Online Yoga Classes
The current situation has necessitated a need to move from traditional learning to innovative ways of teaching and learning. The sudden surge in the pandemic has resulted in people getting stuck at home. Gyms and studios across India have started to become operational but people are still looking to work out at home. That has forced everyone concerned, even those reluctant to change to adapt to new ways. Face to face interactions and training is happening albeit digitally. Yoga teachers and practitioners too not to be left behind have embraced the online mode by participating in online yoga classes.
What is online yoga classes?
With the training done on the internet, one of the important necessities of these online yoga classes is having a good internet connection. There are many online resources that can be used to conduct the sessions, some of which are open-source applications through which training is conducted. Many of the yoga practitioners and gyms have their websites or apps through which video tutorials are streamed. The content is streamed to smartphones, TV or laptops through the internet and can be accessed from anywhere.
Some fitness studios also have their fitness apps with instructors and trainers who are available for customized and personalized training. Search for online yoga classes near me to get a list of such studios that offer yoga online. After the sessions, the questions of the students on the yoga exercise are answered through a group chat or other such modes. The best part of these online yoga classes is that they are self-paced and provide great flexibility to complete the yoga at home at your convenience.
Those who are interested in learning the online yoga asanas should pre-register to these classes on the given website. The sessions can be
Live: If it is a live session, a meeting is arranged by the presenter and a link is sent to the participants who want to attend it. The presenter or the host opens the space a few minutes before the class begins. The students can use the link and join the meeting, turn on their webcams and microphones and attend the sessions. Depending on the meeting app used, the participants will receive notifications a few minutes before the class time. The yoga teacher switches on the webcam and demonstrates the yoga exercise. The students follow suit and any form or posture corrections are done by the teacher by watching it on the screen.
Recorded sessions: Virtual yoga classes can also be held by gyms and fitness studios as pre-recorded sessions. In this mode of yoga exercise, the students can watch the video and learn at their convenient time and place.
How Effectively Can We Do Online Yoga Classes at Home?
Workout videos have been popular for a long time and if you are wondering what is the difference between now and then. The only difference that you can note is that there is more variety now than before.
Gyms and fitness studios offer yoga classes in two ways:
Group classes: Most of the studios offer group yoga classes that are done live on a daily basis. The yoga exercise is live-streamed and the group practises with the teacher. Depending on the studio you opt for, the number of members in the batch varies. But most of them ensure they do not have many people in a batch so as to give attention to the form and posture of each student.
One-One classes: If you are not a fan of doing yoga classes online in a group or have a unique requirement then studios offer one-on-one training. This is also ideal for people who are looking for customized and specialized yoga exercises to cure a particular health issue. Those with disorders like back pain, knee pain, diabetes, hypertension or other such issues seek customized yoga. For any specific health issues, check online yoga classes near me and consult a yoga guru.
Who can do online yoga classes?
Yoga is an ancient discipline that has been around for more than 5,000 years. A full body yoga is a set of poses and stretches accompanied by breathing. Learn yoga online at home or at a studio and get powerful benefits. But is it for everyone? Yes, it is. It is a gentle form of exercise that can be done by everyone irrespective of their age or fitness. That is because there are many yoga styles, some of which are meditative and relaxing and some are vigorous and intensive. So no matter your age or fitness there's a yoga style that suits you.
Moreover, yoga sessions online are a great combination of mental and physical exercise and even those who have just started practising can gain benefits just like those who are experts in it. So do not be intimidated by the yoga asanas names or complicated poses, yoga workout is for everyone.
Who should avoid online yoga classes?
Online yoga classes at home can be done by anyone as mentioned in the above section. However, it is best avoided by people who are physically ill or are exhausted due to illness or strenuous activity. The below category of people should consult their healthcare provider before doing yoga home asanas.
Pregnant women or women who have delivered a baby through C-section should consult their physician before restarting any exercise routine. They should train under an experienced practitioner.
Those who have had a recent surgery or have had a major health episode.
People with fractures or sprains should get the consent of experts.
Certain yoga exercises should not be done by women in menses. So it is best to seek the opinion of an experienced yoga teacher.
List of Best online yoga classes
Virtual fitness is not limited to a single workout or to only a certain category of people. Yoga at home is as effective as a studio workout. The range of yoga workout routines is myriad and is available at your fingertips.
There are many types of yoga online and each offers different types of poses. Depending on your fitness levels and goals, one can choose to learn basic yoga at home or more difficult ones like:
Hatha yoga where the emphasis is on strengthening the body and purifying it. It involves various asanas as well as Pranayama (breathing techniques).
Iyengar yoga: Which uses various props to hold postures and is more focused on alignment of the body.
