With the increase of online yoga in the last few months, I’ve heard many of my friends and students say I miss seeing you and talking to you before and after a yoga class. The face to face is missing right now during these unprecedented times, but will eventually return. 

When we connect with someone in person, face to face, no one will argue the connection is better than online. But there are ways we can still create a sense of connection and community virtually and in the online yoga world. 

The face to face interactions we are used to allowed us time to connect with our yoga teacher right before or after class as teachers usually linger. This gave students an impromptu chance to say hi/bye/Namaste and ask questions they may have, or even talk yoga philosophy. My favourite thing ad a toga teacher is when my students share with me their class experience, even as specific as a yoga pose we did during class and how it felt for them or maybe if they struggled or had things rise up during class. 

How the experience left students feeling isn’t as visible for yoga teachers through the camera, especially when some students don’t even turn on their cameras. Or they exit the meeting immediately.  Practicing in person also easily builds a sense of community and connection as we see other students too, and have that welcoming ambiance and big open studio space where other like minded people hang out. 

For the purposes of this blog post I write about Lives or Live streams on social media (Instagram and Facebook), YouTube and using a video conferencing application, like Zoom.

How you can build a better connection or a sense of community with your yoga teacher?

Before I get into the tips, just know that ALL yoga teachers love to have engaged students, and by engaged I mean, students who ask questions, make comments before or after about your class or their experience. 

Yoga teachers teach for YOU,  we show up for each and every student that attends, hoping to guide you to self discovery and share the beautiful practice and way of yoga. As teachers we know how amazing yoga is, but when we hear it from our students it makes our hearts sing, well at least mine. This gives us that confirmation that our teachings have really touched you or helped you in some way to your path of self discovery. Then we know we have done our duty and purpose of teaching the gift of YOGA.

Alright the helpful tips to get you to find that connection and sense of community into your online yoga experience and with your yoga teacher:

Live events (Instagram Lives or Facebook Lives) - okay this one is a hard one, as the only person usually is the yoga teacher that shows up on camera and they can’t see anyone else. To show engagement comment in live streams, especially before or after an online yoga class. 

Be active in the discussion if it’s more about that. If it’s a physical yoga class, make sure to comment at the start or comment after to say thank you or if you have follow up questions.  This way the yoga teacher knows you’re there and interested, and they can feel that sense of community, as will you in return.

“Like” (or heart) the video or post. If it’s a live stream (in Instagram Live videos you can send hearts during the video for immediate feedback). 

Yoga online LIVE (via Zoom or other video conferencing) - Log in earlier!! When you log in earlier you can chat with your teacher. Not only can you make sure everything is working optimally, sound and your video, you can chat with your teacher about your last class experience, how your day is or let them know if you want to work on something specific.

Oh and get on video when you can! If you don’t like to during your practice, get on at least before the class starts, make virtual connection with your teacher, a smile and some eye contact, helps with building a connection even if it is a virtual one. OH and at least wait for the Namaste at the end too! Don’t log off right away. 

Youtube - well this one is usually not LIVE (well some might be) but again like Live events via social media, if you leave a comment or a question you may have, most teachers will read them and respond to your comment, especially if its insightful or specific to the class you took. If it’s positive feedback, you will leave the teacher feeling amazing that the content they are creating is benefiting someone. 

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful to build a better connection and community with you and your yoga teacher.

Let me know if you have other tips you’re implementing in your online yoga sessions. 

Namaste, 

Marzena