As we continue navigating the world of Online Yoga, us as yoga teachers are having to step out of our comfort zones and connect with our students in new ways. On top of that, these virtual classes come with their own set of challenges! With the help of Estelle Strydom from Potch Yoga Studio, we have compiled a few tips for teachers when presenting an online live yoga class.

Choose your Your Environment:

• Find an area with natural lighting (e.g. window behind the camera). Avoid having lighting coming from behind the teacher. Add any additional lighting if needed.

• Limit background noises and distractions as much as you can. Close windows and doors, limited movement in background and maybe leave the pets outside. Although many people may find your pets cute, they might also bring unwanted disturbances.

• Lay out your mat and keep any props within reach. If you need to talk a bit louder than normal to reach the microphone, keep a bottle of water close by.

• Make sure that you will fit into the frame when standing, in a wide leg or lunge position, and lying down (depending on your planned sequence).

• Find out which camera angle will be most suitable for your setup and sequence. Estelle’s favourite is a 45 degrees angle to the front of her mat. “This works best for me to demonstrate most poses. If the majority of your students have sufficient Yoga experience to follow most of the class with verbal cues only, a view directly from the side might work best. Make sure that your laptop / camera is on a stable surface”

• Consider your clothing and choose an outfit that is contrasting to your background. “I’ve found that solid black items are not so easy for viewers to see. Thin stripes or very floral / busy prints might also distort images of your movements” says Estelle

Decide on an option for background music:

• If you are wanting to use music, you can play it from the same device you are filming from. However, make sure that you do a test run as the music might distort the quality of your voice.

• You can choose to play music from a speaker placed behind you which will then ensure that the music your students will hear is not louder than your voice.

• Another alternative is to encourage your students to use their own background music – this way they can control the sound levels of your voice and music. If you want control over. the playlist, send them an Itunes or Spotify link of a recommended playlist beforehand.

Sequencing:

• Keep your setup in mind when you plan your class. Consider how your students will be facing in relation to their laptop and sequence your class accordingly.

• If most of your students are beginners, remember that they will want to face the screen as much as possible, so try to avoid facing the back of the mat.

• In twisting postures, try to do the side first that will allow your torso to show to the camera, or the side that will indicate where limbs should move towards.

Before the class starts:

• Welcome your students as they sign in to the class and Introduce yourself if they do not know you. If you are using Zoom or Hangouts, you can decide whether you would like your students to be able to join audio and say hello to everyone, or you can encourage them to introduce themselves in the chat box.

• Students can decide to join with video or not but you can always encourage them to keep their video on if they are comfortable with it, as it makes the class feel more natural, and less like you are talking to a screen.

• When most of the class has joined online, inform your students if they will need any props. Keep in mind that many students might not have traditional Yoga props at home, so you can recommend alternatives such as sturdy books or a shoebox filled with something heavy as blocks, a belt or towel as a strap, a blanket or pillow as a bolster. You may also wish to inform students whether they would need to face the screen in a specific direction, depending on your sequence.

• Ask students whether there are any injuries or limitations. A disclaimer notice can also be mentioned right before the start of class or encouraging students to sign a waiver prior to practicing online.

• Make sure that all other participants are muted right before the class starts, to limit background noises.

During the class:

• Remember to SMILE. Try to keep connecting with your students throughout the class. Look towards the camera every now and again.

• In postures where your head position might limit sound, try to cue first and then demonstrate, such as child’s pose or twisting away from the camera.

• Embrace any mishaps, disturbances or distractions. Calmly acknowledge any obvious or major distractions, guide students to a position they can hold for a while (ie child’s pose) if needed, remove the distraction as quickly as you can, add a quick apology or a laugh, and then move on.

• After the class, you can encourage participants to join audio again. Also encourage students to email or send a message to you if they have any questions about a specific posture or movement, as they might not want to ask in front of the group. Be open to any other feedback on technical elements as well.

ETHICAL RECOMMENDATIONS

• If you are planning to record the class to be made available afterwards, inform your students whether or not their video will be included in the recording. If you use Zoom and pin your screen on speaker view, only your video will be shown in the recording. This view still shows some of other participants in small squares on the side while you are presenting, but not in the recording. Start recording as soon as you join the online platform, as you might forget to press record when the class starts – you can always edit out the informal conversations before or after class if needed.

• Also ask permission if you plan to take screenshots or photos of your class.

• If you want a list of who is attending your class for payment purposes, ask a friend or family member to join the class on another account / device and let them take the names.

Lastly, test that everything is your setup works with a friend or family member (on the same platform that you will present your class). This will make you feel more confident and empowered for your real class!

We hope these tips help you along your teaching journey! If you have any other recommendations, share them in the comments below!