Ashtanga yoga: It is fast-paced and intense. It involves performing a series of postures in a continuous flow along with focusing on breathing patterns.
Bikram yoga: It involves poses for balance and standing. This yoga has 26 posture sets which are practised twice in a session.
Kripalu yoga: It is a gentle type of yoga and is a combination of restorative and vigorous forms.
Restorative yoga: It is a relaxing type of yoga that does not have any active postures.
One can opt for a particular type of pure form yoga or can do a combination of all of the above. Some of the popular daily routine online yoga classes depending on the fitness are:
General yoga asanas
Surya Namaskar ,
Kids yoga ,
Yoga for women
Yoga for PCOS ,
Prenatal yoga ,
Yoga during periods
Benefits of Doing online yoga classes
Including physical activity as part of the lifestyle has always been a challenge. People go for an occasional run, walks or bike ride around the neighbourhood but this is not always structured. Many people need a structure, a workout buddy and a trainer to maintain a fitness routine. Online yoga classes appeal to individuals who want variety and structure but do not have the time for a strict schedule. Here are some of the benefits the best online yoga classes offer.
Flexibility:
For people with a busy and demanding work schedule it is difficult to have a fixed time schedule for working out at a gym or studio. While you may think that working at weekends is enough, it is not the case. Yoga online fills the gaps during the workday as it can be done at your convenient time.
No need to travel:
Perhaps one of the major advantages of doing virtual yoga is that there is no need to travel to a gym. You get access to the best online yoga classes which are structured and have great content at your home. Moreover, you can do it at your own pace without someone breathing down your neck. It is also ideal for people who dislike the gym and its associated things.
More choices:
Unlike earlier, virtual fitness offers many choices of workouts within yoga itself. Just log in to the fitness app of your choice and check out the routines that are on offer. New to the neighbourhood or not sure which is the best yoga studio search online with the keyword yoga classes near me online and get a list of studios.
Learn new things:
When you get variety there is scope and motivation to learn something new. Online yoga classes make it easy to learn more new poses, approaches and techniques when compared to learning in an offline studio. Attending live classes or accessing the huge number of videos available makes way for new learning.
Disadvantages of Doing online yoga classes
While there are many benefits of doing virtual yoga workout and helps you remain active there are a few disadvantages too that need to be overcome. A few disadvantages include the need to have a good Wi-Fi connection as a poor connection can disrupt the streaming of the class which can be quite irritating. When working out at home there are a few distractions like someone ringing the doorbell or kids asking for something. The other thing is that there is not much social interaction with other people in the class. However, these disadvantages can be handled with better planning.
Do's & Don'ts
There are a few do’s and don'ts that need to be followed whether you are doing home yoga or at a studio.
Do’s:
Ensure that the place you do yoga is clean and is calm.
Make sure to have a clean mind, body and soul.
Before starting yoga asanas empty the bowels and bladder.
The yoga asanas should be performed on an empty stomach, if you feel weak consume lukewarm water with honey.
Maintain awareness of your body and focus on your breath.
Do the exercises in a slow and relaxed manner.
To prevent injuries, warm-up stretches should be done to prevent injuries.
Do drink lots of water to stay hydrated before yoga practice.
Perform yoga in a well lit and ventilated room.
Wear comfortable clothing that is light and facilitates proper movement.
Include proper cool down and relaxation techniques.
Practice regularly and persistently to get better.
Move to the advanced postures only after mastering the simple ones.
The body should be kept loose and there should not be any undue jerks.
Breathe through the nose unless otherwise specified.
Dont’s:
Do not perform yoga if you are ill or under acute stress.
Women in menses should refrain from certain asanas and instead do relaxation poses and pranayama.
Do not do yoga for 2 to 3 hours after a heavy meal.
Do not eat, drink water or shower for about 30 minutes after practising yoga.
Do not perform strenuous workouts after yoga asanas.
Do not practice in extreme weather conditions.
Things Required to Do online yoga classes at Home?
Some of the essential equipment needed to do online yoga classes at home are:
Yoga pants and shorts that are comfortable to wear and do not hinder movement.
Tops for men and sports bras for women.
Headbands to tuck the hair in.
A yoga mat that does not slip and offers a cushion on the floor.
Blocks or other props.
A good wif-fi connection for uninterrupted streaming.
A smartphone or other device to comfortably view the sessions.
Online yoga classes help you get fit without much ado. When you stick to it, it helps you deal with stress as well as ensure you stay healthy. It also reduces injury and relieves you from pain. Since it is a mind-body exercise, it also helps you become fitter mentally too. With so many benefits, why wait? Search for yoga online classes near me and enrol now!
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