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."

167 classes found

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Connect
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.
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Bending Balance
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.
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Lower Balance
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.
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Strap Practice
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.
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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.
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Day 1: Foundation
Rodney Yee‘s Daily Yoga
Build a strong foundation in this Iyengar-inspired practice focused on body alignment and precision. As you concentrate on form and holding each pose, your understanding of foundational yoga poses develops and your connection to your body's innate wisdom grows.
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Abs on the Go
Yoga Now Abs
A condensed yet effective ab practice.
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Desktop Yoga
Rodney Yee
Release tension in your hips, back, shoulders, neck, and wrists with this short series of movements to practice at your desk.
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Strength Building Yoga
Rodney Yee guides you through a series of Vinyasa and inverted poses to help you develop power and stamina. This workout provides challenging routines for those looking to advance upon their already established Yoga practice.
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Strength Building Yoga
In the second session of Strength Building Yoga, Rodney Yee guides you through standing poses and arm balances that tone muscles and enhance self confidence. It is a mix of a Vinyasa warm-up, standing poses and challenging arm balances that will take you to a new level of your already solid Yoga practice.
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Yoga for Athletes Mini Workouts
This practice is designed for runners to help build cardiovascular endurance, improve focus, challenge underused muscles, and increase flexibility. Explore a simple sequence to stretch tight muscles like the hamstrings, calves, knees, shins, and feet, as well as lateral movements.
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AM & PM Yoga for Beginners
Enjoy a smooth transition from sleep to activity as you increase circulation, improve mobility, and center your mind. Begin with a short conscious relaxation exercise, followed by a gentle, flowing sequence, and a final meditation.
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Restorative Yoga For Vitality
Rodney Yee
A practice to reduce the effects of stress and renew vitality. In this simple, yet powerful restorative yoga practice, move through postures that help create a more centered, stress-free life.
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Yoga for Arthritis
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Arthritis
An enthusiastic and supportive practice to help create mobility in arthritic joints. No previous yoga experience needed.
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Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions For Back Pain
Part three of the Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions series is focused on supporting the lower back. Strengthen your core muscles and release tension in this practice designed to keep you active, improve circulation, and help prevent back pain.
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Yoga for Heart Health
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Heart Health
A simple and gentle class for heart health, ideal for beginners. Yoga offers many benefits for overall heart health: improved circulation, healthier breathing, and stress relief.