Yoga seems to be everywhere. Actually, live yoga online seems to be everywhere now! Maybe it is. Perhaps it just looks that way because I’m heavily invested in it (as a teacher and as a student). Maybe I’m living in a social media bubble where everything is… yoga! But not everyone is in that bubble, so this is why I think you should try live yoga online (or zoom yoga).
Yoga has become so prevalent, that the world seems divided between those who do yoga… and those who don’t.
When I first started practising, back in the late 90s, it was not a weird thing to do; but not mainstream either. Ok, maybe it was a bit weird. I grew up in a hippy accepting environment (I grew up in Ibiza) and always worked in an artistic, creative background (theatre)… So yoga was ok, although not the most common thing to do.
At the wheel of my own practice!
My practice has changed quite a bit, to what I practice today, and I’m sure it’ll continue changing. The Hatha classes I went to were 90 minutes long, and always had the same or similar structure and poses. Always would include pranayama and chanting, and barely any props. Now, I love the variety of creative flows.
Most of the practices I manage to fit into my schedule are 30/60 min. Sometimes twice or three times a day, sometimes zero times a day, sometimes a restorative practice.*
*Note. Here I’m talking about the physical practices involving asanas.
And I love working with props!
Back then, I didn’t even know there were different types of yoga. I would just go to a class, and that was it, that was yoga.
I learned to do the Hatha classic Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara) and because I had a very irregular life (as a freelance actress, I either had no time or no money to go to a class) that was the whole of my home practice! At times, helped by a tiny pocket book I bought in WH Smith with descriptions of poses.
Actually, I didn’t even consider it a ‘practice’, it was just something I did because it gave me a structure, a discipline and it was a type of ‘exercise’ that didn’t make me sweat!!
My story differs from that of many yoga teachers in that I wasn’t into gymnastics, acrobatics (gosh, I’m still terrified of being upside down) or even just exercise!
I hated exercising, gyms, running, and anything that was too arduous. I actually got into yoga BECAUSE I didn’t like exercise.
Yoga didn’t feel like exercise (because it isn’t!), at least not like the kind of exercise I was familiar with. I enjoyed my daily Sun Salutations and soon I noticed their effect on my body… without having to work hard… Bingo!
I discovered that I could gain strength and flexibility without the drills, the shouting and pushing my body; and more importantly, without feeling awkward around others for not being ‘athletic’ or fit.
I loved how after a class in a studio with a teacher I seemed to walk out taller and with a better posture. And calmer and happier. Still, I didn’t commit to regular classes.
As a freelancer, my schedule was all over the place, and my work was never in the same location… that was my excuse.
Photo by Samantha Borges on Unsplash
Then, I discovered YouTube! And that opened a whole new world of yoga possibilities. No more excuses like… I couldn’t go to a studio, I didn’t have time, I was in the wrong location, I didn’t have a teacher nearby… or, I didn’t have money! And I also discovered that there were many other types of yoga! 🤯 (*emoji of exploding head!)
I think that without online yoga I would not be a teacher today. It helped me develop my practice and get over a lot of my blockages.
Being able to take a class at any time that suited me, being able to search for what I wanted, being able to do yoga in my pyjamas, being able to do it in the comfort of my home, and not having to leave the house to go to a class… and I could do it away from the (perceived) judgement of others for not being ‘good’ at it or athletic!
The only thing missing from a YouTube practice was the connection with the teacher, with a community, the personalised attention… and the accountability! Every time I signed up for a class, it was like I had signed a little contract with myself… and when I took that class in a studio I worked harder, and I was more focused, and sometimes I even learned something new.
That feeling of ‘being taller and with a better posture’ was enhanced by the group environment and the presence of a caring teacher.
There’s something about the group energy that it’s difficult to replace. Right?Wrong! enter Zoom and the LIVE online classes revolution…!
Yoga online is not new, before COVID-19 there was already a lot of yoga online… but not as much as there is now when most yoga teachers had to adapt to new circumstances. And most of it was pre-recorded. Yes, there were yoga teachers already doing online live classes, mainly private and one-to-one classes via Skype.
But now… this is the new normal. It’s become accepted by most people that our lives will remain online from now on, even if we go back to ‘normal’. In fact, even if we are slowly, slowly allowed to go back to the studios, many of the yoga teachers I know have decided to keep their online classes going.
I don’t know if you’ve tried a live zoom class online yet, but if you are reticent to try yoga online, this might change your mind.
When I finally tried it, it was magic.
It was the best of both worlds. I could still practice at home in my pyjamas if I wanted, but I was being guided by a teacher that could see me (if I chose to keep my camera on) and talk to me. And there were other people there with me. Sometimes, people I knew, sometimes people from other parts of the world!
It was always my intention to have a ‘mobile’ business, and do more yoga online. Not only I can be based anywhere in the world, but it allows the connection between people in various different locations!
I love my online students and I feel totally connected with them, I can see them growing stronger and more confident and I am growing stronger and more confident with them too.
Now the world is divided into those who practice yoga… online, and those who don’t. Which one are you?
If you’d like to try a zoom yoga class with me… Check out my schedule and how to reserve your place in a live class
If you want to start dipping your toes in the yogic waters…
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Montse’s background
Montse has been working for the last 30 years as theatre director, mentor and performer.
Her passion for sharing her knowledge and her desire to help others realise their true potential has led her onto the path of yoga teaching.
Her classes are relaxed, friendly and with elements of yin, hatha, vinyasa and humour where everyone feels welcome, regardless of their skill. Montse’s motto is ‘be your own template’, both in life and in yoga.
Your shape is unique and so is your life so don’t follow the ‘should be like this’ crowd and don’t try to fit into anyone else’s path, find your own… on and off the mat.
