Rodney Yee

Rodney Yee

Rodney Yee is a celebrated yoga teacher who began his practice in 1980 and has become a key figure in the American yoga landscape. Known for his ability to merge the physical and philosophical aspects of yoga, Rodney aims to reveal the natural beauty of the spirit through movement. Alongside his wife, Colleen Saidman Yee, he developed the Gaia Yoga Studio, which focuses on making yoga accessible for home practice.

Rodney’s teaching style is heavily influenced by his personal practice and intuition, as well as his deep exploration of Iyengar Yoga. He built a strong foundation in Iyengar Yoga under the guidance of renowned teachers, including Donald Moyer. This tradition’s emphasis on alignment, sequencing, and timing continues to shape his approach, making his classes accessible and profound for practitioners of all levels.

Throughout his career, Rodney has been dedicated to expanding the reach of yoga beyond the studio. He has created numerous video titles, narrated mediation audio recordings, and written two books, allowing people to experience his teachings. globally. As a co-chair of the Urban Zen Health and Wellness Initiative, Rodney also works to bring the healing benefits of yoga and holistic practices into hospitals and other care settings.

Education

Rodney Yee studied Philosophy and Physical Therapy at U.C. Davis and U.C. Berkeley. He learned from influential teachers, including Donald Moyer, Manouso Manos, and Ramanand Patel.

Career

Rodney was a ballet dancer with the Oakland Ballet Company and Matsuyama Dance Company of Tokyo. He co-founded Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, CA, in 1987. He developed Gaia Yoga Studio with his wife, Colleen, and partnered with Donna Karan to establish UZIT LLC (Urban Zen Integrative Therapy), blending Yoga, Reiki, Essential Oils, and Meditation. He is a co-chair of the Urban Zen Health and Wellness Initiative, a foundation promoting yoga and holistic therapies in hospitals nationwide.

Publications

Rodney has authored books like "Yoga, The Poetry of the Body" (2002) and "Moving Toward Balance" (2004). He appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, CNN, and PBS. Rodney has starred in instructional videos, such as "Gaiam: Rodney Yee Yoga for Energy and Stress Relief" and "Living Yoga: Abs Yoga for Beginners." He was featured on the cover of Yoga Journal and appeared in the 2007 documentary "Yoga, Inc."

Featured Appearances and Yoga Courses

155 classes found

Rodney Yee‘s Yoga for Your Week
Build strength and tone muscle while working up to new, more challenging poses and backbends.
Rodney Yee‘s Yoga for Your Week
Wake up your muscles and get your body moving. Increase clarity and focus for the day ahead with a sequence of mostly standing poses and a few Tai Chi inspired movements throughout.
Rodney Yee’s Yoga for Energy & Stress Relief
Using the breath to relax the body and quiet the mind, this practice is designed to release tension in the hips, back and side bodies.
Rodney Yee’s Yoga for Energy & Stress Relief
Awaken your body and increase energy levels with gentle twists and forward folds.
Rodney Yee’s Power Up Yoga
Get a quick hit of strengthening exercises in this flowing sequence.
Rodney Yee’s Power Up Yoga
Discover the benefits of Rodney Yee's Power Up Yoga series.
Rodney Yee’s Power Up Yoga
Learn to focus on the breath in this quick-moving practice, allowing it to connect movement with well-being. Invite focus and a refreshing sensation to brighten your day.
Rodney Yee’s Power Up Yoga
Connect to the earth while focusing on strengthening the core and lower body. Mindfully flow through a series of sun salutations before resting in savasana.
Rodney Yee Core Centered Yoga
Alternate between exploring backbends and forward bends, achieving better posture and body alignment through breakdowns of cobra, up dog, camel, cobbler, and forward folds.
Rodney Yee Core Centered Yoga
Create strength and balance in the lower body by exploring familiar postures to reveal how rotating the legs in opposite directions.
Rodney Yee‘s A.M. & P.M. Yoga for Beginners
Explore postures that can be enhanced and aided by using a strap as a helpful tool.
Rodney Yee‘s A.M. & P.M. Yoga for Beginners
Just like the sun gradually warms up the Earth, wouldn’t it be wonderful to go from sleep to awareness gradually? By following the rhythm of your breath and doing gentle yoga poses to that rhythm, you can gradually awaken, center yourself and be fully present.