It’s great to see you again, yogi! Today I wanted to pop in your inbox quickly and talk about something I NEVER thought I would be emailing to this list. Something that has been a hot topic online, in conversation, and among our community.
It’s the thing about practice in this moment that challenges us all.
The elephant in a digital room, so to speak.
Today, we’re going to talk about practicing virtual yoga.
Is it worth it?
What if I don’t like it?
What are my options?
And I’ll help you navigate the noisy digital world of all things digital and yoga.
What People Say About Virtual Yoga
Here’s what people are saying about virtual yoga with us:
“I would NEVER have been able to practice this much if it wasn’t SO EASY to take a class!”
“Virtual yoga helps me fit in classes in between busy days, virtual school, and long work hours. I can’t always finish the whole class, but it’s okay because I can leave when I need to.”
“I love virtual yoga! You guys make it so easy and simple and a ton of fun! 6:30am’s are my favorite way to start the day!”
Virtual Yoga Options
When it comes to virtual yoga, there are a lot of options out there:
- Pre-recorded classes: sometimes professionally produced, higher quality video and audio, with a specific theme or focus
- Pre-recorded themed programs: such as Sutra Summer Experience that includes yoga classes, teaching videos, at-home exercises, and journaling
- Live classes on streaming services: higher volume streaming services with an instructor that can’t see you
- Live classes on zoom: with teachers and other yogis, in real time, like our studio
Each has its own benefits and drawbacks.
For instance, if you know what you want to practice and who you want to practice with, and if they have recorded classes to play, or live classes coming up, or a program you want to learn more about, then you can go right to that source and do the class. It fulfills the need, you leave feeling great, and you can move on with your day.
But if years of practice of taught me anything, it’s that most of the time what you think you need, isn’t actually what you need at all.
And there’s a danger in that.
Because if we always only pick what we like best, or what is comfortable or easy, then we never have the opportunity to experience one of the most powerful parts of yoga practice: the ability to be with, move through, and process past discomfort.
And it’s that accommodation – the ability to back down the second something doesn’t go our way – that often denies us the true essence of practice.
