Best Yoga Apps to Try at Home

I love yoga apps. They give me the opportunity to take a yoga class, or just do a quick routine.

I can choose the level, the duration and even the kind of class I want to do all at the touch of a button.

What's more, I can do them in the comfort of my own home, on my lovely Yoga Design Lab mat (mine is Mandala Turquoise and has a lovely suede feel, can be machine washed and is designed to grip better when you're a little sweaty).

Yoga apps are probably best for people who have done yoga in the past with an instructor and know many of the moves and postures, as there is nobody there to correct you. Many of the apps do have beginner instructions which are good, but I do think that going to a class where you can ensure that your form is correct is also an important part of learning the practise.

Each of these apps shows you the postures in video or pictures, it's then up to you to replicate them.

Here are a few apps (all are available on both IOS and Android) that I've tried and think are definitely worth using.

Yoga Studio

Over 70 video classes available for download that range in length from 10 - 60 minutes. This means once you've downloaded the class you don't need to be on the internet to do the classes. Ideal for travel or when internet is unreliable.

Can choose body parts to work on (such as if you have a sore back to improving your core), or just do general yoga workouts. Plus there are classes for runners who need to stretch out their muscles after a run varying from 5-20 minutes in duration, and deep relaxation meditations to improve your day (and sleep).

Includes different experience levels from beginner to advanced.

Video classes with voice guidance that you follow so you can see how every move works and do it in real time.

You can create your own workout from a range of poses.

Gentle soundtrack that can be adjusted to your liking.

Calendar schedule so you can 'book in' a class to your diary!

Cost: $5.99AUD (half the price of a real life yoga class).

Find out more here

Downward Dog

Has a gentle music soundtrack that can be customised.

Can choose workouts from 10 - 45 minutes in duration and you don't have to keep repeating the same routine over and over as app generates a new sequence of poses each time.

You can choose level of difficulty from beginner to advanced. Great voice guide for each pose at a realistic pace.

Options include a full class to a quick flow, to a restorative type routine which is more about flexibility and stretching.

Imagery: static images (not video) of each stage of pose (this is the only downside in my experience of it), but if you have done yoga then this isn't an issue.

Cost: Free ($2.99 per month paid membership version will get you all the latest updates as soon as they are available)

Find out more here

iYoga Premium

This app is unlike any other. Each pose is shown as an animated motion capture video where you see under the skin to the muscle so you know what each pose is working and you get both front and side views of each pose for best form.

Different present programs available - try a daily tune up or a lunchtime energiser, a class to improve your balance and strength or just a short morning stretch when you get out of bed.

Make up your own classes of any duration from their list of poses, the free version includes 80 poses and then you can get another 114 advanced poses with the premium version.

Good voice instructions included and I love that in between poses it shows you how to move from one pose to the next (say a standing pose to a sitting or lying down one).

No music or soundtrack other than voice instruction and a bell that tells you when the pose is ending.

Whether it's a create your own program or one of the preset classes you can easily change the duration of how long you wish to hold the pose.

Cost: $5.99 for the basic 81 poses then $2.99 additional if you want intermediate and advanced poses.

Find out more here.

Daily Yoga

Multiple different streams - a few free, but mostly available with in-app purchase.

Video based classes with lots of good instruction, very much like being in guided yoga class. The classes are provided by 11 different yoga teachers.

Great variety of class styles available. You can choose a 30 day yoga challenge, 10 day beginner tour, fat burning workout and even workouts to help you get a better nights sleep. Many of these options are in the paid version of the app.

If you're new to yoga the 10 day beginners tour includes stiff joint relief, foundational poses and improving your stability and core strength. These sessions start at 10 - 15 minutes in length and are a great way to get into a yoga practise.

Good for beginners who need more verbal instructions plus you get the full video of the instructor doing the pose to follow along with, some of the instructors are a little too chatty for my liking (but that's a personal preference).

The app includes over 100 yoga workouts plus 500+ poses. You'll never get bored! Classes start at 5 minutes and go up to 70 minutes in length.

Free version, so many ads! You have to say no to many ads before you can access the free workouts, this is pretty annoying!

You can schedule the app to notify you to do classes too if you like a reminder.

Cost: Free for a few basic classes but if you like this app go for the paid version as it includes so much more $9.99 per month or $39.99 per year (still way cheaper than going out an attending live yoga classes).

