By Catherine Maisonneuve
For some time now, all over the world, yoga studios, pilates, gyms and others have been forced to close their doors to encourage the efforts of public health officials enforcement of social distancing.
In order to keep in touch with their members, but also, to allow yogis to continue their yoga practice in the comfort of their home, several studios and teachers have been able to adapt and have been offering many online classes for a few weeks.
These multiple online course offerings are more than welcome during this time of anxiety. To help you find your way around, the YogaTribes team has compiled a list of yoga classes offered online to help you choose the most suitable for you thanks to the Style Advisor. But still, in addition to the wide variety of online classes, it is also important to choose how you can broadcast your virtual class. Live streaming, video conferencing solution, Facebook or IG Live, You Tube are the most popular.
For example, the new YogaTribes Live streaming platform allows you to follow your class online, without having to download another application or ever having to leave your teacher’s profile page. Everything happens in real time and with other yogis with whom you will be able to interact, just like with your teacher who could allow the group to discuss all together at the end of the course.
Similarly to Idolem studios who offer their classes broadcasted “live” in a studio setting, at specific times and in groups from the Zoom application. The advantage of this streaming solution is that one really has the impression of following a “real” class, which begins at a chosen time, with other yogis with whom you can exchange according to the level of interactivity desired by the teacher. This live experience is by far the closest to the “real” yoga class in a physical space.
Otherwise, many teachers, like Ève Gilbert, offer virtual classes live from their living room via Instagram and / or Facebook Live. We therefore access the class by following the Tribe Leader on his social platform and we join the online class from home. This way of doing things allows everyone to follow the course individually, so neither in a group and nor necessarily live. Once the class is posted on Instagram and / or Facebook, it then remains available on the teacher’s social profile for 24 hours. It is always preferable to follow the class “live” however if you cannot be present at the exact time when the class starts, you can connect to it later.
Some pros, on the other end will prefer to engage in a series of pre-recordings and put the video online. These classes are in a 30-60-minute video format are often posted on the Tribe Leader’s profile, website or YouTube channel. These classes can therefore be followed at any time, according to our availability and desires. This approach is less personalized, but practical for yogis who do not like to plan ahead and prefer spontaneity. Do you suddenly feel like taking a class? No problem, a yoga video is there awaiting for you.
There are many ways to practice virtual yoga from a distance, in the comfort of your own home. The choice is extremely varied while the class offer is as wide as the format in which you choose to view it. So which class will you choose? Live, delayed, continuous, in a group or alone? The choice is yours, but caring for yourself has never been more important: do what makes you feel good.
Consult the online class directory with more than a hundred classes every day at YogaTribes.com
Catherine Maisonneuve
Blogger and yogi at Checking-in.ca
Author of the travel blog Checking-in.ca and freelance journalist specializing in travel, lifestyle and gastronomy. Part-time yogi and passionate about fitness, wellness and adventure.
