Like everything in the world, yoga classes have transitioned to the online realm as well. Teachers who strayed away from technology are now trying their best to learn the intricacies of conducting online courses.
As a yogi, if you conduct online yoga teacher training or teach amateurs, it is challenging to grasp your students’ interest through a screen.
It is common to make a mistake when conducting a live session or to record one. A mistake could make your audience lose interest in the class.
There is already a screen barrier between you and your students, and you should do all you can to knock it down.
Here is a guide to help you conduct live yoga classes effectively. Following these tips will improve the quality of your work and enable you to teach students effectively.
- Background
The background during a live session matters more than you think. You must always ensure that the background for your online classes is well-lit, uncluttered, clean, and spacious. As a rule of thumb, pick the biggest wall in your house or studio space with lighting coming from the front.
After you’ve decided on a background wall, remove everything that could distract the attendees or divert their focus away from you. Remove any display pieces, personal pictures, paintings, and other such items.
If the framing appears empty, place some plants on either side of the frame to add drama to the background.
- Lighting
The basic rule is never to have lighting in the background as it floods the camera’s sensor and makes the subject (you) look much darker. For the best lighting, you want the framing to be lit from the front and the sides.
If you have a natural light source, then ensure light does not change drastically during your session. So, do not choose just natural light as your source if your session timings are during dusk.
If you wish to invest in equipment, consider buying a focus ring light and test your movements by recording footage under the light. Make modifications to the lighting if necessary.
In addition, many instructors like to conduct their online yoga sessions in a park. It becomes challenging to manage the lighting outdoors, but as a general rule, shooting in the golden hour is the best way to get pleasing light.
- Fix the Audio
Well-balanced audio can enhance your session’s video quality by a lot. Since there are a lot of body movements involved in yoga, it is best if you use a body mic so that your voice is consistent when you move around.
If you are recording a session, use an external microphone. But, body microphones work the best for a live session.
- Camera Position
The camera is the most important aspect of online classes as it serves as your audience’s eye. The best video is the one that is shot in landscape mode. Most laptops have a great camera, but it is not ideal for recording high-quality videos. So, consider investing in an excellent digital camera.
On the other hand, smartphones can easily do the job well. Hook your smartphone with a microphone and a tripod, and you are all set to conduct or record a session.
Ensure you have a proper shot set-up, record a few test sessions to figure out what needs to be changed.
- Teaching Style
Online teaching can hamper the learning process owing to connectivity issues and other persistent technological issues. So, ensure your teaching style consists of impeccable communication and clear language.
It is better to lead your classes verbally because even if your students have lagging connectivity, they can follow the verbal instructions.
If you think you can pursue teaching yoga, taking online yoga teacher training to become a certified trainer will open many doors for you. It is a different experience to teach yoga online and benefits you in many ways.
