Yogis Anonymous

Ally Hamilton

I could tell you a lot of things about me, but probably the most important thing I can share with you is that I feel really at ease in my own skin, and it wasn't always like that. I've been practicing yoga since my senior year at Barnard College. I used to struggle with anxiety, depression, debilitating migraines and body image issues. I used to be attracted to people who couldn't love me in a way that felt good. I used to be attached to stories about how things should be, or how people should behave or what other people should do, say, want, need or feel. Life is not like that anymore. Yoga is not a magic bullet, it's a process of discovering what is really true about you, and a letting go of anything that isn't. It's an art form that teaches you how to listen deeply not just to your own intuition, but to the people in your life, without gripping the steering wheel with your sticky fingers, white-knuckling your way through it all. It's an acceptance of the impermanence of everything, in a way that inspires you to live each day fully and to love with your whole heart. Not everything in my life is perfect. I have faced some real heartbreak along the way, as we all have. I've lived enough and seen enough to know better than to use phrases like, "everything happens for a reason." Some things just happen, and our job is to rise up and grow beauty from whatever it is life puts in our path, and sometimes that is really, really hard. Everything good, real and true in my life, everything that flows and is fulfilling and rewarding comes directly out of my yoga practice, and it is one of my greatest joys to share the tools, ideas and practices that have helped me create a life I love. I'm a mom with two kids and an amazing husband. This site is my third child, and I'm thrilled you've joined me and this incredible group of teachers I'm so privileged to know and share with you. Every teacher on this site is passionate, down-to-earth and committed to her and his yoga practice. Everyone here wants to share, support you and inspire you to keep unrolling your mat, even on the days when it's tough. Especially on those days! If you like some reading along with your asana practice, I've written two books, "Open Randomly: Fortune Cookies for the Soul" and "Yoga's Healing Power: Looking Inward for Change, Growth and Peace", both available on Amazon, Book Depository, and wherever books are sold. If things go well, my third book will be finished soon. I'm very hands-on with the site, and if you have any questions, need some guidance, or simply want to connect with me, please reach out!

Ally's Latest Classes

  • 50 minutes

    Santosha Flow

    By Ally Hamilton on Mar 18, 2024

    Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

    Do you ever think about what it would feel like to be a grasshopper with no thoughts about growth mindset? You'd just be hopping along as your little grasshopper self, and your biggest concern would be enjoying your next leaf. We humans could take a page or two out of the grasshopper school of life manual, and if you join me for this class we'll talk about the sickness of constant comparing and contrasting, and the calm that ensues when you learn to find contentment through the little things. Grab a couple of blocks in case you want them!

  • 49 minutes

    Decompression Chamber

    By Ally Hamilton on Mar 6, 2024

    Gentle Yoga Beginner

    Hello yogis! You know those days when you feel totally depleted, either physically or mentally or sometimes both? Yeah, this practice is for those days! If you need to decompress, soothe your nervous system, breathe deeply and get a nice deep stretch, this is for you. This is also a great evening practice, or post-run or hike. The only moment of "work" here is some very deep core engagement (with or without a resistance band) and I do mean just a moment. I felt the need for that deep strengthening with a lot of chill around it :) Hope you enjoy.

  • 61 minutes

    Sweet Heat, Deep Hips

    By Ally Hamilton on Feb 27, 2024

    Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

    We get to the heat-building early and once we're warm we use the heat to deeply open the hips and hamstrings. Have no fear because your core is also going to get attention, along with your shoulders so we can play with twisty arm balances like koundinyasana 1 and dwi pada if you're feeling frisky. Two blocks and an open mind are all you need! Enjoy, yogis.

