It’s been over a month since I last taught a group yoga class (shout out to my Mirdif yogis, I miss you all!). My yoga practice and teaching have shifted to the online space and, a few weeks in I’m really getting used to this new way of both teaching and practicing yoga.

I thought I’d share some tips and leanings today. The beauty of the transition to online classes is that we are all finding our way together. Whether you have been teaching yoga for ten years or just finished your teacher training, these are strange times for us all. One of the things that has always (pleasantly after my experiences in corporate law…) surprised me as a yogi is how willing others are to share their knowledge and provide help. I’ve learned a lot very quickly about being a “Zoom yogi”, from my teachers, my students and just from experimenting!

I had a lot of resistance at first, both to teaching and taking classes online… I’m a yoga teacher so I can just practice on my own, right? I’m a relative new teacher so why would anyone want to practice with me when there are more experienced teachers out there? And, isn’t there already loads of free yoga on YouTube?

I am starting to see that the biggest void in these times is connection. Both as a student and as a teacher, if we cannot currently go to the studio then there is something so reassuring about hearing your teacher’s voice through your screen and as a teacher…well, I love to teach and being able to still do this has made me feel so much happier!

Setting Up Your Space

As a teacher and student, you’re going to need somewhere to practice. I’ve rearranged our living room to make enough space for my mat and for my laptop so that my teachers and students can see my whole body. This is important for teaching as I need to be sure that my students can see where my hands and feet are, and if I’m taking a class then a key difference between an online class and doing a YouTube video is that your teacher can correct your poses.

One of the novel things about taking online classes is that you get a glimpse into your teachers’ homes (please tell me that I am not the only one who finds this fun?!). I’ve been surprised somewhat by how minimalist most of my yoga teachers’ spaces are, maybe because before this we were barely at home?! On a serious note, tidy away any mess so that your space looks clean and professional. Move any personal photos that you don’t want broadcast on the internet and make sure that the spot you’re practicing in isn’t identifying exactly where you live.

Keep the space clean, light a candle, burn some palo santo and try to recreate the vibes of your favourite studio at home.

Lights, Camera… Zoom

Make sure your space is well-lit, natural light is best. In the middle of the day I find it nicer to draw the sheer curtains so that the light isn’t too harsh. I use the webcam on my camera which is good enough quality for a live class. For filming content for Instagram/YouTube you are probably much better off using your phone camera or, if you have one, a DSLR.

I use Zoom for all of my online classes and it seems to be the trend that most yoga teachers are finding this the preferred platform over Skype, Google Hangouts and Facebook video.

Online Teaching Tips

I think there are two options here for teaching online. The first is to continue teaching what you were teaching before lockdown and teaching those you were teaching before. If you know your students capabilities and they are familiar with your teaching style then this should be a smooth transition.

I have taken a slightly different approach – I’m teaching many people who I haven’t taught before and my online students are all relatively new to yoga. My approach has been to shorten the class to 30-40 minutes, keep the practice super simple and slow things down so mitigate the effects of not being in the same room as my students.

For students and teachers, manage expectations around potential technological blips and make sure that classes don’t need any special equipment. For a simple flow a beach towel or practicing on carpet is fine but for something a little more challenging then a yoga mat will make it more enjoyable.

Remember that students’ energy levels may be different due to stress, anxiety, less exercise and….all of the general joys of this time. While some may want a hardcore power yoga practice, I’ve been gravitating to more chilled practices (especially as some of my London students are practicing in small spaces and I don’t want them to injure themselves or their furniture!).

Preserving Your Energy

I find that taking one class a day and teaching a maximum of three 30 minute classes is enough. As a student I sometimes find it a little harder to hold my concentration in an online class as the energy from the other students is missing. As a teacher, my first few online classes honestly felt really tiring to teach?! It takes a LOT more energy to teach online as you have to demo a lot more than in a studio class and I found myself talking through the whole 30 minute session as I was so scared of the silence!

As my students and I have got used to the format, I’ve found it easier to speak less, to tell them to give me a shout if something is unclear and to trust the process.

Both as a teacher and a student, I think it is a nice idea to hold some space at the beginning and end of the class for a chat and catch-up. As a teacher don’t be scared to limit this – a ten minute chat and then wish your students well and inform them of your next class. Remember your yamas and niyamas: asteya also relates to not stealing others’ time.

The Ethics Of Online Teaching

Remember to tell your students if you are recording, taking photos or screenshots, and if you’ll use these on your social media to promote your classes. if you are a student then don’t be afraid to ask your teacher if they will be recording the class (again, yamas and niyamas!). Privacy is so important, especially in Dubai where some female students may want to keep their camera off for classes, just in case.

There is a fair amount of free online classes out there but if you are working with a teacher you know and want to support them then have an idea of a fair price for an online session. I don’t think that online classes should be as expensive as in-person classes (my favourite part of an in-person class is getting personalised assists for harder poses which is obviously missing online) but there has to be a balance between providing a service and maintaining an income.

Embrace The Positives of Our New World!

I’ve taken classes with teachers in London, Bali and my home Dubai. It’s so nice to have the whole world open up and to take a class with a friend in London and see them on the Zoom screen. My students are so far based in four different cities and counting… The world feels smaller in some strange ways. I love not having to drive to a studio, to find parking and if I’m taking a class as a student I have no qualms about wearing an ancient pair of leggings, messy hair and my glasses (something I would NEVER do for a studio class).

Times are changing fast and it’s been fun to be a part of the start of online yoga. Maybe in a few months we’ll all be back in our studios and this will be a distant memory. Maybe online teaching is here to stay. Maybe we’ll do online teaching in a totally different way by this time next year? Embrace the constant change and try to enjoy the process.

An added bonus to these times, my cat gets to join me on my mat and either make the poses more challenging by standing on me or sweetly lies by my side during savasana.

Have you been taking or teaching online classes?

I am offering 30 minute online classes designed at those working from home, either before your working day starts or during your lunch break. Send me a DM on Instagram if you are interested in taking a free trial class.  

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