your classes? Love this global village. Your podcasts can and do make the world a better place, so thanks x 1000 for sharing them with us.
Namaste,
Deanna
Deanna! Totally honored that you mentioned me on your blog! I adore your insights! I’m so glad that you are able to keep up your home practice. It’s one of the reasons I’m doing this’
The global kula totally rocks!!!!!
is this thru .skype
This is not thru Skype. I’m working on a class that will be going through skype but as of right now all classes are downloadable audio files that you can get either from this site or you can go to iTunes and do it there!
Hi, I think we might have gone through Marie and Laura’s program together, but not sure. Anyway, I am excited to find you. I have a chronic case of hyperfocus on work/inability to walk away from the computer and take time for myself to renew.
So, looking super forward to tuning into ALL you have to offer, so I can get in a habit of breaking for the sake of my body. I NEED to stretch more!
Thanks so much. Look forward to the journey.
We TOTALLY DID!!!! I am soooooooo glad that you came along to visit! Please feel free to email me or keep on commenting. I’d be happy to serve in whatever way possible 😀 Rock on!
Wow.. fantastic work… Thanks..
Elsie, thank you so much for uploading all these classes. You’re one of the few online teachers I can really learn from, and I am freshly appreciating your upbeat energy and strong spiritual intention. Please keep it up! (Note: more hour-long classes would be most welcome.)
Ok, I’ve been away from yoga for quite while and my life is just not the same. There has been an emptiness inside me.
I’m going to ease myself into a steady schedule again and I need to brush-up on the many fundamentals you taught me. I’ll be perhaps reviewing through the many classes you have posted in your amazing iApp for insight as well as attempting to find a live teacher/teachers here to work with.
All Still Yoga I’m sure has some of the best Anusara here, however I want to myself back in with a level 1.5 : ) …. To start …. Not sure they go that mellow over there?
Any suggestions?
I love your site here!! So good to connect.
Elsie – I LOVE your classes, i’m in australia and enjoy them so much!! You are such a great teacher and I love the freedom and flexibility to do it whenever I want!! Thank you thank you!
I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for making your yoga classes available for free. I am a peace corps volunteer serving in the Ancash region of Peru. I download your podcasts when I make trips to the capitol city and I really enjoy practicing along with your classes. I’m a total beginner, so sometimes I’m sure I look pretty hilarious trying to follow just your audio instructions, but I have a lot of fun trying. Anyway, just thought I’d let you know that you have at least one follower down here, and if you ever get to Peru you should totally visit!
Elsie,
Last night my 12 year old daughter was having trouble upwinding and calming her mind. She is starting to experience the anxieties that plague many of us as we mature from girl to woman. What a comfort it was for me and for her to have your meditation to play as I listened with her and helped her to unwind. I thought of my own journey and how much I would have loved to have had a means to look inward in those years. Thank you again so much for helping me to help my daughter . Your work is such a blessing in both our lives<3
Dear Elsie,
Like I said, it’s always exciting seeing a new class. I opened Itunes today to practice and Whuwho! a new class! One about values, who you wanna be, practicing daily, and being truthful about it all. You’re terrific. Thanks for the way you share. And may 2011 be full of insights into living.
K
OH!!!! lovely lady! I’m soooo glad 🙂 I love those sweet surprises 😉
I am a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and I’m so thankful to you and your podcasts! I have been here for two years (almost done!), and I’ve been missing my anusara practice from Asheville, NC. Your a lovely teacher and having the reminder that it’s okay to laugh while practicing has helped me stay present while I anxiously wait to got home.
love love love. awesome stuff. xo
I am so grateful that you have a podcast practice that is online and available to everyone. Over the two or so years I’ve been practicing with you through the magic of the internet your lessons, asanas, and emailed advice has kept me steady through some trying times. I’ve remained grounded when I felt the world was spinning around me and I’ve remained focused when I need to be moving at high speed myself.
Thank you.
Oh Cecily. So SO grateful for you. Your energy. Your passion. Your commitment. Your willingness to share. Honored to get to know you via this medium mighty yogi! xoxoxoxoxo
Hi Elsie
Things have gotten worse with my feet and I’m back in the hospital. Today started great and although I had a very large problem at the end of the day I am already bouncing back. I have to suspect it was because I did the 32 min meditation you sent as a suggestion to me.
