These are intense, unprecedented times. I know so much about your day to day life has changed in the last few weeks. As yoga teachers, our work just became quite challenging. But if you (and your students) have a computer and an internet connection, it is possible to stay connected with your students, continue to teach and continue to make money. Below I share several training videos I made just for y’all, as well as the resources I made for my own students to make the transition to online teaching possible. I hope you find them helpful. Please know I am holding you, loving you and supporting you from my home here in Takoma Park, MD.
VIDEOS
Teaching Yoga Online, The Tech (PDF)
Notes from Logistics & Technology Follow Up
Teaching Pilates Online, Training for The Pilates Firm, Las Vegas
One of my best, oldest friends owns a brick and mortar pilates studio in Vegas. We met up and recorded a training for her staff to help them move their lessons online.
My First Online Group Class- Friday, March 20th
After class, I offered to stay on and answer any questions people had. Mostly fellow teachers stayed on and asked questions and gave feedback about their experience. You can skip to the end and watch just that part!
RESOURCES from Francesca:
- Zoom manual (PDF) – so you can see how we made it pretty
- Zoom manual (WORD) – so you can copy/paste the text directly and use it as needed
- Letter: Moving Private Students to Online (WORD) – this is the exact letter I sent to students to inform them I was moving to online teaching. Feel free to copy/paste the text directly and use it as needed
- Group Online Yoga Classes: The process (PDF)– step by step instructions for teaching live, group classes online
- The Case for Teaching Without Demonstrating – teaching that relies on language to convey important information, including subtle movements, instead of relying on the use of our body to teach
Extra VIDEOS:
Tuesday, March 10 (video)
This video was recorded as the yoga community here in the US was just coming to terms with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, some of the advice is very outed (ie: what mat cleaners are best if you’re still teaching group classes) but some of it will still be very supportive (ie: how our collective nervous system is responding to this trauma and the important role yoga teachers play in the global pandemic).
Teaching Private Yoga Lessons Online (Old Video)
This is a video I created two years ago right after I started teaching a private client online. It has some good advice in it, although much of it will be covered in the newer videos also.
RESOURCES from Others
General Resources:
- State of Yoga Instructors Survey, by Reclamation Ventures– (VERY IMPORTANT, please fill out!)
- A Yogic Approach to Public Health in the Time of Coronavirus by Clare Kelly
- Information and Resources from Yoga Alliance
- Resource Guide for Yoga Teachers (compiled by the community, spear-headed by Amber Karnes)
- Reimagining the Yoga and Wellness Communities in Uncertain Times, by Susanna Barkataki
- Should I Be Scared of COVID-19? A Primer on the Principles of Epidemiology, by Clare Kelly
- Wellbeing Relief Fund from Reclamation Ventures– Grants available for wellness instructors that represent underestimated communities. Apply by April 30th.
- Accessible Yoga Facebook Group– lots of great information and resources here
Teaching Online:
- What You Need to Teach Online, by Ashley Zuberi
- Masterclass on Teaching Yoga Online, from Shannon Crow and Amanda McKinney
- Online Teaching and Waivers During COVID-19, community sourced
- Definitive Guide to Teaching Video Enabled Movement Classes by Core to Coeur
- How to Take Your Teaching Online Equitably and Effectively While Honoring Yoga’s Roots with Susanna Barkataki
- Online Teaching Contracts & Agreements with Jesal Parikh and Nick Demos
Thank you so much for making these videos! I’ve been trying to figure out how to do this for the last 10 days. I am just so grateful for you. Here’s my question:
Could I do the first couple days for free and then charge them money? And then how would I change the zoom link or can I lock it? I have had a few people buy a 30 day unlimited package at the beginning of the month so they still have days left. Maybe I just offer it to them?
Hi Laurie! It’s been some time now since you’ve posted this question and I’m so sorry I didn’t respond sooner. To change a Zoom link, you need to create a specific meeting in Zoom for the day, time of day of your practice. Each meeting you create will generate a new Zoom URL. Hope this helps!
The information is very helpful; however, what is the process of accepting payment on Vimeo and ensuring that people have paid for the class? I set up an account with Venmo. Does that work with Zoom. Thanks!
Betsy Paul
[email protected]
Hi Betsy! When you collect payments with Venmo, you’ll document the email addresses of those who pay you. Before the class, you’ll send those who paid the Zoom link via email. I’m not familiar with Vimeo’s payment collection process. Good luck!
Thank you so much Francesca, what an amazing resource! I’m about to teach my students online instead of in person for the first time tomorrow (!) – & found this from you – so generous. I’m ready now with all your brilliant tips! Thank you 🙂
I am so happy this was helpful Gail! You’ve got this! 🙂
OMG, you guys are AMAZING! I haven’t been ready (at all!) to tackle this issue, to teach, or practice in any way, shape, or form. The one thing I was certain of tho, was that I would be. That these feelings would pass, and that YOU guys had my back when that time came. And that time is now. Simply to investigate, not quite ready to teach, yet. I’ve just watched both these gorgeous videos and feel so supported and held. It is a MINEFIELD of content out there right now… I’ve had to switch it all off for a time. Much, much love to both of you, and for anyone else that reads this <3 Sadie xx
Sending you so so so much love Down Under, Sades. <3
Hi Francesca, thank you so much for all the resources. I have a few questions. Do you record all your group class videos so the students will have access to them later, or is it only for your use? Do you ask ALL your students the permission to record it or tell them its recorded before the class? I am just trying to figure out the privacy of the students. Also, can you control on zoom whether your students can record the online class with you?
