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

  • Ashtanga
  • Fusion
  • Hatha
  • Restorative
  • Therapeutic
  • Vinyasa
  • Beginner Yoga
  • Tutorials
  • Yoga Talks
  • Chair Yoga
  • Level 1
  • Level 1-2
  • Level 2
  • Level 2-3
  • Level 3
  • 15 Minutes
  • 30 Minutes
  • 45 Minutes
  • 60 Minutes
  • 5 Minutes
  • 10 Minutes
  • 20 Minutes
  • 75 Minutes
  • Yoga at Work
  • Morning
  • Arm Balances
  • Yoga for Sports
  • Backbends
  • Core
  • Detox
  • Digestion
  • Energy
  • Hips
  • Inversions
  • Low Back
  • Shoulders
  • Evening
  • Relaxation
  • Spine
  • Stress Relief
  • Twists
  • Weight Loss
  • Wrists
  • Pranayama
  • Flexibility
  • Balance
  • Concentration
  • Neck
  • All-Around
  • Strength
  • Vitality
  • Upper Body
  • Lower Body
  • Immunity
  • Emotional Wellness
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  • Ashtanga
  • Fusion
  • Hatha
  • Restorative
  • Therapeutic
  • Vinyasa
  • Beginner Yoga
  • Tutorials
  • Yoga Talks
  • Chair Yoga
  • Level 1
  • Level 1-2
  • Level 2
  • Level 2-3
  • Level 3
  • 15 Minutes
  • 30 Minutes
  • 45 Minutes
  • 60 Minutes
  • 5 Minutes
  • 10 Minutes
  • 20 Minutes
  • 75 Minutes
  • Yoga at Work
  • Morning
  • Arm Balances
  • Yoga for Sports
  • Backbends
  • Core
  • Detox
  • Digestion
  • Energy
  • Hips
  • Inversions
  • Low Back
  • Shoulders
  • Evening
  • Relaxation
  • Spine
  • Stress Relief
  • Twists
  • Weight Loss
  • Wrists
  • Pranayama
  • Flexibility
  • Balance
  • Concentration
  • Neck
  • All-Around
  • Strength
  • Vitality
  • Upper Body
  • Lower Body
  • Immunity
  • Emotional Wellness

155 classes found

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      Yoga Foundations
      Focus on mindful transitions as you move from pose to pose in this slow flowing practice with an emphasis on common standing postures in hatha yoga.
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          Yoga Foundations
          Dive into the subtleties and anatomy of standing poses to better understand how to correctly align your feet and legs throughout your yoga practice.
          Yoga Talks with Rodney & Colleen
          Calling it “an offering from our heart,” Rodney and Colleen want to share the gift of yoga with everyone.
          Yoga Talks with Rodney & Colleen
          Rodney explains the holistic effect of the yoga practice on your body, mind and spirit.
          Yoga Talks with Rodney & Colleen
          In this intimate interview, Rodney shares with Colleen why he was drawn to yoga.
          Yoga Foundations
          What is the Yoga Foundations series all about? Rodney and Colleen give a brief overview of what you can expect.
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              Yoga Foundations
              This practice is designed intentionally for those newer to the practice of yoga. Learn the foundations of through this sequence of accessible movements, standing poses, balancing poses, forward bends, twists and backbends.
              Yoga Talks with Rodney & Colleen
              Colleen explains how she felt about yoga before a friend convinced her try it.
              Rodney Yee's Complete Yoga for Beginners
              This short practice will give you the poses you need to have a well-rounded practice, perfect for the yogi on-the-go. Explore a variety of seated and standing postures.
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                  Rodney Yee's Complete Yoga for Beginners
                  Transition from your day to a series of slow, mindful poses allowing you to calm the mind and release stress. Slow down, one pose at a time.
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                      Rodney Yee's Complete Yoga for Beginners
                      Gentle yoga poses wake up your body and encourage blood flow for an energized morning practice for students of all levels.
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                          Rodney Yee's Complete Yoga for Beginners
                          Focus on building flexibility in the body with deep stretching. Increase your range of motion with the option to return to this practice again and again.
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                              Rodney Yee's Complete Yoga for Beginners
                              Try some basic yoga poses in this slow-paced practice. Explore standing and seated poses to build strength and flexibility.
                              The Balanced You
                              Busy days can make us feel like we're a balloon floating away in the swift breeze of life. Plant your feet and find groundedness with this series of standing poses, then end the practice with a guided relaxation to get ready for the day ahead.
                              Rodney Yee‘s Yoga for Your Week
                              Lose weight and feel great with this energizing flow designed to burn calories and increase creativity.
                              Rodney Yee‘s Yoga for Your Week
                              Improve your flexibility and find your strength with preparatory movements to build into crow pose and side crow pose.