Video Episodes

(Level: All) After you and your partner grow comfortable with mirroring, and hopefully have a bit more insight into how the other moves, a great exercise is echoing. Instead of trying to move in exact unison (or, at the same time) as your partner, here the follower will aim to allow them to finish a movement done by the leader and then copy it. At first, the follower should try to do the move exactly as the leader did it. Once that becomes easier, the follower should come up with a way to modify the leader’s move to make it their own, while still keeping the basic idea of the move intact. For example, if the leader puts their arm out to the side very fast, the follower can instead choose to put their arm out to the front very fast. See what you and your partner come up with!

(Level: All) For this video series, we will be going over different ways to explore movement with a partner. I highly recommend finding a friend who you are comfortable with, since it takes good communication and trust to effectively do these exercises. A great way to see how you naturally dance and how your partner naturally dances is by mirroring each other: one of you will be the LEADER, and one of you will be the FOLLOWER. The leader comes up with different movements (try to keep them simple at first), and the follower tries their best to copy exactly what the leader is doing as if they were their mirror image. We will also go over many different ways to elaborate on this idea. Have fun!

(Level: All) A great way to challenge ourselves is to use this exercise. I will say a few phrases, and then come up with a few interpretations of my own. Try to think of different movements that could illustrate these phrases before watching the video: FLOWER BLOOMING, SNAKE ATTACKING, BREEZE BLOWING THROUGH TREES, CAT RELAXING; then, you can compare what you came up with to my movements! A few other phrases to play with on your own: FAUCET DRIPPING, SUN SETTING, SNOW FALLING. This will be the end of this series, I hope you have enjoyed!

(Level: All) Now that we have gone over many different concepts- balance, momentum, pointing/flexing, expanding/contracting- we will go over yet another important concept- speed. When we speak, in order to engage the listener and highlight certain words and phrases, we change the speed and the tone of our voice; in this way we can approach dance. Instead of keeping the same pace through a set of movements, why not try speeding up one movement and slow down another? How will that change the overall story our body is telling? Again, the more space available to dance in, the better!

(Level: All) Building upon our knowledge so far, we will use the contrasting concepts of expanding and contracting in this video through a modern dance approach. Another way to think of this is opening and closing. When we breathe in, our chest naturally expands; when we exhale, our chest naturally contracts. We will build upon natural movements and find ways to build upon them in this video. When just starting to explore how your body moves, try to relax and see what naturally happens. Again, the more space available to dance in the better!

(Level: All)
Gravity can truly be our best friend when it comes to dance. In this video, we will go over a few exercises and movements to practice in order to discover how to use our weight to build momentum and put power behind our movements. This video is geared for people of all levels, from no dance experience on up. The more space you have available to dance in, the better; it’s recommended to have at least a 5 foot by 5 foot area to practice in.

(Level: All) Our feet play an important role in dance- they are often what connect our bodies to the floor, and define the gesture our legs make. Using a modern dance approach, we will explore how pointing and flexing our feet feel and look different, and go over different exercises to strengthen our feet. It is suggested that you have a chair, barre, or other surface that you can grab on to and support yourself with if needed.

(All Levels)  In this video, we will go over different methods to find or improve your balance in dance with a modern dance approach. Breathing and core strength are crucial to proper balance, so we will explore a few different ways to become more aware of our bodies. It is suggested that you have a chair, barre, or other surface that you can grab on to and support yourself with if needed.

(All Levels) 
In order to avoid injury and increase flexibility, it is a good idea to stretch before and after exercises. Here are a few exercises to start with, and over time can be built upon and added to. I chose to use a small towel to sit on while stretching, which is optional. Things to focus on are to hold a stretch that can be maintained for 10-15 seconds or longer rather than trying to stretch too far and stretching and releasing repeatedly; it is much easier to find your comfort zone and increase flexibility over time if you start in a comfortable pose, and slowly stretch deeper as you exhale. As always, go slow and stay within your comfort zone!

(Intermediate Levels) Another move that builds upon the basic tendu is ronde de jambe, or AROUND THE NECK. In short, the focus is to maintain proper posture and gently working on turning out while the working leg moves in a D shape. This exercise is very strenuous on the hips and knees, so it is advised to check that your alignment is correct; it is advised to take a beginner’s ballet class and an experienced dance teacher should pick up on a misalignment or things to work on. This movement can be done A TERRE (on the ground) or EN L’AIRE (in the air). It’s best to start on the ground when learning, in order to focus on what part of the toe is maintaining contact with the floor. Go slow and stay within your comfort zone!

(Absolute Beginner) Whether you’re brand new to the Naked Yoga School or an veteran, this video provides some useful tips and tricks for maximizing your Naked Yoga experience. We will show how to create a sacred space and where to place your computer and props so that you can relax into the benefits of Naked Yoga with comfort and ease.

