We are Fiji McAlpine and David Procyshyn of DoYogaWithMe.com, yoga instructors and advocates of free yoga for the planet. AMA.

Awesome. Thanks for doing this. A question for each of you:

David, in a business sense, what made you decide to stay with a free option rather than a paid service like yogaglo? How has that made things harder / easier for you on the path to growing your company?

Fiji, thanks for being a wonderful instructor. You are a favorite among the reddit yoga crowd. How has having such a large online yoga profile influenced your daily personal life? How has it influenced your real world teaching?

Thanks a million guys. :)

Fiji: http://soundcloud.com/doyogawithme/reply-to-beyondmars

David: That's a big question to answer! It started with the intention to provide high quality yoga online totally for free, since there was none out there. It's grown from there, both in terms of our yoga community and our understanding of what a free model looks like. The main challenge is not having a master plan - staying open to the feedback that our users are giving us to tell us where to go with it. We adjust to that, and figure out how to keep it going in ways that you have seen - donations, audio downloads, DVDs and such.

I don't have any questiions, I just want to say thank you so much for DoYogaWithMe.com

It's such a great site full of high quality videos from great instructors. I try to do a different video almost every day, and I make sure to recommend the site to any friends who say they need to stretch more.

David, the savasana you go through at the end of your deep release for hips, lower back, and hamstrings video is probably the most relaxing thing I've ever done. Some days it even turns into a 15 minute nap haha.

Fiji, I haven't tried any of your videos yet but you seem very well liked on here. I'll make sure to try out one of your videos in a few hours, I'm looking forward to the experience.

Namaste

Fiji: Great to hear, let me know what you think!

David: You're welcome! Happy to hear from you, and thank you for spreading the word. I do feel like the more relaxing style was what I was born to do, so I'm glad that the relaxation at the end connected with you. Nothing like a little sleep at the end of yoga!

I used to enjoy the more physically demanding vinyasa style until I started taking weight training more seriously, now the relaxing style is exactly what I feel I need most days to help unwind. I was also super excited when I realized most of your instructors are from Victoria, it took me a few videos of thinking about how the area reminded me of Mount Doug or Beacon Hill Park before I caught on.

I also want to say I really appreciate you adding your voice to the video after it is filmed, I find it takes a bit away from the video when the instructor is speaking as they are doing the poses. Their voice never ends up being as relaxing due to the strain involved in getting into certain positions.

David: Nice to hear. Yes, one of the most common debates regarding yoga videos is whether it's best to film the audio live or do a voice over later. It seems there are many in either camp, so I make sure to have a good representation of both on the site.

I don't have any specific questions, just a thank you. David - I do your deep release for hips, etc. after every run and it's the only thing that's helped me after years of IT band issues. Fiji - Your progressing to headstand video was critical to me being able to do an unassisted headstand for the first time ever. I spent months working on that pose with little progress and just popped right into it the first time I did that video.

You guys provide an incredible service that has done wonderful things for people wanting to get into yoga without the financial ability to attend classes. So thank you.

Fiji: Helping people go up into their first inversions is one of my favorite things to to as a teacher! There is something magical about flipping your perspective, changing your foundation and seeing things upside down for the first time.

I haven't seen this video, but I'm struggling with my headstands. Could I be so lazy as to ask for the link?

Fiji: Here you go: http://www.doyogawithme.com/content/progressing-headstand

David: Thank you. That's exactly how I designed the class - to be a great way for a wide variety of people to access the muscles around the pelvis that are chronically tight for so many people. It's a great class for athletes, runners, computer users, among others.

Hi David,

I just wanted to let you know that I've been in a call room watching your videos at 2 AM more times than I can count. Literally, you're one of the best instructors I've ever come across, be it online or in person. Thank you for making 12 hour shifts as a house officer more bearable, and thank you for all you contribute to the community.

David: You're sweet. Thanks for the kind words. It makes me happier than you can imagine knowing that what I am doing is helping in so many ways, some of them I never even imagined when I carefully planned out a particular class to film. I'm grateful that you took the time to let me know.

Hello. Thank you for the site. I just discovered it and it made me want to start yoga. I have been taking some class 3 times a week for 2 weeks. i might start doing it 5 to 7 times a week if it doesnt interfere with my recovery. In your opinion what sort of yoga goes best with weight lifting? Thanks again

Fiji: If you are spending a great deal of time building muscle mass it is incredibly important to do a practice that will help you maintain flexibility and mobility. Look for videos that do deep tissue release especially in the shoulders.

David and Fiji, thank you both- from the bottom of my heart for creating such a safe and free place for yoga online.

