ESPECIALLY doing something physical and movement based, like yoga… 🙂

Even I have a hard time thinking about what I look like on the other side of the camera, streaming onto your phones or tablets or computers, or, even worse, your big screen TVs…

When I first started with a few videos on YouTube, that was frightening. I had to decide that my students, my community, was supportive, and anyone who wasn’t just wasn’t a good match and could look elsewhere for the perfect yogi. (Easier said than done!)

Then, moving to an online platform and offering courses and a monthly membership added another layer of practice but difficulty for me. And now I am offering at least three pubic classes a week during the COVID-19 pandemic online via Zoom. It’s been a big adjustment.

However, the more I have done it, the easier it has gotten. It’s just what I do. I try to edit the videos as quickly as I can when I need to do that (for my courses and membership) and move along. I try to maintain the same mentality as when I started YouTube.

As a student, you may also have a lot of questions about whether or not you are “expected” to have your camera on or not when you take a Zoom class. There is no one answer that is right for everyone, and I never want to pressure anyone to feel like they “need” to turn it on.

There ARE benefits to turning it on, as I discuss in the video. In short:
* It builds community — we can see you and engage, and you can see others and connect.

* It helps me feel connected as your teacher — even if it is before or after class and short, seeing your face makes it more “real” feeling and gives me that benefit as well. It also helps your classmates feel like they were in a real class as well and not just watching a video.

*It helps me know that things are going smoothly, that my microphone is working and whether or not there is a delay in the feed, etc.

*You are not recorded. I record the public classes I teach, but the Zoom settings allow me to only record the spotlight video, which I set as my feed. During class the chances that anyone else but me is seeing you is pretty slim. They probably see much less of you than in the studio class, and even then, everyone is pretty focused on their own practice.

HOWEVER, again, I have no expectation or requirement for video. Some Internet connections are not strong enough to manage receiving and streaming well. If it is going to be distracting to you, worrying about the video being on and what it might see, don’t do it. It’s your practice. Make it the best for you.

But practice. I hope you will join me. Here is where I list my virtual classes. I also keep Facebook well updated on my offerings. I would love for you to Like and Follow and Join in whatever way feels best for you.