1) Make sure the room is at a comfortable temperature. Put on the heater if your room is cold.
2) Close curtains to shield from sight if you don’t want your conservative neighbors to see you naked.
3) Create a place for practice. Put your yoga mat on the floor.
4) If you can, move your computer or laptop next to the yoga mat on the floor.
5) Hit “Play” for the naked yoga practice video of your choice. The teacher of the Naked Yoga School will guide you through the practice and when to take your clothes off.
6) Have fun!

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Level: Intermediate)
 Building upon tendus, we will add a new movement- degage, which means to disengage. This is a tendu where the toes leave the floor, as opposed to a tendu where the working leg stays in contact with the floor at all times. We will also build upon plies, or a bend of the knees, and go over releve and eleve exercises. As with the last set of exercises, it is advised to have a chair, barre, or other surface to use as support, and to check posture in a full-length mirror if available. As always, the focus of these exercises is to gradually build strength, balance, and turn-out; work within your comfort zone, making sure you are doing the movements properly, and always stopping if anything feels wrong or painful to avoid injury.

(
Level: Intermediate)  
In this video, we will go over a few ballet concepts that focus on strengthening and building better technique and balance, namely plies and tendus. A plie, or bend of the knees, is a building block of ballet; plies are used to initiate and terminate many movements. Tendus are a brush against the floor in which the working leg does not leave the floor; from tendus, one can build up to many other movements. It is advised that those at home use a chair, barre, or table to use as support. Also, if a full-length mirror is available to check posture, that is a good tool to have on hand. The focus of these exercises is to gradually build strength, balance, and turn-out; work within your comfort zone, making sure you are doing the movements properly, and always stopping if anything feels wrong or painful to avoid injury.

(Level: Intermediate) In this brief video, we will go over a few concepts that are crucial to understanding ballet. We will go over the arm and leg positions, and proper posture. It is much more worthwhile to focus on doing a movement correctly to one’s best ability, rather than forcing turn-out or bigger movements. Start small, and increase strength and range of motion gradually. Complete beginners are advised to take a beginner ballet class, since a teacher trained in ballet will pick up on any misalignments or incorrect positioning that a beginner may not recognize.

(Advanced & Intermediate Level) Wheel (Inverted Bow) is one of the most recognizable shapes in yoga.  Many of us rush into the pose, wanting to be able to tell ourselves that we can successfully take on the challenge.  But using an adjustable stool as a prop helps us learn patience and proper form.  Beginning with standing backbends and shoulder openers, we continue to prepare for supported wheel pose with camel pose and upward bow pose.

(All Levels) Who knew that a necktie could be such a great yoga prop?  In today’s slow, stretchy class, we use a necktie to work deep into the muscles of inner and outer thigh and hamstring.  Next, grab a partner to assist you into the most relaxing bridge and downward dog variations you’ll ever experience.  We close using the necktie to bring us deeply into a seated forward bend.

(Intermediate Level) Standing twisted positions like reverse triangle and low lunge twists are detoxifying and strengthening, but the tricky alignment of the hips and shoulder can sabotage the pose.  In today’s class, we use four to six thick books in lieu of overpriced foam yoga blocks.  We will show you how to fix common alignment issues in these and other foundational standing postures. Using thick books as props effectively elevate the floor to give you space to expand your pose like never before.  We cool down in reclined badda konasana, using the books to allow the legs to relax.

(All Levels) In yoga, we spend a lot of time bearing weight on our hands.  For beginners – and even for some advanced practitioners – that can translate to stiffness and soreness in the wrists.  During today’s class we learn a series of yoga-based exercises that will strengthen your core and improve your overall practice.  You can perform these exercises on a stand-alone basis, or add them to your regular home practice.  To reward ourselves for our hard work, we close class with some yummy Thai massage!  Cut a tennis ball in half before we begin; we’ll be using it as wrist support.  Say good bye to sore wrists!

(Intermediate) Now that we have come to an end of this series, we will find a way to combine all of the things we have learned- Cobra style, Waving, Snaking, Slow Motion- as well as adding in Robotics. If robotics is new to you, it is another street style that focuses on start/stop isolations in the body; in other words, it is not continuous motion. We will focus on how to make any style robotic by adding in start/stop isolations. I will encourage you to do freestyle movement, or you can watch me for different ideas. The goal of freestyle movement is to move without thinking; allow your body to think for you. A good way to see how your motion changes is to put on different music when you practice; see how you move to opera, country, heavy metal, or even just city noise. Hopefully you have found new and interesting ways to move your body, and have enjoyed this series!

(All Levels)
This is the simplest in terms of movement, but possibly the most challenging exercise in this series. The Slow Motion dance style is very unique, and reminds me of meditative walking present in many cultures. I recommend using a yoga mat, or setting an “end” point on any non-slippery surface about 6 feet away from you. The goal of this exercise is to take 10 minutes to walk from point A to point B. I recommend not watching in the mirror or timing yourself, but instead fully focusing on how it feels to move and be present within your own body. As always, go at your own pace, and have fun!

