As a teacher who was forced to learn the online technology for yoga classes during the Covid Pandemic, I completely understand why people are hesitant to join online. I’ll admit, when I went back to teaching in-person I was surprised how many students chose to not return and ended up preferring online classes!
These are a few key reasons students are choosing online class over in-person:
- Health reasons! Post-covid many immune-compromised students chose yoga from home due to keep their risk of contracting covid lower. Long-term it’s proven to be a great way to avoid general colds and flus as well.
- Convenience! Busy moms, over-scheduled workers, and those with limited time often find the online classes easier to access (you can hop on and off during class as needed, and turning cameras off ensure privacy if you have kids running around in the background, or if you need to get away from class for a moment due to a brief interruption).
- Location! There’s no limit on location if you want to join our gentle yoga classes online. Students from Ottawa, Toronto, and Northern Ontario have been able to join in a variety of online classes and workshops through zoom.
- No winter driving! Canada is famous for it’s harsh winters, snow and ice storms, and dark driving conditions. Many students join online during the winter months to avoid the risk. Plus, online classes are rarely cancelled due to weather (only if the internet is down).
- Affordable! If you want to save a few bucks, online classes are cheaper than in-person. It’s also a great option to double up on classes during the week (some of my in-person students also join online to get more yoga in their daily routine).
- Accessible! If mobility is an issue, or even travelling an issue, online classes are a great option because you can set up your space for your personal accommodations and modify as needed. I’ve had students join us online, with the foundational breathing – they do the stretches that work for them, and rest and breathe through the ones that don’t. You could participate from a chair, or even from bed. If this is something you’d like to explore, email me directly to discuss the possibilities (gentle_hatha@live.com).
- Encourages a personal practice from home! This is my personal favourite reason to start an online practice, as it encourages students to create space in their own home for their yoga. It’s a good excuse to claim a corner or a room in the house, devoted to your wellness. A little space to sit, meditate, pause, reflect, and stretch. Creating a sacred space is a visual reminder to give yourself some self-care. Perhaps build a small alter with flowers, crystals, candles and/or incense. A place to sit and read or write, or even for prayer. Whatever it is you need to give yourself some peace in your home. You might be surprised how a personal practice can flourish at home, beginning with a weekly online practice.
Try this!
This is a free gentle yoga class on YouTube that I originally made for my students to use in leu of cancelled classes. Let me know what you think!
Interested in joining us online? I have a series of online monthly mini-workshops (one Friday evening each month) and one online weekly class (Friday mornings). I look forward to hearing from you!
Jenni / gentle_hatha@live.com.
The Gentle Way of Hatha 