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As a longtime student and a teacher, I’m always curious to try different yoga styles. So when I came across a class called “Inside Flow” while traveling in Austria, I signed up.
The experience is described as merging “music, movement, breath, and emotion into one seamless practice,” according to Young Ho Kim, founder of Inside Flow, and the combination immediately clicked for me. You know that feeling, right? It’s like hearing lyrics that somehow manage to put into words what you’re feeling. And just like that, I was hooked.
I’m not the only one. The first event I attended sold out, and most classes I’ve attended since moving to Vienna are full. I’ve also seen excitement for the practice in cities like Budapest, Düsseldorf, and Munich, with events and retreats promoted across Europe.
So what’s all the hype about?
What is Inside Flow?
The relatively new style of yoga was created in 2008 by Kim, who explains that his initial concept emerged from his passion for yoga and music. After years of personal practice and experimentation with moving on beat during his vinyasa practice, Kim evolved his approach into creating choreographies in which the speed of movement is dictated by the tempo of the music, allowing for what he considers to be a more expressive experience. He considers it “the next evolutionary step of vinyasa flow.”
At the center of each flow is one specific song and sequence the class is designed around—but these aren’t revealed until the end. Marion Eckert, an Inside Flow teacher and co-founder of fancypantsyoga in Vienna, explains “we create little sequences and then build upon them in different ways to create this aha moment at the end.”
“But it’s not like we do the first thing and then the second and so on,” she says. “We mix it up to create a flow experience where you just let go of everything and flow on your mat while the music helps you to be in sync with your movements and your breath…becoming like a little party on your yoga mat.”
Eventually, all the pieces come together in a cohesive flow.
Teachers can create their own flow or use one made by another certified instructor. Once the flow and song are revealed to students, the storytelling begins, after which you repeat the flow three more times. (In the last round, teachers invite students to flow without cueing.) Each class is 60 or 75 minutes long.
The Integral Role of Storytelling
During this portion, everyone sits down to take a breath while the teacher shares why they picked that song and what it means to them, making it a more personal experience.
This part is a key element of Inside Flow and was inspired by Anusara yoga. “While Anusara begins with storytelling, we’ve flipped the script and placed the storytelling at the middle of the class, using personal life stories instead of ancient scriptures,” says Kim.
He explains that this component is structured into three parts and has a three-minute time limit to ensure the message remains concise, focused, and positive. “This creates an emotional connection without delving into unnecessary personal details,” says Kim.
Eckert shares that students often tell her the storytelling portion is their favorite part because they, too, are navigating difficulties in their own lives, and it helps them see they’re not alone. “It can be very emotional and very powerful,” Eckert adds.
That’s what it’s like for Maria Brigitte Fritz, a practitioner based in Vienna, who relays that the personal testimony allows her to dive deeper into her practice. “It touches me in a special way because you can really feel your own story in the flow,” she says.
“Sharing your story shows your students that you are a real person with real feelings and similar life experiences,” says Viki Steubl, co-founder of fancypantsyoga and Inside Flow teacher.
Of course, some students are there for the movement and aren’t interested in the stories. “We let them be as they are and invite them to lie down or rest,” says Eckert.
Like an Inside Flow, Taught For The Very First Time
Steubl recalls being worried about what students would think of the style while teaching class for the first time. But afterward, the feedback was, “Wow, what was that?”
It quickly became a core class on the studio’s schedule with a consistent mix of male and female participants. Fast-forward to today, and Inside Flow has amassed a community of more than 40,000, according to the Inside Flow website, with some 4,000 certified teachers and 1,000-plus events held in 2024.
Inside Flow began in Frankfurt, Germany, where Kim’s studio, Inside Yoga, is based. The practice has drawn followers across Europe and is becoming increasingly global, with certified teachers located in Canada, Cyprus, and China.
Inside Flow has also made its way to the U.S., beginning with Rebecca Rasmussen, Inside Flow teacher and teacher trainer who was the first to hold classes in the U.S. in 2018. “You either love it or you don’t, but for those who do, they can’t get enough,” she says, adding how Inside Flow isn’t just about the physical; “it’s about feeling good and not taking ourselves too seriously.”
What to Know Before Attending Inside Flow
“If you love music, movement, and having fun, Inside Flow is definitely something to try,” says Rasmussen, who also explains how classes range from slow tunes to upbeat tracks and span genres like pop and hip hop.
Experience with vinyasa is recommended before attending, as Inside Flow is considered a more intermediate-level class, explain Eckert and Steubl. The classes also doesn’t focus on alignment or share cues, making knowing the names of poses like “Warrior 3” and how to self-adapt poses useful if not essential, says Eckert.
It’s also beneficial to consider your fitness level, as Inside Flow involves near-constant movement, which may feel like a lot for someone who prefers less active practices. That said, there are Inside Flows designed for beginners in order to learn the style at a somewhat slower pace.
All Inside Flow teachers are registered on the Inside Flow website, where you can see if there’s a teacher near you. Teachers must pay a fee to be on the website, and there are some pretty strict guidelines for teachers related to what they can promote and teach. You can also find a mix of classes, workshops, training, and concerts on Inside Flow’s event page.
Yoga has always made me feel many things, and I didn’t think it was possible to feel more—until Inside Flow. I initially went to try something new. Lately I go when I want to feel the powerful trifecta of sweating, experiencing an emotional reset, and reconnecting with myself. It always does the trick.