Fiji, your videos are an inspiration. I have done them all many times and take the audio versions with me everywhere I go!

• I was wondering if you will ever include some different pranayama techniques like nadhi sodhana in your practices?

• Where did you learn to give such great vocal cues?

• What is your favorite asana? Is it chattaranga?

• How do you feel about the spiritual aspect of yoga?

• Will you ever do a yoga festival or come to the states? California perhaps? :)

Fiji: http://soundcloud.com/doyogawithme/reply-to-danibomb

Question: What other plans do you have in regards to marketing your site? This is a pretty awesome concept and I would love to see it get bigger!

David: Being free, we rely on a lot of word-of-mouth and social media. We have a very passionate fan base, and a modest advertising budget, so most of our plans center around making the most of our truly wonderful community. There are long-term plans to expand the website and short-term plans to do more with social media, press releases, and so forth. Lots happening!

Do you have any video suggestions for a beginner?

Fiji: I have two beginner videos on the site, Beginner Basics and Foundations in Flow. They both focus on the foundational elements of a flow class and how to safely transition between poses. Don't forget to take breaks when you need to and remember to have patience with your practice as it unfolds.

David: Yes, as JohnGB mentioned, the Yoga Program for Absolute Beginners is a great place to begin. We also have a page called 'Beginner's Studio' where all of our beginner classes are displayed.

David, I've been following your Core Activation exercises regularly, and I cannot seem to find my Multifidus muscle. It's playing hide and seek it seems, and it's winning from me. I am a beginner to yoga, so my muscle awareness is still in development. It would be really nice to know what the multifidus feels like, so I can recognize it. Are there certain (beginner) asana where this part of the core is actively used and I'm probably not aware that I'm using it?

Fiji, your Beginner Basics in Flow is my favorite lesson! You speak the language my body understands fluently. I can't quite explain it, it's quite astounding how well you get me and I get you. I hope I don't sound like a creep.

Thank you both!

Fiji: I know just what you mean! There are always teachers who resonate with you more than others and it is a blessing when you find them and can practice with them! Try Foundations in Flow too, it is very similar!

David: Yes, the multifidus is the most challenging of the core muscles to feel, so it's not surprising that you're finding it challenging.

I just found a great video that shows the muscle's location and gives a few effective exercises that will help you learn what it feels like to engage the multifidus. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBDz6YUz7xk

Will there be any Iyengar classes in the near future?

David: We are in the process of finding a teacher, so yes, we would like to film an Iyengar class. I can't say when, but hopefully soon.

Fiji, I love your routines, wonderful flow that take me to places I would not have thought I was able to go. Thank you, you were the instructor that showed me what yoga really meant.

Fiji: It is comments like this these that inspire me to film and share as much as I can. I love what I do and am so blessed to be able to connect with some many amazing people. Thank you for sharing and bringing a smile to my heart.

Do you take any sort of spiritual involvement into your line of work?

Fiji: There is something indescribable that happens in moments of practice when true yoga is unfolding. A unison of mind, body and breath has the ability to make you come alive in the moment, to reconnect you with your spark.

Hi there! Thank you for the AMA. Could you recommend some postures that would help with sciatic nerve pain? I do ashtanga right now, but I am in a lot of pain through most of it so I am taking a bit of a break, but I miss it and I don't like my life without daily yoga. I have been doing short sessions at home that focus more on upper body/core and not as much bending at the hips/one leg postures.

Most of the postures that are for hip opening just end up hurting really badly, then I will have a flare up for a few days to a week. I don't do the postures that cause pain, but I would really like to ease into them (without the pain), so I am just kind of at a loss. If you can point me to some of your videos that would help me, I would be eternally grateful! Namaste :)

Fiji: I have encountered the type of pain you are describing a few times myself. Often when I am doing a lot, yang style living I mean. I can almost always trace the origin back to the Sacroiliac Joint at the back of the pelvis. Getting some release there via stretching, chiro or massage can help a great deal.

I don't have any questions that jump out but I wanted to say Thank You!!

David: You're welcome!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! It was a happy day indeed when I stumbled onto your site. I love your classes. David, I absolutely love your shoulder stretching classes, and they have helped me to get my violin bow arm back into playing shape after some muscle issues. I was wondering what inspired you to come up with such a fantastic shoulder/ upper back class, and if you have had any previous experience working with string players?

David: http://soundcloud.com/doyogawithme/reply-to-poris88

Hey there. Your site is fantastic, and your principle of free yoga is great. It's impressive that you can maintain high production values yet give it away for free. My introduction to Yoga was Tony Horton, who was good enough to get me started, but your videos offer so much more!