Hi Lika, Jess here! Francesca does not record her live online group classes.
Excellent question about a guest recording a session! The answer is NO, only hosts can record. Per Zoom, “By default, only the host can initiate a Local Recording. If another participant would like to record, the host will need to provide permission to that participant during the meeting.” Good luck!
Hi Francesca and Jess — Thank you so much for all this insightful and useful firsthand information and for the articulate delivery. So good:) I am bookmarking your site, and keeping this page with the videos & other resources to consult as needed as I embark on this journey in virtual teaching. The one topic you didn’t discuss was security. I know Zoom has a way to limit who can attend/participate in these gatherings, but do you have any tips about that? I heard about a class that was “visited” by a naked man performing lewd acts; funny, in its own way, but invasive and a bit frightening. (Yet another reason to stay away from social media outlets, which are vulnerable to lurkers and random “traffic,” as in a YouTube live meditation class I attended today which was visited by and commented on by a weird person.) What are your thoughts on maximizing security on Zoom so that this doesn’t happen?
I woke in the middle of the night thinking about this too last night (let’s not go there as to why!) and would be curious to know more. I have a “troll”, it’s a family member, it’s a long story… but I just don’t want her to find this format, given that she’ll have more time on her hands!! So security will be great for peace of mind 🙂
Sadie and Michelle, hello!
Yes, trolls and spamming are very frightening and sadly, realistic. The best tips are:
1. Never, ever post your Zoom URL on social media or a public form or even in a blog.
2. Create a new “meeting” in Zoom for each session you teach. This will generate a new URL for each meeting.
3. Require a password upon entry.
Since you’ve posed your questions, Zoom has published a resources and support page: https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/covid19.html
xoxo!
Thank you for always being our great mentor and reaching out.
BIg Hugs and stay blessed.
It’s really an honor Anjana! <3
THANK YOU for this amazing set of resources! Still working my way through all the material because I’m also jumping in there and just doing it. Not perfectly at all! I have to admit I started several of my students on the “easier” platforms & now I’m slowly (some slower than others) ramping them up toward Zoom one way or another. You are right — Zoom is way better! And also I know that some of them needed this intermediate step because they are NOT regular computer users at all. Again — deep appreciation to you & Jess for these concrete, user-friendly, real-world-of-the-global-pandemic resources!!!
You are very welcome dear! Give yourself plenty of time….noooo rush. 🙂
Thank you sooooo much for all this information! Very helpful!
You’re really welcome Laura! I’m glad it is helpful!
Hi and thank you for sharing all your knowledge.
When you say you recommend a laptop with a camera on top, do you mean the zoom built-in device that records or an actual small camera that you buy and put on top of your laptop?
You are so welcome Mia! Yes– I mean the camera that is built-in to the laptop. Most computers have them, so hopefully you don’t have to buy a camera. Best of luck!
Hi,
I wonder if you could tell me why is vimoe better than youtube?
It’s not necessarily! I like the user interface better (it seems cleaner to me), but if you like YouTube, that is great! 🙂
Hi Francesca and Jessica, Thank you both so much for your amazing time and resources you have provided for all of us. I am working on my webpage and would like to link a form of payment for my students. I have been teaching online classes four days a week for free and am now ready to accept payment. What is your recommendation? (I use Zoom to teach thanks to you two!)
Hi Maureen! We are so happy we’ve been able to help you out. I’m glad you are ready to accept payment for your work now! I think the easiest way to accept payment is with a platform that many of your students use. I find PayPal and Venmo to be the most common. You can have people put the class they are registering for in the memo section of the payment and keep a spreadsheet with the email addresses of everyone in the class. Then you can email the link for the class right before class starts. Does that all make sense?
Francesca, thank you so much for this incredibly comprehensive and helpful information and resources. I was feeling so overwhelmed and defeated and now I’m ready to launch my online classes! Your generous spirit is greatly appreciated.
Anita
Hi:
What is the best way to set up health/waiver forms completion when teaching online? I have a form that requires students to fill out basic contact info, health history, yoga experience and a waiver portion. I signed up for hello sign and it’s great for the signing part of the waiver, but it doesn’t look like a student would be able to complete the form. It is possible to set this up on hello sign? Any other suggestions. Thank-you.
Hi Anita! Jess here 🙂
HelloSign does allow you to create text boxes within your document. You can create a text box for their name, address, etc. and you can make those fields required, just like a signature & date. If you’d like a quick instructional video, send me an email [email protected] Much love!
Hi Jess:
Thank you so much for this! I figured out how to do it and sent a template to my self, and it all worked out fine. With much appreciation.