YOGABODY

YOGABODY is an online yoga school founded by Lucas Rockwood that sells two kinds of course: practice programs for people who want to train their own body, and teacher and coach trainings for people who want to teach. The homepage describes the company as "a leader in science-based yoga education focused on improving your healthspan," and its page title calls it "Online Yoga Alliance Teacher Training." Newcomers are pointed first to its YouTube channel and weekly podcast, then to the Five for Life program, and those who want to teach to "internationally-accredited teacher training programs ranging from 12 days to six weeks."

Practice programs

The Practice Programs menu lists five courses for personal practice:

• Five for Life, the main program, sold under the lines "Build Strength, Flexibility & Metabolism" and "Age Less / Live More." The homepage promises new videos daily, a like-minded community and "Direct support from Lucas and team."
• Science of Stretching Program, a flexibility course.
• 21-Day Hip Opening Challenge and 21-Day Happy Back Challenge, each aimed at one area of the body.
• Science of Breathing Course, on breathing practice.

The homepage pitches these as "At-Home Flexibility & Training Programs" and invites you to "Begin a healthy yoga habit for overall health and wellness with a challenge you can do anytime, anywhere to improve your flexibility and range of motion." Because they are online and on-demand, the challenges can start whenever you sign up.

Testimonials give a sense of the results people report. Juan writes that "After 4 weeks practicing the Science of Stretching I am noticing good improvements," and Richard T says of Five for Life: "I came from a martial arts background, am now 51 and struggled putting my socks on in the morning. Four weeks in and the changes are evident."

Free starting points

Before paying, a reader can try the free Yoga Breathing Quickstart Guide (PDF), which promises to show "how to use your breath to balance your nervous system in as little as 5-10 minutes." The YouTube channel, the weekly podcast, articles and books sit under the Content menu, and the homepage itself recommends starting there if you are new.

Teacher and coach certifications

The Get Certified menu lists the trainings:

• YOGABODY Coach Training
• Spine Reform Coach Training
• Stretch Coach Training
• Breath Coach Training
• Trapeze Teacher Training
• Yoga Business Mastery

The homepage describes the teacher certification courses as a way to "Get certified to teach yoga anywhere in the world" through "accelerated courses, covering the science behind yoga, breathing practices, and beyond." Under Certification & Accreditation it states that "Graduates can work and get insurance in 41 countries." The footer links to Yoga Alliance and Yoga Alliance registration pages, in line with the page title's Yoga Alliance framing, and the menu has a YB Graduates section.

The calendar shows how the trainings run as dated online courses. At the time listed, Breath Coach Training ran online from 28 Sept to 9 Oct and the Stretch Coach Certification online from 12 to 23 Oct, the latter introduced with the line "Help clients overcome injuries and improve their quality of life." Breath Coach Training is described as teaching you to "balance the nervous system with science-based techniques."

A student who took it, Galit A, writes: "Breath Coach was my course, clear short explanations, doable practices, smart test (video), very professional. The team behind Lucas are awesome, supporting any questions or doubts." Raquel R describes going further: "I've taken two challenges and two certifications with YOGABODY. I'm on my third certification right now," adding that she has "added classes and clients to my practice."

Masterclasses, challenges and retreats

Alongside the courses, the What's On calendar lists short online masterclasses and events. Recent entries include a hips masterclass promising to help you "Relieve pain, improve your flexibility, and move comfortably," a Hamstrings Freedom Masterclass ("Strengthen and lengthen your hamstrings at the same time"), a Fix Your Back Masterclass and a two-week outdoor Steps Challenge "with over $2000 prizes." There are in-person events too: the Mindful Marathon Costa Brava, an all-day hike along the Spanish coast, and a Five for Life Retreat in Barcelona on 3-5 Dec, described as "three days of movement, learning, and connection." A full calendar is linked.

The trainer

Lucas Rockwood is the Master Trainer & Director, listed with E-RYT and YACEP credentials. The homepage calls him "an internationally-renowned yoga trainer, TEDx Speaker, podcaster, writer, and entrepreneur." His early yoga and meditation teachers include Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Paul Dallaghan, Alex Medin, Gabriel Cousens MD and SN Goenka. He left the USA in 2003 and traveled and taught before making Barcelona, Spain his home base, and he has practiced yoga since 2002. Before yoga, the bio says, he worked in theater and publishing and as a plant-based chef and nutritional coach.

Students mention him directly. Beth P writes that "His classes are perfectly suited for the true novice to someone that has been practicing yoga," and that "he is available following each class for as long as the questions come in." Karen G calls it the "Best online instruction I've ever found" and writes, "I find the instruction clear and relevant, and the information is shared in a friendly and encouraging way."

The company

The footer gives YOGABODY LLC's contact address in San Diego, California, a support email, a store, an FAQ, and pages on terms, conflicts of interest and a reviews disclaimer. YOGABODY and YOGABODY Teachers College are named as registered trademarks of YOGABODY Naturals LLC. The site also has YB Team, Media and Reviews pages, a contact page with a customer support phone line, and profiles on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Who it suits

The practice programs suit people who want a structured, at-home routine for flexibility, strength or a specific problem area such as the hips or lower back, and who like a single teacher's method followed closely. Five for Life's daily videos and community suit someone looking for a lasting habit, while the 21-day challenges suit someone who wants a short, defined block.

The certifications suit people who want to teach or coach a specialty, whether breathing, stretching, spine work or trapeze, and who are comfortable learning online in a course that runs 12 days to six weeks. The free breathing guide and the YouTube channel are an easy way to judge Lucas Rockwood's teaching style before paying for a program.