Are you planning on any more videos that involve the meditation aspect of yoga, particularly Samadhi? I'm starting to become more interested in that side of it.

David: Thank you for the kind words. Your question about meditation comes at a good time. We will soon be recording mindfulness meditations with a meditation expert. They will be audio only, at least at first. I imagine he may address the concept of Samadhi at some point, but we haven't worked that out yet.

I don't have any questions today, but I just wanted to say I love your videos. They are a wonderful supplement to my practice. Thank you so much for sharing your instruction on do yoga with me. :D

Fiji: You are very welcome, thank you for practicing with us!

thank you for your efforts, tremendous respect. it is beautiful to see you maximize your beneficial effect for others in an accessible non-commercial way. props for taking the business out of yoga!

David & Fiji: http://soundcloud.com/doyogawithme/reply-to-silobot

This is awesome, thanks for doing the AMA. I don't have any questions either, I just wanted to say thank you for all the great work you've put in DoYogaWithMe.

I am a thai boxing student, and hip flexibility is key to good kicks. Since I started following the videos, my kicks just started being higher and more powerful :) Plus, a half hour session takes the stress off after an intense training :) Thank you again!

David: Yes! There's nothing like yoga to improve your thai boxing kicks! :-)

First of all, thank you for what you do. The materials you provide have had an immense impact on my practice.

I have two questions:

I know there probably isn't a definitely rule to this, and that everyone's practice is different, but is there an "ideal" amount that one should practice? Every day for an hour? Every day for 20 minutes? 5 days a week? Every morning and night? Right now I primarily practice when I have a physical need, like before or after a run or on days that I sat at a desk a lot. However, I don't know if there are significant benefits I am not receiving from not practicing more often. There are videos and materials out there for almost anything... Yoga in the morning. Yoga at bedtime. Yoga in the afternoon when you need a boost. Yoga when you're stressed. Yoga for digestion. It all sounds good! But I don't have time for it all. How does one choose? I find the biggest barrier in my practice is branching out from my typical routine and cadence because I almost don't know where to begin. There's just so much.

Also, I'm going to be buying a new mat in the next few weeks. I practice often enough, that I'm looking at this purchase like an investment. The mats I've used in the past are just too slippery for after a run. I need something more. Suggestions? I want to make sure that if I spend the money on something like a Manduka, it's going to be worth it.

David: You're not alone in wondering how often it's best to do yoga. And there is no simple answer, mainly because we are all different, in terms of body dynamics, life demands and energy levels. In my own experience - and I do have a very busy life with a 2 year old and a full schedule - there is no limit to how often I can do yoga. The more I do it, the more a feel good. There were times - before I became a father - that I did yoga a couple of times a day for a few days in a row and my body became achey and sore. Your body will tell you when it's too much.

All in all, doing yoga frequently, with different teachers, as well as on your own, becomes an intimate exploration of how your particular body works... where your tight spots are, where you are open, strong, weak, etc.. When you get to that stage, you get, in a sense, let your body guide you. It will tell you what it needs. Don't worry about what the classes are called; it's more important to listen, feel and adjust your practice accordingly.

As for a mat, it's difficult to make suggestions, since I haven't tried out all of those that are available. Manduka has a great reputation - I've never heard of anyone being disappointed with them. But you have a few thicknesses to choose from, which really affects the weight of the mat. It would be best to check them out in person first.

I'd just like to say thank you for offering free yoga instructions. It has helped me physically and mentally. It has helped me maintain sobriety. So again, thank you.

David: Thank for taking the time to write that. So happy for you.

[deleted]

David: Good question. It certainly is a saturated industry, even online. We are a destination... a yoga resource and a growing community. What makes us different is our approach. Our classes can be easily searched via multiple categories, making it easy for you to find the classes that suit you. We are building programs so that a wide variety of students can more easily navigate the hundreds of videos that we offer on our site. We are building the site in a way that teaches people basic principles, as much as we offer amazing classes. And as the site grows, we will be incorporating many more ways for our users to interact and play a part in everything that we do. Having said that, we are quite happy that people are making use of whatever yoga resources they can find online. Often one particular teacher resonates with an individual student.

Oh man this looks awesome I've only just started doing yoga a few months ago and it's awesome! Have no way of watching the videos though, so I just use books I get sent and articles. But as soon as I'm back in a country where I can actually load a video I'm going to have a look. It's a shame the internets so bad here! You guys got anything to help with knee problems at all? Thanks guys can't wait.

David: Where are you that you are unable to play the videos?

