On Wednesday, I took a class from my teacher trainer, Anne Van Valkenburg. This is me during class doing “the good ol' Burt Reynolds.”
I'd never heard of that pose before, but I immediately knew basically what we were going to do. So funny! Anne was with YogaWorks in LA when I did my teacher trainer with her in Richmond, Virginia (the studio flew her out once a month). She moved to Hawaii and I figured I would never get to take a live class with her (she does have some videos on MyYogaWorks that I have done). But when the pandemic hit, time and place no longer had a bearing on how we could take classes.
We have so many options now for our workouts so how do you know what's best for you? In person? Video? Virtual Live? Well, that all depends on what you need from your time on the mat. I'll break down the pros and cons based on my experiences both teaching and participating in virtual classes, in person classes, and from videos.
LIVE IN PERSON
This has always been the most popular way to take classes. Whether you belong to a health club, take classes at a studio or park district or other venue, you can take yoga, Pilates, or other exercise classes for somewhere between $12 and $25 a class. Most health clubs or gyms have some form of yoga or fitness classes that are included in your membership. Pilates apparatus classes can be more expensive at up to $45 a class.
PROS
Community - In Person classes can create a sense of camaraderie - we are all in this together. You can feel the energy in the room and that can motivate you.
The instructor can see you in 3-D - The instructor can walk around and see you from all angles. This means they can offer better cues and personal alignment tips.
Hands on Adjustments - Sometimes you just need a little help. Whether it's to get you deeper into a pose, or get a better alignment, nothing beats a gentle touch to help.
Feedback - You can ask questions and get immediate answers.
Props - a studio or gym will have the props and/or a mat for you to borrow during class.
CONS
Other people - Yes, other people can help give positive energy and a sense of community, but they can also be late, breathe too loud, ask too many questions, stink, be too close to you, or just generally be a distraction. For me, I can have a hard time ONLY being a student when I'm taking a class in person. It's more difficult to concentrate on my when the person next to me is not in a safe alignment.
Commute - You have to plan driving time - getting to and from the studio or gym. You need to put shoes on and a coat (maybe), park, walk in and show a card to the front desk, or sign in, make your way to class, and maybe even make small talk.
Timing - In Person classes are only help at certain times, whether or not those times are convenient to you.
Covid - You might have to wear a mask in the studio and/or class sizes may be limited.
VIDEO
There are a number of really wonderful instructors who put their content on YouTube or Facebook or Instagram for free. There are other options for subscription or membership sites where you have access to videos. I, personally, subscribe to two right now, MyYogaWorks and OPC (Online Pilates Classes with Lesley Logan). I also love these free options: April Plank Pilates on YouTube and Tracey Mallet on Instagram.
PROS
Convenience - You can do a video whenever and wherever you please. You don't have to drive anywhere and you don't have to log on at a specific time. It's all on you schedule.
Privacy - No one is watching you and there is no worry about making a fool of yourself.
Pause and/or Rewind - Don't understand a cue? Rewind it and watch again. Kid calling for you? Pause the video and go see what's going on.
Shorter and/or longer times - You can find a video to fit any time frame you need. Or you could stop a video when you feel you are finished.
Safety - You don't have to be around other people or be concerned about getting sick or getting someone else sick.
Price - I saved the best for last here. There are A LOT of free options on YouTube or social media. If you do have to pay for a video, it's usually a nominal one-time fee or an affordable subscription or membership fee.
CONS
Accountability - You might PLAN to do a video and maybe even subscribe to a streaming option, but the only one holding you accountable it you. For some people, that's all that's needed. Unfortunately, I'm not some people in this scenario.
Too much of a good thing - It's great that there are so many options, but also, there are so many options! How do you know which video is right for you? How do you pick one? What if you don't like it halfway through? Are you actually “advanced?” Or should you be taking that beginner workout? Or, if you are like me, you spend all the time you planned to work out trying to pick a video to do and then when you do pick one, you end up watching more than doing.
Distractions - Is that the hair clip I was sure I lost under the couch there? Oh shoot, I forgot to send that text to my client. I'll just send it now and then rewind the video. Look, I have a Facebook notification, I better see what that's about. Sound familiar? This can easily happen when you set out to do a video workout.
Proper alignment - No one is watching you and you don't know if you are doing everything safely. A good instructor can give really great general cues, but they are just that, general. Your body may need a specific cue and you won't get that from a video.
LIVE VIRTUAL
The virtual class is a pretty recent phenomenon that looks like it's here to stay. Virtual classes sustained many an instructor and studio during the last 18 months and helped many students keep their sanity. Live virtual classes share many pros of both in person live classes and recorded classes.
PROS
No commute - Class starts at 9:00? I can walk down to my basement at 8:58 and be ready to go. No getting ready, no worries about traffic or weather. Just show up by turning on your device.
Not limited by location - I'm in Northwestern Illinois. I take classes from my teacher who is in Hawaii. I teach my client who is in Northern Virginia. We a no longer limited by where we are.
Focus on your teacher /mute- You can choose “speaker view” or to “pin” or “highlight” your teacher and you don't see anyone else in class. Therefore, you aren't distracted by anyone. Your instructor will probably choose to mute the other participants so you won't be distracted by someone coming in late, breathing heavy, etc.
Personal cues - Your instructor can see you in real time. If you misunderstood a cue, the teacher can correct you. If you would benefit from using a prop or taking a modification or variation, the instructor can tell you.
Personalize the setting - I like the room a little warmer, so I turn on my heater when I practice and turn it off if I get hot. Sometimes I will play soft music that I like during a class I take.
Privacy - You control when, if, and how much your instructor and fellow students can see you.
Access to a recording - Not all virtual classes come with a recording, but some do. This means you can take the class live, then go back and watch the instructor perform or demonstrate some of the poses or exercises, then do the class a few more times. OR it means that if you had to miss the live class, you didn't miss the class! Not something you can do with an in-person only class.
CONS
Technology - Sometimes things just don't work. Even though they worked fine yesterday and you haven't done anything differently. Sometimes the audio is bad or the video glitches. It happens and it can be frustrating.
Seeing other people - While it is nice to not be distracted by someone else, sometimes you just need a quick peek at the person next to you so you understand what you are supposed to be doing. You also miss out on the energy of others in the class.
Distractions - I do think the distractions are worse with video than with virtual, but it is easier to get distracted at your own house. As a teacher of virtual classes, I LOVE when I get to see my clients' pets, but sometimes those dogs can be big distractions (sometimes cats too, but less often, in my experience).
Props - It's up to you to supply props when you take classes at home. There are things you can substitute for yoga blocks or straps and those types of straps can be pretty cheap, it can still be an extra expense or one more thing to have to think about.
2D - You can't see your instructor in 3D and they can't see you in 3D. Camera angles and vision issues can also cause problems. People are bigger and easier to see in person than they are on a screen.
VERDICT
It's up to you! It's great that we have choices in this day and age. I hope this list
helps you to decide what is the best choice for you OR you don't have to decide at all! Do a combination of media that works best for you!
What do you think? Would you add anything to my list? Is there anything I thought was a pro that you think is a con? Let me know!
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