The pandemic ensued in many changes in the lifestyle of people across all nations. People had to adapt to the restriction outside and thus shifted to online methods. Eventually, many realized that online classes, whether skill based or academic, were not as challenging as they thought. It had many advantages over physically attending classes. Having said that, online classes also have some cons. In this blog post, we are going to help you decide whether online classes suit you.
There are many different things to consider when choosing an online yoga class over an in-person one. Even if you decide to go for the virtual option, you are most likely to experience choice paralysis because of the limitless possibilities the world wide web offers to tech-savvy yoga lovers.
Let’s start by helping you choose if online yoga better suits your needs as opposed to in-person classes.
If you are a beginner and you can choose between an online and an in-person session, you should probably go for the second option. The main reason is that you could start building bad habits. These include holding your breath for too long and getting restless by pushing your body beyond its limits, which could lead to potential injuries. In a lesson delivered over a video call, it’s much harder for the instructor to spot these bad habits. Not to mention that nobody will ever notice them if your online lessons consist of watching pre-recorded classes.
For the more experienced, online yoga practice should not cause any injuries, if you apply what you have previously learnt in your in-person classes. However, if you think of yoga as a collective experience, doing it virtually will mean that you will miss out on the shared energy of a group, which can sometimes be really profound. In addition, it’s easy to get distracted at home by family members, the doorbell, your phone, that pile of paperwork, or the cat or dog deciding they want to join in. Yoga studios are often characterized by natural materials and earthy tones that help create a peaceful atmosphere, promoting mindfulness and relaxation.
Let’s now assume that you want to go for online classes, you should know that virtual yoga practice can be done in many different ways. The two main ones are pre-recorded versus live video lessons.
Financially, pre-recorded classes are certainly convenient. There is usually a different price tag between pre-recorded and live classes. You can even find free yoga videos on YouTube! If finances are an issue, you can definitely practice with pre-recorded videos, either paid or free. Yownn Yoga’s Youtube channel is definitely a good place to start. We offer a 7 days journey with videos to help you get started with yoga. These include stretching routines and exercises for flexibility, strength and relaxation.
In addition, with pre-recorded classes you do not depend on a schedule, you create your own. This certainly suits busy professionals. On the other hand, you need to ask yourself whether you will have the self-discipline to follow your own schedule. If you don’t, live video lessons would suit you more. For example, if you have paid for 4 classes in advance and they take place on the same day at the same time every week, you’d probably be more motivated to attend. Remember you need to make time for yoga instead of trying to find time for it. A commitment to a series of lessons that take place following a regular schedule means making time for it.
Finally, just like in-person group classes are about collective energy, to some extent, live video lessons can be too. Even if students can’t see each other the way they can in-person, there’s a discernible difference in the energy of a live, two-way streamed class. Students can see other students practicing who’ve opted in to keeping their cameras on. Students sometimes chime in to ask questions that are specific to their needs, too. The only drawback? You can’t press pause like you would when watching a pre-recorded class and relive that moment. If you want to relive a yoga moment or practice over and over again until you master a certain pose, a live video lesson will not allow you to do that.
If you want to live the moment but not necessarily relive it, Yownn Yoga offers live online classes that are 30 to 90 minutes long. All our yoga instructors are certified by regulatory authorities and have ample knowledge of yoga practice. Therefore, you can get the chance to learn yoga methods from experienced teachers. Our knowledgeable and dedicated yoga instructors shall guide you by teaching you the correct yoga postures throughout the journey. Online yoga classes are a highly personalized experience of learning yoga, suiting your time and needs.