Online Yoga Resources: The Naptime Yogi

I’ve always loved yoga. Even in my college days, I took it as an elective. Yeah, not just because of the easy A factor, but I truly enjoyed learning about the practice and enjoyed what it did for my mind. Fast forward to now, MANY moons after those college years, and I find myself back into the yoga scene. This time with a much different perspective. Thanks to plenty of online yoga resources, this journey was both easy and fun.

My Yoga Experience

In order to paint the picture of how I became the “Naptime Yogi,” I need to first explain how I dabbled in yoga over the years, but never considered myself to be a yogi of any sorts. A few classes at the local gym, a couple of free sessions at some trendy studios to try it out, but nothing serious. It was more of a fling. In fact, in my adult years, I found myself gravitating to HIIT workouts and intense cardio in order to feel like I was doing “work,” but something was ALWAYS missing.

After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in early 2020, I took a pause from all of my typical workouts. I stopped running, I stopped cycling, I stopped the HIIT. Not because I thought it was bad for me, but because I was paralyzed with fear. Fear that I was making my body sicker by putting too much strain on it. Confused by all the effort with none of the “results.” I had lost all gratitude for what my body could do. To be honest, I felt a little bit like my body was failing me. Then, I woke up one day and decided that in order to take the best care of myself, I had to find something I both loved and provided my body with the movement that it needed. Insert Yoga. Again.

Becoming The “Naptime” Yogi

I already had downloaded the beloved Peloton App, but I had never clicked on the Yoga section. My daughter (age 2) naps every day around the same time in the afternoon, so while the older kids entertained themselves, I shut the door to my room, turned on my diffuser, rolled out my yoga mat, and pressed play. It all came rushing back to me. The feeling of strength, the feeling of peace, and the feeling of calm. And most of all, the feeling of GRATITUDE. As I sat there after my first naptime session, I felt grateful. I was grateful for being able to move my body, for all of the blessings in my life, and for the ability to heal.

My naptime yoga sessions quickly became something to look forward to: a way to feel grounded, grateful, rested, & reset. The breathing during yoga is such a cleansing breath that it actually forced me to slow down. Like many people with autoimmune diseases, I tend to be a go-go-go type of person, doing a thousand things at once and always busy. Yoga has forced me to pause, sometimes for a quick 30-minute session or sometimes for a whole hour of my day. The low lights, the music, the postures, the essential oils wafting into the air of the room…it creates a complete and total environment of relaxation. Which is exactly what I needed in order to find gratitude. Especially during such uncertain times.

Have you found yourself looking for different ways to incorporate a gratitude practice into your life? If you are like me and need an excuse to slow down and remember to breathe, yoga might be the answer. The great news is that it’s really easy to practice yoga from home whether you are a beginner or a master yogi. And if you’ve ever heard or believed that yoga isn’t a real workout, I challenge you to do a few sessions and then come back to me with your thoughts. :Insert winky face:

Online Yoga Resources

FREE Yoga on YouTube
- Gaiam Yoga– With a whole section for beginners and “Yoga under 10 Minutes,” this is a great place to start.
- Boho Beautiful– She has some incredible videos including some with really beautiful scenery in the background.
- Yoga with Adriene– Probably my favorite YouTube Yoga channel, because she’s super approachable.
Do Yoga With Me– This online platform has a great deal going on right now for 2 months FREE and they host multiple teachers along with varying levels of classes and challenges.
Peloton– Mentioned above, this is my go-to for daily Yoga. I love the themed classes, instructors, and music choices. They also have a guided meditation section that is a great compliment to your daily yoga practice. You don’t need any equipment to download the app and the first 30 days are FREE.
Curious about ways to simplify your fitness routine including yoga? Check out the article linked here.