Thanks for all your hard work.
I hope your little one is feeling better??
David
I know you’re from LA and I should accept it, but “literally” doesn’t mean what you think it means – it pulls me out of every video I try. Just say really.
http://jezebel.com/5745076/saying-literally-all-the-time-is-literally-an-issue
Holy cow Nikki, how in the world am I gonna make any more videos…let alone teach any classes. Holy cow. 😀
I assume you haven’t listened to me teach yet, ’cause I “literally” have a TON of mannerisms that are *quite* annoying 😉
Who knew literally was such a pet peeve? Thanks for the link. I must confess that specific habit has been absolutely sunk into my core because of my teacher. I picked up his speech pattern as well as some of his mannerisms + robot and car making noises. *sigh*
Thanks for sharing. I’ll keep ‘literally’ in mind….Oh, and I’m not from LA. I’m originally from El Salvador, lived in LA and now reside in Pittsburgh….so with these yinz having their own colloquialisms, you can imagine the kind of speech patterns n’at I’m picking up. I’m complete mess
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!! I’ve been waiting and waiting to settle back into a practice for a few years – I don’t know/care why. I’m back. I found your classes quite by “accident” and I am in LOVE! I started at the bottom and I’ve just done 3 and already I can feel the joy all over. I have just enough room in my beentsie little apartment to lay down my mat. My cats sit back and watch, yawning and bathing. I’m in Burlington, surrounded by many feet of snow. What a world. 🙂
My goal now is to plan a PA weekend and come to a class in person.
Thank you so much for everything that it took and continues to take to become you and create these classes. Namaste and a great big HUG!
Holy cow Laurie! You’re awesome! I’m so glad you bumped into me somehow 😉 Sweeeet! Love it! It would be awesome to have you come and take class! that would be the coolest thing ever! xoxoxoxoox
Hi Elsie. I just discovered your wonderful wonderful yoga classes online. I have only a million thanks to give you. I live in a place where a good yoga class is very very difficult to come by. The one good yoga studio that was open here for a while could not make it financially and closed down last december. Since then i have been really struggling to set up a regular home practice. its very difficult to really self-motivate myself and take an hour out of my day and lead myself in a yoga practice. I’ve found you and now i’m set! And really – thank you for making them free. That makes a difference. I had already give money to an online yoga school that I thought would be good, but that sucked. I was wary of paying more money for something that I could know if it gave me the kind of experience I wanted. You really opened up my world. Your level 2-3 classes are challenging but not impossible. i feel very open afteward. thank you thank you thank you.
Inna!!!!
I’m so glad you found me 🙂 sustaining a yoga practice at home by yourself without support from a larger kula is truly a challenge. I’m glad that practicing along with us has helped you.
You are soooooo very welcome lovely!!!!! LOVE to you ♥
many thanks for sharing this great site information about yoga classes and online yoga.I’ll be back here for more useful information like this.
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Love your blog, thanks for sharing.
Ana
thank you Ana!
Dear Elsie,
I’m Rajendra Vyas From Bharuch (Gujarat), India. Thank you very very much for this type of sites. I search free yoga classes online… free yoga-meditation books in PDF format…One I got the free yoga classes online….
Thank you very much once again…
With love & regards…
Rajendra
+91-9824366122
I am new to meditation. I have been practicing Japa meditation for about a month now. I began meditating as a way to relax me before I go to sleep. I have insomnia. I really began to enjoy the experience and so I do 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night. Today I had a very unusual experience. About 15 minutes into the meditation I began to experience something through my body. The only way I can explain it is that my body was “vibrating” from the inside out. It was not a shaking or a shivering as when you are very cold. It was a physical sensation that I have not experienced in my life. I am 57 years old. I was not imagining it. It was a real physical sensation. It was as if my whole body was vibrating. I opened my eyes but I could not see my body moving. It began to concern me and it eventually stopped. Is this normal? Should I be concerned? Has anyone else had this experience? Can anyone tell me what this might be?
Hi,
I was looking at your site through wikipedia and am learning a lot. However, I have a son and don’t feel comfortable sharing the site because of the picture like the one with Malasana doing the garden pose showing what is now called camel toe. He has developed an active interest in yoga and I would like to feel comfortable sharing it with him.
