Zoom yoga tips
Yesterday I wrote a post reflecting on the pros and cons of online yoga, which considered issues around accessibility, comfort and cost. It was very different to the page called ‘Zoom yoga’, written in May to help clients set up for a live virtual class, which is a ‘how to’ guide for joining our group classes. As I wrote yesterday’s more philosophical post, further tips and suggestions arose - but they are quite separate from that more philosophical discussion. This post is therefore about ways to improve your experience of Zoom yoga, although it sits well alongside those previous contributions.
In case you need to hear it again, always set up your mat/chair in a safe space, with at least two feet ‘clear’ all around you. It’s particularly worth avoiding coffee tables (a surprisingly common source of injury!) and shelves full of precious ornaments. This is your responsibility prior to every online class.
To improve your experience of the class, consider the lighting and sound in your yoga space. You don’t need any special equipment to join a Zoom class, just a computer/phone/tablet with a camera, microphone and speakers, plus internet access. But balanced lighting in your room (reducing glare from a window, or big shadows) and avoiding areas of your house with lots of echo or background noise can really help me to see and hear you better - and therefore give more helpful feedback. Just remembering to shut the kitchen door can make a big difference!
Having said that, a huge advantage of online yoga is that you are not at the mercy of a studio air conditioning system! Taking five minutes before class to create your ideal conditions can really help you relax once class start. Open a window, light a candle, fetch your wooly socks and a cup of tea…you can choose how to make your yoga time comfortable.
The ‘usual rules’ apply for doing yoga, even when you don’t leave your house. Think about what you eat and drink beforehand, to make your body feel energized but not overloaded during the class. Personally I benefit from having a gap of about two hours between a meal and an active flow class, but if it’s going to longer than three hours after a meal I have a small snack about 40 minutes before a class. What works for you? And remember that most of us feel better during practice if we’ve been to the loo beforehand. Remember that yoga should help your body, not impede the essential function of digestion.
Use a similar approach for preparing your device. Plug it in so that you won’t run out of battery mid-class. Set the camera angle so that I can see you clearly from your mat, whether you are standing or lying down. You may want to explore linking your device to a TV or speaker set, or joining the zoom class from two different devices, to help you see and hear ME better too. Turn off notifications for the other apps on your device, so that you aren’t disturbed by messages or calls during the class. If you’re not sure how to do these things, have a practice session one day. Google and YouTube searches are very helpful: just type in the device model and problem that you want to solve.
If you still want more, here are some useful resources from other yoga teachers and practitioners.
First up is a four-minute tutorial video from https://www.facebook.com/yogawithema where you can see her computer screen as she joins a Zoom class. Ema shows you how to navigate Zoom (with a caveat that it may be different on your device - but definitely look for the features she mentions, so you know where to find them), so that you become confident with the microphone and video options, and what you see as a viewer.
This five-minute tutorial from https://www.facebook.com/ElitePilatesServicesandTeacherTraining is more freestyle but gives you close-ups of using Zoom on a mobile phone. Tanja then offers suggestions about where to put your camera device so that the teacher has a good view of you on the mat. I love her blu-tack idea!
Next up is a two-minute read from https://www.instagram.com/lynnskundaliniyoga/ about how to improve your in-class experience during Zoom yoga. I particularly like Lynn’s suggestion about using Zoom’s ‘pin video’ option, and will have a play around with it during some of our classes. Rest assured that I’m not concerned about your background though!
Finally, this two-minute read from https://www.facebook.com/bayleafyoga/ includes helpful links to Zoom’s own FAQs and troubleshooting that are relevant to yoga classes. Ashley writes in a clear, simple style that is ideal if you are descending into a panic about failing to join a Zoom meeting.
Any further questions? Let me know if you still want help improving your Zoom yoga experience - or joining us online for the first time. And as always, if you like any of the teachers who’ve resources I’ve shared above, please follow them on social media and explore their other content. You may find some gems!