How to navigate the online yoga world – types of classes and the crucial differences between them.
Pre-recorded classes
These can come in all shapes and colours – short and long, for any and all levels, good or bad quality. And anything in between.
Pros:
- You can do them whenever and wherever.
- They can be cheeper or even free.
- You can choose and vary the duration, squeezing in some movement in a 10 minute break.
Cons:
- They can easily be at the bottom of your priority list so you end up not doing them after all. Nothing to remind you to do them either.
- The instructor doesn’t know you, it’s completely anonymous.
- You are basically watching someone else do yoga and trying to do what they do.
Streaming classes
These come with more commitment as they are live, have a beginning and an end so you have to make space for them in your day.
Pros:
- You can still join in from home in your pyjamas.
- You can practice with a teacher that is physically away from you.
- More commitment in most cases means it is more likely you will do the class and not just skip it because you can do it anytime.
Cons:
- The teacher may or may not know you.
- You still can’t communicate, it’s a one way instruction.
- The teacher doesn’t see you, they are cueing and demonstrating but they don’t know what you are doing.
Interactive classes
These classes are the most recent addition to the online yoga world, largely due to Covid-19. They are the closest to a face-to-face class than the previous two types. Interactive classes have all the pros of the streaming variety and more.
Pros:
- The teacher is looking at what you are doing and is giving you feedback. They are making sure you are safe throughout the practice and ideally will suggest modifications to accommodate all people in the class.
- You can communicate, ask questions or comment any time you are unsure, want clarification or want to share an experience during the class.
- The teacher gets to know you as they are actually working with you to make the class suit you and support your needs. That means that they can also plan their classes to meet the goals and the needs of the people in the group.
Cons:
- You can’t practice with your camera off, no anonymity.
- More commitment, similar to the streaming class.
- And I really can’t think of a third one to put in here..
So, these are the options. What you choose is up to you.
My yoga classes are small and interactive, the people in the group get to know each other too, we chat before and after class.
If this sound appealing, you can join us on Mondays at 12 pm for a Hatha yoga class with a different focus for each term or on Fridays at 9 pm for Ashtanga yoga for beginners. If you are unsure which one is better for you, do get in touch and I can help you with that.
Related articles:
7 benefits of doing yoga online
Photo by Shashi Chaturvedula on Unsplash