I'm in Afghanistan at the minute. There's wifi but it is basically terrible.

David: Oh, I see. Thanks.

I don't really have a question, but I wanted to THANK you guys for your awesome free site. Your website is the reason I really got into yoga and started appreciating it as more than just a workout or exercise. Y'all are awesome and I thank you so much. (By the way, if you could upload more Ron Stewart classes I would greatly appreciate it!) Namaste!

David: Thank you! We are currently in the process of lining up Ron for another class this summer. He's great, isn't he?!

I have no questions but just want to say thanks for what you do! I love going to yoga studios but being a student I can't afford it during the semester due to my schedule and funds. I don't always use instruction but it keeps me on track when I do.

Thank you!

David: You're welcome!

A quick browse on your site and I saw that you had a section for meditation.

I've always been interested in meditation, and the benefits included. So here's my question - what's your best advice for someone with no previous experience with meditation? Best way to start? Goals to set? any information is appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time :)

David: My best advice would be to start with help. Guided audio recordings are great, or meeting with a meditation group in your home town. That way, you will find it easier to sink into a meditative state and you can use that experience to move on when you are ready to meditate by yourself. The mind is busy! So don't be surprised if it's really hard at first! One you start meditating on your own, you can set a timer for 15 minutes, and after a week to 20 minutes, and so on. Build up slowly.

Hi David and Fiji,

I hope you read this even though you're done with the AMA! I don't really have questions but just wanted to thank you so, so much for the wonderful resource you provide for free. It's such an admirable goal and really heartening to see that it IS possible, through the generosity of people, to spread the benefits of yoga far and wide for those who may not be able to afford it. I recommend your website to anyone who says they're curious about trying yoga but don't live near a studio, can't afford to go to one, are self-conscious about going to a group class etc. because the instruction and the video are so high quality that you could easily charge for them. The fact that you don't just makes it an even greater gift.

I'm a runner, and Fiji, your Yoga for Runners series is pretty much the best thing ever.

Thank you!

David: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I appreciate that you are spreading the word. That is how we make this whole thing work!

I wish more people would have paid attention to the AMA. I am a man who loves yoga, although I haven't practiced in some time. When other men find out they laugh, and I always say come to ONE session with me, then you can laugh. No one ever does. I guess my point is I wish more men would be open to yoga.

David: I guess it depends on where you live. I'm on the west coast of Canada, and my classes are at least 20% men. This has increased a lot over the past decade. But, seriously, kudos to you for being brave! I know exactly what you're feeling - when I started 20 years ago, I was often the only guy in class. There are benefits to that, too! Enjoy it, and I'm sure others like you will follow once they see how much you are benefiting!

Hi David and Fiji! I'm a beginner to yoga; I attended classes for a few weeks years ago but never went anywhere with it and am just now starting back up. I have several chronic illnesses that make any kind of impact exercise super painful. Recently, my back pain and a leg injury has had me like a giant couch-ridden blob, and I just can't keep watching the scale climb any more. I remembered how much I loved those classes and so I started back up at home.

So far everything has been going well but I do have some questions for you guys. I'm not at a place where joining a gym or a studio would work for me- money, I can't actually make it through an entire class without having to stop, I have serious balance issues, etc.- but I would like to get some feedback about my posture and some general advice. Would it be worthwhile to me to schedule a private session or should I just try a couple of drop-in classes? Can I enlist a friend to critique me at home? Do you have any suggestions to help work with (or around) problems with balance and flexibility?

Thank you both again, for doing the AMA and also for running a beautiful free yoga site!

David: Great to hear that you have the persistence and dedication to keep going! That's the first step.

In my opinion, it would be a great idea to see either a physiotherapist or Feldenkrais practitioner, to get a good sense of your own body alignment, as long as you can afford it. Get a referral from a friend if you can, so you know that the person is good at what they do. It can make a huge difference getting feedback like this before you take action.

Great video site. I watched the "Mindful Yin Yoga" which was great. Mindfulness is one aspect which is hard to practice without a regular Yoga program. Thanks for sharing.

David: Great to hear!

I don't have any questions, I just wanted to say I've been doing your "Pre-Run/Post-Run" yoga videos for weeks now and it always makes me feel amazing! Thanks so much for your videos, I really appreciate it! :)

David: Yes, Fiji's Yoga for Runners series is one-of-a-kind!

Hi to all at Do Yoga With Me. As with quite a few of these posts a thank you rather than a question. Really love and am grateful for sharing.

To give you an idea of your reach I live near Stratford-upon-Avon, England :)

David: Fantastic! Thanks for reaching out!