  • 64 minutes

    Heat, Hips, Headstand

    By Ally Hamilton on Feb 20, 2024

    Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

    Oh hi friends! This is an all-over feel-good flow where we build some nice heat throughout. I even snuck in a little yogasculpt so please have two blocks handy! The hips, hamstrings and shoulders get lots of love. You'll find targeted core work as well. We will use the heat and the strong core to play with some twists, arm balances and inversions, including a step-by-step guide to tripod headstand if you're ready for it. Enjoy the heat, the fun, and the sweet rest at the end :)

  • 68 minutes

    Comfort Flow

    By Ally Hamilton on Feb 12, 2024

    Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

    Hello friends! This is a practice I filmed when I was feeling a teeny tiny bit run down, which is the Type A way of saying exhausted. It was the end of a long (but good) week and I wanted something that felt like a hug. We do some heat-building on the front end, there is core strengthening and a sweet flow, but we get to the deep stretchy stuff on the early side and complement it with long holds and deep breathing. It's great when you need to be kind to yourself, it's a delicious evening flow, but you can really do it anytime you need a little comfort. Lots of love xx

  • 44 minutes

    Short +Sweet Hips + Fun

    By Ally Hamilton on Feb 5, 2024

    Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

    Hello, friends! This is a full-body flow that targets the hips! We get right to the heat-building and move into those hips and hamstrings once we're warm. There's a sweet skandasana flow, lizard pose options, core strengthening, and compass pose with the option and building blocks to get into eight angle pose. You can also choose your inversion - legs up the wall, the L pose, wide-straddle handstand, or lotus pose variations. Please turn the heat up or down based on your energy! Also please note I forgot the Left-side lean-to's that come right after skandasana and before lizard pose, sorry about that. Just be ready to pause me for 10 seconds on the left side :) Enjoy yogis, this is a fun one!

  • 60 minutes

    What You Need Flow

    By Ally Hamilton on Jan 30, 2024

    Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

    Hello yogis! Welcome to your practice today :) I said this would be a very quick flow and then I went for an hour because it felt so good! We build some nice heat on the front end of this flow, and use that heat to deeply open the hips and hamstrings. We fire up the core and play with standing marichyasana, crow pose and firefly pose. We do some nice backbends, and end with some sweet hip and hamstring opening. You are the expert on you! Only you know exactly what you need and what feels right for today. Also a gentle reminder that while you are the expert on you, you are not the expert on anyone else ;) Enjoy, yogis!

  • 40 minutes

    Let's Get After It

    By Ally Hamilton on Jan 20, 2024

    Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

    Hello yogis! As requested, here is a shorter, energizing flow with all kinds of goodies included! After some quick grounding, we build heat and target shoulder, hip and hamstring opening. We play with koundinyasana 2 and later, koundinyasana 1. We do some deep core strengthening because you know I love it. I'll remind you to breathe deeply and listen to your body throughout this practice. If you're looking for something very thorough in 40 minutes, you found it! Have a couple of blocks handy for the end, when you can use blocks to back off or go deeper into some of your favorite hip and hamstring openers. Enjoy, yogis!

  • 61 minutes

    Thank Your Body

    By Ally Hamilton on Jan 15, 2024

    Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

    There are a lot of "advanced" poses in this flow, but I'm marking it intermediate because there are intermediate options and building blocks for everything along the way. The most advanced practice is always listening to your body. This session is a chance to have a conversation with your body every time you enter a new shape, or transition between shapes. The conversation goes something like "does this feel right?" and then your body gets to answer and you get to respond by backing off, going deeper, or staying right where you are, breathing deeply. Two blocks will be helpful. Have fun, yogis! And remember to thank your body because it's working hard for you all the time :)

  • 104 minutes

    Grasshopper Hips

    By Ally Hamilton on Dec 30, 2023

    Vinyasa Flow Advanced

    If you're feeling a little maxed out and you want some serious hip-opening as we head into a new year, I have you covered! Eight angle pose and grasshopper pose are in your near future, along with all the sequencing you need to get ready for them. If you're looking for a deep dive mentally and physically, here you go! This class is a little longer because it includes Yoga Nidra in Savasana :)

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