Can you really learn Yoga Online? What In-Person Classes Offer that Online Yoga Can't

I already knew when I read the Yoga Journal article that approximately one out of six people in the US practice yoga. What I didn't know is that "a vast majority practice online at home."

What? Isn't COVID over? Seriously?

Online yoga for my regulars during Covid.

I can't imagine watching tennis or golf videos, then showing up to the court once a month and saying, "I play a lot of ...yoga/golf" or stating in a survey that I was a tennis player or golfer.

The Challenge of Self-Taught, Online Yoga

After hearing the statistic, I am gleaning that people in this self-defined category of having done "a lot of yoga" may have never received proper coaching on an individual level. They're trying to do poses the way poses are typically depicted by online instructors ( i.e., Yoga with Adriene), and social media.

These students seem to lack the information on how to "scale" poses for their individual body types. They experience yoga as "visual": they see something, and they try to replicate it. The focus remains primarily outside of their bodies as they go into "task mode" trying to copy the form. They have little command of various breathing techniques as that doesn't make for good video presentation. They don't grasp the sensual side of yoga: that it's more about how something feels than what it looks like.

The Importance of Relationships in Yoga

Since ancient times, yoga has been taught under a guru-student model, a two-way exhange.

Yoga is the origin of the concept of parampara, or transmission. Parampara refers to the passing of knowledge, wisdom, and a kind of spiritual energy that can only transpire in-person, in the presence of the teacher. For instance, living in Minnesota, it's nice that I can hop on a Zoom class with my favorite teacher in California. However, it's not the same, not even close; and I know this because I have taken many classes from him in person.The sutras are full of warnings about practicing without supervision. In other words, since it's inception, it has always been relational. You have a relationship with the teacher as well as the other members of your class. You are also working on your relationship with your own body. Yoga is more than just a workout.

Yoga without relationship is just another workout, and not a very good one at that. Think about it: of all activities, I'd predict trying to teach yourself something bordering on gymnastics at home has a pretty slim chance of success and a generous chance of injury.

The Need for Personalized Instruction

As a six-footer, I can't imagine learning a tricky pose like upward-facing dog in my living room by trying to imitate a person on a screen who likely has a dance/gymnastics body type and background. That person can't give me feedback, can't do hands-on assists, and has no idea as to my age, fitness level, or past injuries.

Embracing the Full Yoga Experience

If you're serious about yoga, then do whole yoga. Learn the subtleties of the various breathing techniques and when to apply them. Learn when you need to use blocks, straps, or a chair to go deeper or be safer. Experience a full-length savasana meditation at the end of class (12 minutes-- not two!).

Conclusion

The journey of yoga is not just about the poses. It's about connection, understanding, and growth. There's a reason why communications theorists often refer to online relationships as "parasocial"; they're not the equivalent to 2-way, in-person interaction.

So, let's step off the mat at home and into a safe community space where we can truly learn and evolve. After all, yoga is a beautiful dance between the self and the universe, and it's best experienced together. Yoga with Adriene won't even miss you, promise!