Jim Bennitt

Jim Bennitt

Jim, a former wrestler, massage therapist and clerk at the Chicago Board of Trade, began his studies in Yoga, Tantra and Ayurveda in 1997. Originally he took up Yoga as a way to help heal back pain, but soon after, discovered how the practice affects not only the body, but also mind and spirit.
Jim has completed teacher trainings with Daren Friesen of Moksha Yoga Center which draws heavily from the Krishnamacharya lineage, apprenticed with Gabriel Halpern of the Yoga Circle (a studio in the Iyengar tradition), spent two months in Kiev with Ukrainian Yoga master Andre Lappa for an intensive in Universal Yoga, and in 2002 began a close apprenticeship with Rod Stryker, founder of Para Yoga, in the Himalayan tradition which continues to this day.
Featured in such publications as The New York Times, Chicago Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Breathe and Yoga Chicago, Jim is also a popular presenter at the Yoga Journal Grand Geneva Conference and the Midwest Yoga Conference and teaches workshops nationwide. Jim’s practice and teaching can be physically demanding, however it always has an emphasis on breathwork and meditation helping to unite body, mind and spirit. When you take a class from Jim, expect to sweat a little, breathe a lot, and feel a sense of inner peace.

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Jim Bennitt
  • 60 Min Vigorish Practice with Jim

    modified sun salute a
    modified sun salute b
    disk pose (chakri)
    transverse lunges
    plank
    crocodile
    crocodile rolls
    side saddle flow
    butterfly
    bridge
    windshield wiper
    empty pool (tadaka mudra)
    rest
    kapalabhati
    jiva mudra

  • 60 Min Vigorish Sun Salute B+ with Jim

    Sun salute a+
    Sun salute b+
    crocodile
    side scorpion
    airplane
    child pose
    dolphin
    forearm stand
    rock the boat
    windshield wipers
    windshield wipers - boat sequence
    90/90
    90/90 boat sequence
    butterfly
    bridge
    knee circles
    supine wipers
    tadaka mudra
    savasana
    kapalabhati
    jiva mudra
    sushumna dharana

  • Seated Practice with Jim: 20 min

    easy seated pose
    foot mobilization
    ankle mobilization
    windshield wipers
    90/90
    clam shells
    reverse clam shells
    90/90 reach
    90/90 twist
    seated angle
    pistol pose variations
    butterfly
    easy seated pose

  • Early Morning Gentle Class with Jim - 10/28/2025

    Qigong inspired warm up
    chakri
    gorilla squats
    lunges
    kneeling salutes
    sphinx
    windshield wipers
    90/90
    butterfly
    bridge
    corpse
    breathwork
    meditation

  • Early Bird Pop-up Class with Jim - 10/30/2025

    qigong inspired warmup
    tai chi warrior
    chakri
    lunges
    kneeling salutes
    bird dog
    joint mobilization
    sphinx
    updog
    downdog
    windshield wipers
    90/90
    butterfly
    bridge
    dead bug
    corpse
    breathwork
    meditation

  • Rise and Shine with Jim: 45 min

    simple joint mobilization
    bird dog
    kneeling salutes
    plank
    sphinx
    lunges
    tai chi warrior
    windshield wipers
    90/90
    cobbler
    corpse
    skull shining breath
    meditation

  • "Vigorish" Rise and Shine with Jim: 45 min - 11/06/2025

    joint mobility exercises
    kneeling salutes
    plank and side plank
    sphinx and cobra
    split squat (anjeyanasana)
    cossack squat (skandasana)
    staff pose scoot (dandasana vinyasa)
    boat pose sequence (navasana vinyasa)
    windshield wipers
    90/90
    butterfly
    bridge
    rest
    breathwork
    meditation

  • Chill Rise and Shine with Jim: 45 min - 11/11/2025

    Qigong inspired warmup
    lunges
    kneeling salutes
    bird pose
    joint mobilization
    windshield wipers
    90/90
    bound angle
    tadaka mudra
    savasana
    kapalabhati
    jiva mudra

  • Mobility Rise and Shine with Jim: 45 min - 11/18/2025

    standing joint mobilization
    toe balancing
    side bend and squat sequence
    standing twist
    lunges
    kneeling salutes
    sphinx
    side scorpion
    updog
    downdog
    windshield wipers
    90/90 sequence
    butterfly
    tadaka mudra
    savasana
    kapalabhati
    jiva mudra

  • Vigorous Class with Jim: 60-min - 01/26/2026

    kneeling salutes
    plank/side plank
    lunges
    sun salutes a+
    sun salute b+
    mountain pose
    tree pose variation
    bird pose variation
    dipping bird
    deep squat
    crow/crane
    side scorpion
    airplane
    forearm balance
    rock the boat
    windshield wiper sequence
    90/90 sequence
    seated foward fold
    rest
    skull shining brea...

  • Yoga Nidra with Jim - 01/14/2026

  • 10 min To Improve Your Balance with Jim

    mountain pose
    toe balancing
    side to side shifting
    balancing on one foot

  • 10 min Seated Practice with Jim: 90/90

    90/90

  • Yoga for Longevity with Jim: 60 min

    standing joint mobility
    qigong inspired warmup
    tai chi warrior
    toe balance/side stretch/ squat sequence
    lunges
    kneeling salutes
    bird dogs
    childs pose
    sphinx
    frog variation
    side scorpion
    updog
    downdog
    windshield wipers
    90/90
    butterfly
    bridge
    deadbug
    rest
    meditation

  • Tutorial with Jim: Tai Chi Warrior

    Jim takes you through his favorite standing mini-sequence.

  • Live Class with Jim 3/4/26: Easing Into It

    standing joint mobility - balancing on the toes, side stretch, squat sequence - gorilla squats - front lunges - kneeling salutes - bird dogs - planks - sphinx - kickstand squats - revolving disk - side lunges - warrior 2 variation - side scorpion - airplane - inversion - boat variations - windshi...

  • Gentle Class with Jim: Live from Cancun - 03/07/2026

    simple mobility warmup - qigong warmup - tai chi warrior - revolving disk -forward fold - lunges - kneeling slautes - bird dogs - child pose - sphinx - updog - downdog - windshield wipers - 90/90 sequence - butterfly - knee circles - bridge - supine twist - rest - breathwork - meditation

  • Tutorial with Jim: Qigong Inspired Warmup

  • Open/Multi-level Class with Jim: Live from Isla Mujeres! - 03/11/2026

    Jim apologizes for the three short breaks in internet experienced in this class.
    qigong warmup - taichi warrior (with balancing) - revolving disk - side lunges - gorilla squats - lunges - lunging twists - plank and side plank sequence - sphinx - updog - downdog - split squats - balancing split s...

  • Live Gentle Class with Jim from Isla Mujeres - 03/14/2026

    bouncing - qigong inspired warmup - tai chi warrior - forward fold - lunges - kneeling salutes - bird dog - child pose variations - wrist mobilizations - shoulder rotations - chin circles - downdog - sphinx - updog - foot mobilization - inch worm - windshield wipers - side plank 90/90 variation -...

  • Live Class with Jim: 3/18/26

    qigong inspired warmup - taichi warrior - side lunges - sun salutes - balancing had to big toe - crow - locust variation - lying side stretch - balancing pose (samanasana) - inversion - side saddle stretch (bharadvajasana) - butterfly - seated hand to big toe - bridge - windshield wiper - rest - ...