Thank you
Hi Elsie,
I’ve been doing several of your yoga podcasts for the past several weeks, and really love your spirit and being able to practice with an Anusara teacher in a place where there aren’t any around!
I am writing to find out if you’re aware of a problem with some of your old podcasts (I found the same problem on Hilary Rubin’s site, too), where if you’re not using iTunes (I don’t use it) and just trying to play or download the mp3 files, many times the link just brings you to a dead end at http://libsyn.com/
Episodes 11, 14, and 40 are all examples, but there are even more with the same problem.
Namaste, Kristen
Kristen!
thank you so oooo much! It’s funny how I wrote an entire blog post about that EXACT issue over at the libsyn blog and I haven’t taken the time to take my own advice and clean up my own links!!!! http://imake.libsyn.com/podcast-clean-up-don-t-use-that-link-
Booo.
I appreciate you taking the time to let me know and I’ll get on it ASAP. If you happen to run across any others and you have the time, I’d appreciate you sending me an email eyogaclass (at) gmail (dot) com. It’ll help me get those links working again!
I’ll email you when those are fixed!
Thanks again love! SO APPRECIATIVE!!!
I fixed those episodes for you 🙂
Hey Elsie,
I love your site, the app and especially your classes-your verbal instruction is amazing. I was wondering what specific type of yoga these classes generally are?
Thanks!
Lauren
Well hello Lauren 🙂
The style that I teach and practice is called Anusara yoga. http://Anusara.com
So glad you said hi!
Hi Elsie,
I have been doing yoga with you and your podcast for a few weeks now and I love them! I always think yoga teachers in class are somehow psychic with regards to what my body needs. Now, doing the podcast I realize that good yoga instructors, like you, teach and the body, my body, knows what it needs. I could be Princess or John or anybody else in the classes you teach and your adjustments, instructions, feel like they are directed right at me! Amazing, who know yoga via podcast could be so inspiring. So…Hi! and thanks for inspiring devotion!
Love and Peace,
Christine
Nelson, BC
I think Yoga is the best exercise to keep you healthy. It removes our all disease.
I really enjoy your podcast! I am constantly adding new music to my library for meditation and my own personal yoga practice. I have several in my library now but I was wondering if you had any recommendations for your favorite background/meditation/yoga music? Thanks for your time! Enjoy this day!
This is site will prove useful for those who aspire to be healthy physically and mentally. What interested me is yoga’s principle on solving problems by acknowledging they exist. What I really like is this to be thought in schools, aside from the physical exercise is the ideology it teaches every person.
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It is so nice to find a way to take inspiring and rejuvenating yoga classes while abroad for a few months… thank you for the wonderful site, the helpful instruction and the thoughtful insights.
What a great site to find useful yoga information. The free yoga classes are an amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to learn a lot from this site and improve my mental and physical health. I am grateful for the generosity.
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Thank you so much for this site and the podcasts. I am new to yoga practice and love it so far. I have to travel over the holiday season and this is just what I needed to stay with it!
Thank you thank you thank you!
You know what – this looks pretty good. I’ve done Bikram yoga in the past. I really need to get back into it. The only thing is I think I need the class setting to push me along. I’ll give it a try.
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Just dropping by to say hello and that I miss your wonderful classes! Am taking a psychotherapy class on Thursday evenings that has kept me from my favorite weekly tradition at bys but had a chance to go this past week and remembered how important yoga and the teachers I’ve had the privilege to learn from is in my life. You have been an important and valued teacher and I look forward to continue from you! – Sonia
I was once a Yoga student but I stopped because of some financial constraints. Thanks for sharing this free online yoga tutorials. I will be able to save this time. Could give us more links to your video tutorials?
Thanks a lot!
-Donna
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Great intro video Elsie! I have taken up Bikram yoga recently and wonder what your thoughts are on that? I am currently recovering from abdominal surgery, so can’t do any exercise for several weeks (which is driving me nuts) but look forward to getting back to either my Kundalini stuff or the Bikram…and NOW am going to check out your offerings because they sound great. Thank-you!
You have such a lovely blog Elsie. The welcoming video is just too good. The other articles and blog posts are equally good.
Thanks.
-Stacy
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You are welcome Stacy, thanks tons for stopping by!
Thank you for your site. I found you through Hillary Rubin, who I also adore. I love that you have pictures of all your poses. I am always looking for a podcast with handstands. <3