I admit when I started offering online private yoga sessions, I had no idea if they would work at all. The idea came to me when a dear friend living in Colorado said she’d love to take my classes if I could do it online. It was an interesting idea, one I definitely wanted to explore. She agreed to be my guinea pig, and after a few rough experiments, I created something solid that would really benefit her and future clients.
I have a TV set up in my studio so I can see the client in a far bigger screen than what my laptop can provide. I wear a bulky headset to cut out background noise when speaking to the student. Students must own a webcam. They’ll also need a proper space and their own props. Obviously, students will need a reliable high-speed Internet connection.
Is it weird? A little. Is it challenging as a teacher? Very. However, I love meeting challenges.
If I hated anything about it, it’s the fact that I can’t be in the room to physically adjust or even see every little piece of the pose formation. It’s a definite deterrent to be sure, but I’ve found ways to overcome it the best I can. For instance, I’ll tell the student to change which way she is facing me or to adjust the position of her camera if I can’t see vital points of the pose. If she’s facing me head on, I can’t see how she’s positioning her hips, back, and shoulders in downward-facing dog.
As a result, I’m not even bothering with teaching a Vinyasa Flow class online. Perhaps if the student is a seasoned veteran, I would consider it. For the most part students are newcomers or still need assistance with alignment. It’s been only Slow Flow and Yin Yoga, and both of those work amazingly well online. I would never think of holding a Restorative Yoga class or Iyengar class online simply due to the props necessities.
The classes aren’t perfect at all, hence the lower price. They aren’t for everyone either. For those who don’t want to attend a large studio class, are just learning yoga, or simply want the convenience of a practice out of their own home, online private yoga sessions are rather ideal.
Interested in checking out an online private yoga session? Contact me and we will set something up!
