The Case For Zoom Yoga

COVID-19 swept through the world and forced us into our homes in the early months of 2020. The experience is still raw as many of us had loved ones that were impacted by the virus, and our optimistic freedom still appears to be on shaky ground as we watch daily numbers of cases increase.

This shelter-in-place scenario was a shock to most of our systems. We couldn't go out into the world around us and partake in the things that give us pleasure. Even the simple things were suddenly out of reach like hugs and face to face interactions with, well, anyone outside those we live with. On a macro level, major league sports seasons have been canceled. The environment has seen unimaginable breaks from pollution and businesses have gone under. On a micro level, couples have broken up. Kids have flunked their virtual classes. Mental health conditions have skyrocketed. 2020 has been a watershed year for all of us collectively, and we're not even officially in summer yet.

The world is opening up at varying paces, but the inevitable "new normal" seems to be bouncing back at a full steam ahead pace. As the stubborn virus seems to still lurk in the background of our society, we're starting to carry on with our daily lives. Even though life is getting back to something similar to what it was before, I'd like to make the case for holding onto some of the adaptations we've made during this period.

Maybe we'll keep eating healthy, homemade foods. Maybe we'll keep going for walks and bike rides every day. Maybe we'll spend more time swimming in our neglected pools. Maybe we'll unapologetically lie in bed with coffee and a good book more frequently. Maybe  we'll appreciate those times when we do hug and have more gratitude for that casual encounter with a friend. AND, maybe we'll still take Zoom yoga classes. I know, I know...you prefer to be in the yoga studio side by side with your yogi friends, sweating it out in a hot room and guided by the voice of your favorite teachers. But, hear me out, my case for keeping Zoom yoga around is strong. 

 6 Reasons Why Zoom Yoga Should Stay On Your Radar Post Pandemic:
 

1. You can access teachers that aren't local. During quarantine, I had the pleasure of taking classes with world-renowned yoga teachers - ones that I would probably never have had the opportunity to learn from otherwise.  Going forward, in normal times, I hope that teachers from around the country and the world will keep their offerings online so we can dabble in different types of yoga and improve our practice.
2. You can skip the commute. Did anyone see the images of the clear waters of the canals in Venice or clear skies in Los Angeles during the quarantine? Mother Earth got a much-needed break from human pollution during our shelter-in-place period. Zoom yoga typically entails a few steps to the bedroom or the garage or the patio - no fossil fuel. It's good for the environment, your budget and your time spectrum (which for most of us is maxed out). 
3. You can drop your ego. The ego is a part of group yoga practice and life in general. Inevitably, the bendy girl next to you can make you feel inadequate if you can't get your heel up to your ear or you might go deeper into a pose than your body actually should because you get caught up in the moment (and the guy next to you is doing it). You might also be fearful of trying an asana in-studio, but feel comfortable to try (and even fail) in the privacy of your own home. Zoom yoga reduces the role of the ego and allows the yogi to be free to move and meditate.
4. You can stay consistent. Consistency is an important component of getting the most out of your yoga practice. Many students pop into a yoga class now and then but don't feel connected to their practice. They may even give up on yoga because they miss out on the multitudes of benefits that yoga can offer. Practicing consistently can, not only, help you tap into strength and the physical benefits of the practice, but it can allow you to quiet the mind and allow for a more meditative flow.
5. You won't need a babysitter. When the kids are small, parents have trouble breaking away on a consistent basis. Zoom yoga has your solution, busy parents. Put the baby to sleep and jump into child's pose in your living room! (Who needs yoga more than a stressed out parent?)
6. You have access. Through the power of technology, you gain access to yoga that you may not have had before. Yoga has the power to reduce physical pain, increase overall health and, if you're not careful, make you a happier person. The benefits of yoga are profound, and access via Zoom yoga classes can help raise the collective wellbeing. More access equals more yoga.

​While so many difficult things resulted from the quarantine period, some good, unintended consequences happened. In this yogi's humble opinion, one of the most beautiful things that went down during the pandemic of 2020 was the connections it created. Connections between people who had never met before and even those who had known each their whole lives. Many thanks to technology platforms like Zoom and others. 

As we go about our busy lives in normal times, we often get set in our ways, too busy to break out and take notice of something new. CoronaVirus forced us to rethink our comfort zone and find new ways to connect. It forced us to do the things we never had time to do. The results:

• A friend who never had time finally took a friend's yoga class.
• A sister who finally got the chance to see what it's like to practice yoga with her little sister as her teacher - even if she lives in another state.
• International students were able to tap into peace offered many time zones away by masterful teachers.
• And so on and so on.

I hope life stays normal, and we look back in awe of the events that happened in 2020 as an anomaly never to be repeated. I also hope that when we look back, we appreciate the things we took for granted and hold on to the things that made a difference - one of those being, perhaps, Zoom yoga. 

Yes, of course, I'm continuing my Zoom yoga class, I teach an all levels Zoom yoga class on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM EST - contact me for information!

Or explore the many offerings from Pop Up Yoga including outdoor yoga events open to the public, private one-on-one or small group as well as events and corporate yoga classes. What did you have in mind for your Pop Up yoga event?