Yoga is a tricky mistress. So slow, so serene, so simple… from the outside. But give it a go and it will leave you sweaty, sore and marvelling at how weak your upper body strength actually is.

Want to try yoga but hate the idea of feeling lost in a room full of people touching their noses with the back of their knees while you’re still having issues reaching your toes? Us too!

Mobile app Yoga15 could be the answer.

Yoga is one of the best things you can do for your body, especially if you spend your time battering it running, surfing, skating or whatever your jam happens to be.

A good session strengthens our bodies and protects them from the everyday strain we put our poor muscles through when we’re out there showing the world what we’ve got, as well as giving some much needed breathing space for our busy minds.

Yoga15’s creator Abi Carver is a trained yoga professional and the all-round yogi we aspire to be. Early experience of leaving yoga classes early feeling bored and uncomfortable however,  pushed her to design a new way of getting to grips with the moves.

Since then Abi has achieved the Yoga Alliance Teaching Certificate and gone on to make yoga app Yoga15.

The app aims to simplify and streamline yoga practice and help everyone feel the benefit of a good session, even if they are a total newbie.

Can you really become a yoga convert through 15 minute routines and workouts that can be accessed and practiced in the privacy of your own bedroom?

We decided to give it a whirl and see if virtual yoga with Abi lives up to the real thing…

Super Simplicity

Setting up for the routine was as simple as the app claims it to be. Click on the app, rolling out a mat and you’re good to go.

We chose the ‘all rounder’ routine in hopes that it would give an overall feel of the workouts available, but also in the hope that it might be a little simpler than other more focused routines…

Abi’s instruction is great and the routine did seem a lot easier to follow than any real class I’ve ever been to. The great thing about the setup of the routines is how you feel as though you’re having one-on-one instruction.

A good session strengthens our bodies and protects them from the everyday strain we put our poor muscles through

Anyone who’s been to yoga knows the panic of having to copy the person next to you when you miss a direction. The undivided attention of the apps instructions with no judgement on how your cobra looks is pretty sweet.

In what felt like no time at all the 15 minutes was done. You’ll want to  do another routine straight away but try and resist, Abi has designed each routine to have the optimum effect on your body and plus, wanting to carry on is just makes you look forward to your next 15 minutes tomorrow!

While the routine is great fun and super simple, the lack of an actual person does change how you go about the routine.

In a class you are aware of your form, your breathing, your stamina, all because there’s so many people who are aware of it too.

 We have to admit that when alone, we weren’t the most disciplined yogi’s. About six minutes in, our breathing wasn’t right and our warrior poses were leaving much to be desired…

It does makes sense for yoga to be practiced alone. When doing yoga you feel a real appreciation of your surroundings as well as your body and privacy allows your mind to wander much further.

Could we all end up doing our downward dog on our lonesome through our mobiles? We think maybe, yes.

While more active exercise choices benefit from a group vibe, yoga seems to thrive when we step away from the world and give ourselves a bit of space.

Yoga15 provides you with a few minutes of positive and clarity with your body.

The app requires willpower and self discipline, but used everyday it could really make a difference to overall strength and fitness!

Now we’re going to have another crack at that warrior pose…