Adventures and Mishaps in Zoom Yoga
This is a photo my sister snapped while taking my lakeside zoom yoga class. I love sharing Lake Superior in my zoom classes, weather permitting. Now that the weather is cooling down, I will have to find new ways to make my classes fun and special.
Teaching yoga during the pandemic. Uff da.
There are days I wonder why I’m even trying to keep a consistent yoga class going.
There are days I think zoom yoga is a beautiful addition to an in-person practice.
There are days I feel like giving up.
Teaching yoga is a very important part of my life. It brings me energy, joy, and community to share space and practice with others. As the pandemic drags on, I’m mourning the loss of that community while simultaneously trying to embrace virtual yoga.
Overall, I am so thankful for the opportunity to keep my practice consistent via zoom.
I’ve taken classes from teachers around the US, but overall a vast majority of the classes I’m taking are with the instructors I already know and love. Seeing friendly faces of yoga teachers and students I know from pre-covid life has been powerful for me.
Y’all. The transition to zoom for yoga teachers has not been easy.
Here are just a few of the mishaps that have happened while teaching since March:
Laptop died during class (was able to plug-in and restart)
Didn’t have all participants muted and someone started going about their day and was chatting for a few minutes before I could figure out how to mute her
I forgot the zoom password and locked myself out of the account before class started
Sound wasn’t working and I taught an entire class that no one could hear and I had no clue
The first time I taught on my deck I lined up my mat on one end. As I started doing three legged-dogs, I realized I was under low branches of our spruce tree. Spruce budworms fell on me (literally by the dozens) every time I hit one of the branches. Class was underway and so I tried to act natural.
Twice now I’ve taught lakeside classes without realizing a recent hatch of black flies would eat me ALIVE. Black flies hatch a few times throughout the summer. They are prevalent for a few days before dying out. Once, my legs were actually bloody. I proceeded as though nothing were happening- the ultimate yoga test!
The first time I invited neighbors to my class to practice in my driveway while I taught on zoom, they showed up and it started to rain. The only way to proceed was to put my computer in the garage (for rain protection) and we practiced facing the computer in the driveway. As such, my neighbors unwillingly became my background yogis, like a 90s workout video. Lol! Luckily, they were good sports about it.
I like to find new places on the lake to teach class. The downfall is that once I commit to a location, I can’t turn back because there isn’t enough time to find a new/different location. A few weeks ago I wanted to teach on a nice spot I saw on the Talmadge River where the river meets Lake Superior. Great, except you have to scramble down a 12 foot drop off! I dropped my trusty stool down the cliff- amazingly it didn’t shatter!
The worst moment of all: Zoom Hackers
When I first started teaching I was hacked. Unpleasant noises filled the sound waves. It was horrifying, embarrassing, and violating. We now have figured out how to avoid this situation but ya… it was not a fun lesson to learn.
Now that the weather is turning I’m realizing I’ve become very attached to teaching outside. The thought of teaching in my home is daunting but I’m going to try to find a way to make it special.
I cannot emphasize this enough: when you show up to my yoga class it is a way of saying, “Hi friend. I’m still here. I miss you.” It means so much to see your little square pop up when I open the zoom screen.
Some things I love about practicing yoga on zoom:
I can bring coffee
I can practice in my sweatpants
Much easier to work into my daily routine while still being able to connect to yoga teachers and other yogis
My mom, sister, and brother-in-law frequently take my classes. This has been a heartwarming bonding experience and really makes me feel loved.
I can try new-to-me poses without any fear of looking silly
If I need to duck out of class early, or walk away to help Oslo for a few minutes, I can do that and it’s no big deal!
I haven’t taught in-studio since February. We have now cancelled four retreats and winter retreats in 2021 are starting to seem unlikely. So in the meantime, we hope you will consider connecting with us on Zoom. We miss you. More than ever, we need each other, we need connection, we need movement, we need yoga. We hope you’ll find your way to the mat to join us.
How to zoom with us
Everything you need to know can be found on the tab, “zoom classes” on our website. https://www.borealblissyogaretreats.com/live-yoga-studio
October Schedule
We have a slightly wonky schedule this month as we adjust to a brand new job for Jo Jo (taproom manager at Earth Rider! Congrats Jo!), host our October immersion for our YTT students, and transition seasons.
September 27-October 3
Thursday 01/01
10-11am Gentle yoga with Bryana
October 4-10
Thursday October 8th:
10-11am Gentle yoga with Bryana
October 11-17
Thursday 10/15:
6am-6:40am Chill Yoga with Amanda: Grounding during Vata Season
10-11am Gentle yoga with Bryana
October 18-24
Thursday 10/22:
6am-6:40am Chill Yoga with Amanda: Calm the Mind
10-11am Gentle yoga with Bryana
October 25-31
Thursday 10/29:
6am-6:40am Chill Yoga with Amanda: Hips & Heart Openers
10-11am Gentle yoga with Bryana