(Intermediate Level)
Now that we have learned waving for the arms and snaking, the next natural step is body waves! It is recommended that you use a yoga mat or other non-slippery surface to stand on. It is recommended that you watch the videos on waving arms and snaking before this video. There are many, many ways to do body waves, but in this video we will focus only on a few: initiating from the fingers, and initiating from the head. If you want to explore more ways to body wave, think of different parts of the body you could use to initiate movement, and different ways to terminate movement. As always, go at your own pace, and have fun!

(All Levels) 
Another continuous motion style is Snaking- you can visualize how a snake moves along leading with its head to understand where this style gets its name! It is recommended that you use a yoga mat or other non-slippery surface to stand on, and to start with smaller, controlled movements closer to your center of gravity. We will explore how different foot placement allows for different ranges of motion. This is certainly a very different way to move your body, so go at your own pace!

(All levels)
 Building upon waving arms, we will add arm movements to cobra isolations of the torso and hips. It is recommended that you do not practice in front of a mirror, and that you use a yoga mat or other non-slippery surface to stand on. We will build up from natural movement, so it is crucial that you relax and allow your body to move freely. This is a great way to challenge your brain! As always, go at your own pace, and have fun!

(All Levels)  Using movements from another dance style in street dance, we will find other ways to move and become more aware of our bodies. We will focus on arm waves, and what is an “in” wave vs. an “out” wave, and how breathing comes into play. It is recommended that you do not practice in front of a mirror, and that you use a yoga mat or other non-slippery surface to stand on. If you have had any type of shoulder or back injury in the past, please be extra aware and do not over-exert yourself. As always, go at your own pace, and have fun!

(All Levels) In this series, we will be focusing on the beneficial aspects of certain dance moves; we will not be focusing on how we look when dancing, but rather how we feel. It is recommended that you do not watch yourself in a mirror, and that you use a yoga mat or other non-slippery surface to stand on. This is a video lesson utilizing dance concepts from Cobra style, one of the many styles in street dance. We will focus on breath awareness, isolations, and proper placement. This may feel very foreign at first, but is great for opening up your hips, and building better awareness of your core. I recommend watching this series in order, since each video will build upon the last; however, feel free to jump right in and start with any video marked “all levels”. Go at your own pace, and have fun!

(LEVEL: Beginners)  We begin with sun salutations to center ourselves and warm up. This is followed with core strengthening poses plow and shoulder stand. In addition to working the core these traditional poses work the endocrine system stimulating the necessary hormones to promote weight loss. These poses also ask us to come to terms with our bodies and to develop compassion for the process of losing weight.

NakedYogaSchool.com

(LEVEL: Beginners) 
Sun salutations are a joyful way to burn calories while lifting our spirits. There is a strong relationship between stress and unhappiness and weight gain. Yoga is brilliant for weight loss because it not only works the body but it also works the spirit. Again we explore further options for reducing that troublesome belly with cycling moves and standing bow.

NakedYogaSchool.com

(LEVEL: Beginners) Sun salutations are highly beneficial for promoting circulation and weight loss and should be incorporated into any yoga routine which is being done to support weight loss. In this video we modify the sun salutation to have additional calorie burning benefits. Again we address the troublesome belly area with plank and side plank pose. Additionally we explore how breath work can be used to aid weight loss.

NakedYogaSchool.com

(LEVEL: Beginners) 
Rediscovering or embracing our innate love of movement is one of the greatest outcomes of embarking on a journey to transform your body. This practice is intended to mindfully create awareness to release the excess weight around our mid sections which compromises our lower back and joints). In this video we explore the sun salutation and ways to modify it to increase the ability to promote weight loss through yoga.  The belly is a vulnerable area for most of us. Hopefully those of you embarking on this journey will take the time to supplement your fitness regime by reading up on all of the interesting research as to the benefits of eliminating certain foods. In this video we explore some abdominal work that will help to tone and bring awareness to the belly.

NakedYogaSchool.com

(Level: Super Beginner) Robotics is a form of street dance that became popular in the late 1960’s, with Michael Jackson bringing it more into mainstream culture from the underground dance scene. It involves movement with definite stops, called DIME STOPS. Robotic movement is the foundation to most other styles- popping, waving, cobra, snaking, tutting… once you have robotics down, you gain valuable skills that will aid you in any other street dance style. In this video, we will learn some basic robotic moves to practice that is appropriate for all levels and ages. You are encouraged to move at your own pace, and use these moves to become aware of your range of motion. The key to robotics is to find the balance between being in control of your movements without getting too relaxed or too tense. Keep the moves you do slow and controlled, and most of all have fun!

NakedYogaSchool.com