It has been a peculiar four months teaching yoga online. At some points the physical separation is clearly felt, as we mute and unmute ourselves and peer at each other from awkward angles through our screens. Yet despite this, I have heard so many students and friends say that they are doing more yoga than ever, that they finally have the time and energy to dedicate to their practice, and that the lockdown has encouraged them to not rely on external factors to practice, like whether they can make it to the studio after work or not. It seems that the lockdown (not to mention the existential angst of a global pandemic) has encouraged a lot of people to re-evaluate how they spend their time and many have decided to place greater importance on their physical, emotional and psycho-spiritual health.
As a teacher, I do feel that my ability to work on these levels has been impacted by having to teach online, but I am bouyed by seeing so many students decide to not only stick with their practice in these times but also to
lean into it and take ownership of their well-being and personal/spiritual development. I for one have been finding a lot more time to practice, and with less distractions I have never felt like it is something on my to-do list, but rather the opportunity that it present to connect with my body and internal world which is something that can only occur when you give yourself the mental space and sufficient time to let that happen.
Whilst I think it is vital to see a teacher in person to make sure you're not doing yourself harm, a lot can actually be done online (especially within a private lesson online). Soon studios will begin to reopen and I believe we will see a lot of people decide to stick to their online practice. I for one am continuing to teach my classes online for the time being and plan to continue to offer at least something online into the future. Have you been practicing yoga online? Do you think it lives up to live classes? Let me know your thoughts!