Online Yoga

If only we lived in a world where we had the time, and perhaps the money, to go to a yoga studio whenever we needed a yoga class. With life as busy as it is and in some places the lack of yoga studios or classes, getting to a daily yoga class is a rarity for most but it is possible with the internet.

With the market flooded with yoga teachers and studios, teachers have had to get creative with finding a place to teach. Eight years ago when I graduated I was told not just to look at studios for teaching but hospitals, businesses and recreation departments. Now days new teachers have another option, teaching online. If you have a fast enough internet you can open up a yoga studio online. The beautiful thing about this is that the cost is close to nothing. For a student, an online class or video is a fraction of the cost of going to a local studio. Just to point out, I don't want to take traffic away from the studios, since I can't teach online I would be stealing my own students! My goal is to share the love of yoga for those who can't make it into the studios for their practice.

Some teachers would argue that this isn't true yoga. Part of being a teacher is being present with your students. Being there to make adjustments, to have your eyes on the students to make sure that they are practicing safely and to just feel the vibe of the room. They say by teaching online that you are not honoring the true essence of yoga.

But what about that mom that used to do yoga all the time before she had her baby and now can't find the time to get to class? What about the yogi that lives out in the middle of nowhere and is getting tired of the same old videos and wants to take a class with a live person? What about the yogi who just hasn't found a teacher she can connect with and is thinking of giving up yoga entirely?

Online yoga can bring yoga to those who otherwise may not have access to it or have a busy schedule and have limited time to take a class. It's a safe place for a new student to explore the practice without the worry of how they look and they can pick a class that is appropriate for their skill level. You can change your videos to match your practice as it changes over the years. Yoga is not a one size fits all so having a variety of yoga videos to choose from is essential.

For teachers it considerably broadens their student base allowing them to teach more classes. By not having to drive to various studios the teacher can just turn on his or her computer and they are at class within seconds. One thing I love about the video classes is the learning opportunity. I'm inspired by new sequences and techniques from the comfort of my own home once I put my daughter to bed.

I would love to teach online, however where I live doesn't have a fast enough nternet connection so I will have to live through others. As a student check out Gaiam Yoga Studios. This site is full of videos of all styles and levels taught by Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, have 15 minutes or a hour and a half, you will find a video to suit your practice. I'm partial to Rodney Yee as his power yoga video is the first yoga I ever did. His videos inspired me to become a yoga teacher.

If you are looking for a live person rather than a video check out Powhow. You can connect to a live yoga teacher or class and participate from the comfort of your own home. If you are a teacher this is a site where you can set up your own class. This site isn't yoga specific and includes all kinds of online lessons. A high speed internet connection is required so check your system to make sure it is up to speed before you make any purchases.

Yoga is so good for you whether it is in person or via the internet. There is nothing better than being in a live class, feeling the energy and having a teacher at your disposal, but that isn't always possible. Online classes and videos give you the next best thing. It may bring yoga into more people's lives, allowing them to lead a balanced life without the hassle of trying to carve out time to get to class, find parking or a get a babysitter. I hope to someday join the online community, but till then I hope you can enjoy it for me.