So, the world’s opening up again. Great news. Especially for all in-person classes!
Getting back to flowing and guiding others in real life, feeding off the energy of the teacher and other students. The teacher being able to be more hands on with adjustments and guidance. It’s a very exciting time. I do love to teach in-person. It really is something special.
But what does it mean for all those that have found yoga through lockdown online that aren’t local to where the class is being held? For those that find it more comfortable learning in their own homes, rather than perhaps feeling a little intimidated attending a class full of yogis? And let’s not forget the teacher, who has found a further reach with students geographically because of online teaching?
When I graduated from my teacher training, it was during lockdown. Even though I was very lucky to have had that small window where classes were able to be in-person again (just after lockdown 1.0) and graduate with in-person classes, l found a presence online and started teaching straight away friends and family. Fortunately student numbers steadily grew in numbers with many repeat flow-ers and I now teach very happily online three times a week. Students range from all over the UK and also very regularly from all over the world, thanks to the beauty of the World Wide Web.
Speaking with my students about this interestingly, the majority of them have said that they don’t want my online classes to stop. There are many reasons but one that seems to always come up is that, if they had to regularly travel to attend an in-person class, they most likely won’t stick to it as religiously as attending online. One comment that comes to mind was: ‘Are you kidding me? Rolling out of bed on a Sunday morning switching on my laptop/phone and yoga-ing in the comfort of my own home is so much more appealing than having to schlep out to a class!’.
Another was, more poignantly; ‘I’d feel too awkward and even a little intimidated by in-person classes. All those yogis bending and flexing showing me what I can’t do.’ This of course is a confidence thing for sure and no doubt, once attending regularly, this will be overcome. But let’s not disregard the fact that so many feel this way, regardless of the ‘no egos/no competition’ that yoga is suppose to promote. There is absolutely a space and a market for online teaching/classes.
Of course there is the option of broadcasting from zoom while teaching an in-person class; which I feel will become more and more popular. Even something I will most likely offer for future classes. But I personally am not prepared to give up my online teaching… ever! Yes, it isn’t the same as being there in person to guide the students by offering adjustments and feeding off the energy in the room. But I can say that there is definitely a different kind of energy and even though you can’t always see the postures that they’re in, due to camera angles and small spaces, etc, I can definitely see and feel my students progressing similarly to how they would in-person. Which is a reward within itself.
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