Find out more here

I love yoga apps. They give me the opportunity to take a yoga class, or just do a quick routine.

I can choose the level, the duration and even the kind of class I want to do all at the touch of a button.

What's more, I can do them in the comfort of my own home, on my lovely Yoga Design Lab mat (mine is Mandala Turquoise and has a lovely suede feel, can be machine washed and is designed to grip better when you're a little sweaty).

Yoga apps are probably best for people who have done yoga in the past with an instructor and know many of the moves and postures, as there is nobody there to correct you. Many of the apps do have beginner instructions which are good, but I do think that going to a class where you can ensure that your form is correct is also an important part of learning the practise.

Each of these apps shows you the postures in video or pictures, it's then up to you to replicate them.

Here are a few apps (all are available on both IOS and Android) that I've tried and think are definitely worth using.

Yoga Studio

Over 70 video classes available for download that range in length from 10 - 60 minutes. This means once you've downloaded the class you don't need to be on the internet to do the classes. Ideal for travel or when internet is unreliable.

Can choose body parts to work on (such as if you have a sore back to improving your core), or just do general yoga workouts. Plus there are classes for runners who need to stretch out their muscles after a run varying from 5-20 minutes in duration, and deep relaxation meditations to improve your day (and sleep).

Includes different experience levels from beginner to advanced.

Video classes with voice guidance that you follow so you can see how every move works and do it in real time.

You can create your own workout from a range of poses.

Gentle soundtrack that can be adjusted to your liking.

Calendar schedule so you can 'book in' a class to your diary!

Cost: $5.99AUD (half the price of a real life yoga class).

Find out more here

Downward Dog

Has a gentle music soundtrack that can be customised.

Can choose workouts from 10 - 45 minutes in duration and you don't have to keep repeating the same routine over and over as app generates a new sequence of poses each time.

You can choose level of difficulty from beginner to advanced. Great voice guide for each pose at a realistic pace.

Options include a full class to a quick flow, to a restorative type routine which is more about flexibility and stretching.

Imagery: static images (not video) of each stage of pose (this is the only downside in my experience of it), but if you have done yoga then this isn't an issue.

Cost: Free ($2.99 per month paid membership version will get you all the latest updates as soon as they are available)

Find out more here

iYoga Premium

This app is unlike any other. Each pose is shown as an animated motion capture video where you see under the skin to the muscle so you know what each pose is working and you get both front and side views of each pose for best form.

Different present programs available - try a daily tune up or a lunchtime energiser, a class to improve your balance and strength or just a short morning stretch when you get out of bed.

Make up your own classes of any duration from their list of poses, the free version includes 80 poses and then you can get another 114 advanced poses with the premium version.

Good voice instructions included and I love that in between poses it shows you how to move from one pose to the next (say a standing pose to a sitting or lying down one).

No music or soundtrack other than voice instruction and a bell that tells you when the pose is ending.

Whether it's a create your own program or one of the preset classes you can easily change the duration of how long you wish to hold the pose.

Cost: $5.99 for the basic 81 poses then $2.99 additional if you want intermediate and advanced poses.

Find out more here.

Daily Yoga

Multiple different streams - a few free, but mostly available with in-app purchase.

Video based classes with lots of good instruction, very much like being in guided yoga class. The classes are provided by 11 different yoga teachers.

Great variety of class styles available. You can choose a 30 day yoga challenge, 10 day beginner tour, fat burning workout and even workouts to help you get a better nights sleep. Many of these options are in the paid version of the app.

If you're new to yoga the 10 day beginners tour includes stiff joint relief, foundational poses and improving your stability and core strength. These sessions start at 10 - 15 minutes in length and are a great way to get into a yoga practise.

Good for beginners who need more verbal instructions plus you get the full video of the instructor doing the pose to follow along with, some of the instructors are a little too chatty for my liking (but that's a personal preference).

The app includes over 100 yoga workouts plus 500+ poses. You'll never get bored! Classes start at 5 minutes and go up to 70 minutes in length.

Free version, so many ads! You have to say no to many ads before you can access the free workouts, this is pretty annoying!

You can schedule the app to notify you to do classes too if you like a reminder.

Cost: Free for a few basic classes but if you like this app go for the paid version as it includes so much more $9.99 per month or $39.99 per year (still way cheaper than going out an attending live yoga classes).

Find out more here