Flow into the serenity of yoga-centric cinema, where the stretch and soul of practice illuminate the screen.
Through personal journeys and historical explorations, these picks transcend mere flexibility, delving into the heart of yoga itself.
Are you ready to unroll your mat and dive into the top yoga movies, shows, and documentaries that embody the spirit and essence of yoga?
Best Yoga Movies, Shows, and Documentaries:
- Enlighten Up! (2008) – Documentary
- Yoga Hosers (2016)
- Breath of the Gods (2012) – Documentary
- Yoga Inc. (2007) – Documentary
- Awake: The Life of Yogananda (2014) – Documentary
Table of Contents
#1 Enlighten Up! (2008) – Documentary
- 🎬 Directed by: Kate Churchill
Enlighten Up! is a documentary that follows filmmaker Kate Churchill as she enlists Nick Rosen, a skeptical journalist, on a journey to explore the world of yoga. With no prior experience, Rosen dives into the practice, traveling from the studios of New York to the origins of yoga in India to understand its impact and relevance.
This documentary examines the diversity of yoga practices and philosophies, questioning what yoga really is and whether it has the transformative power often claimed by its practitioners.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
#2 Yoga Hosers (2016)
- 🎬 Directed by: Kevin Smith
- 🌟 Starring: Lily-Rose Depp, Harley Quinn Smith, Johnny Depp
Yoga Hosers is a horror-comedy film that focuses on two teenage yoga enthusiasts, Colleen Collette and Colleen McKenzie, who work at a convenience store in Manitoba. Their mundane life takes a bizarre turn when they encounter an ancient evil beneath the store.
Directed by Kevin Smith, this movie is a unique blend of yoga culture with a quirky and comedic twist. While not a traditional yoga film, Yoga Hosers engages with the culture in a humorous and supernatural context.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
#3 Breath of the Gods (2012) – Documentary
- 🎬 Directed by: Jan Schmidt-Garre
Breath of the Gods is a documentary that delves into the modern history of yoga and its transformation from an esoteric Indian practice to a worldwide phenomenon. The film focuses particularly on the life and teachings of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, known as ‘the father of modern yoga.’
Featuring interviewees who were directly linked to Krishnamacharya, including B. K. S. Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois, this documentary provides a deep understanding of the principles and origins of yoga as it is known today.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
#4 Yoga Inc. (2007) – Documentary
- 🎬 Directed by: John Philp
Yoga Inc. is a documentary that casts a critical eye on the commercialization of yoga in the West. It scrutinizes how a millennia-old spiritual practice has been transformed into a multi-billion-dollar industry.
The film raises questions about the purity of the tradition versus the pursuit of profit, featuring interviews with studio owners, disillusioned practitioners, and others who have been affected by the commodification of yoga.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
#5 Awake: The Life of Yogananda (2014) – Documentary
- 🎬 Directed by: Paola di Florio, Lisa Leeman
Awake: The Life of Yogananda is an intimate and inspiring documentary that explores the life and teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, who brought yoga and meditation to the West in the 1920s. Yogananda is renowned for his classic book, “Autobiography of a Yogi,” which has inspired seekers for decades.
Through archival footage, reconstructions, interviews, and a study of his works, the documentary paints a portrait of a spiritual leader whose teachings continue to resonate with followers around the globe.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
FAQ
What is the best Yoga movie of all time?
“Awake: The Life of Yogananda” (2014) is the best Yoga movie of all time, providing an in-depth look at the life and teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.
What are some good Yoga movies?
“Yoga Unveiled,” “The Breath of the Gods,” and “Enlighten Up!” are good Yoga movies that delve into the history, philosophy, and personal impact of yoga practice.
What Yoga movies, shows, and documentaries are on Netflix?
The best Yoga movies, shows, and documentaries on Netflix currently are “Heal” (2017), “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator” (2019), and “Stretch and Bobbito: Radio that Changed Lives” (2015), which includes some elements of Yoga culture.
