Yoga with Yordanka

I have just turned one year as a yoga teacher, so I wanted to write about it and share some impressions. I realized most of it was yoga in lockdown, so I was mainly an online yoga teacher.

I started teaching exactly before the corona exploded. It was a dream to teach yoga one day, and I have accomplished it right in that year that changed everything. Beginning a new job as a freelancer in a foreign country is overwhelming enough. Not to mention the big yoga concurrence in Vienna. Teaching yoga is already challenging enough when you have just started, add the administrative work connected with accounting, marketing, preparing the classes, and so on. There is a lot of work behind one hour yoga, but I assume it is like that with anything you would do as a freelancer. 

Starting something new in 2020 mean you have to learn and adapt very fast - learning the old rules and adapting to the new ones at the same time.

Online yoga is nothing new. Best yoga teachers in the world (or at least the most popular) were selling their services online for a long time. This was a convenient option for anyone who couldn't afford the time or costs of traveling for a workshop or training. What happened was that most of the yoga teachers had to move online if they wanted to continue teaching. In Austria, yoga studios were closed from mid-march to the beginning of June 2020. Then, from beginning November, already a fourth month. The country is in the second lockdown, and they talk about how to avoid the fourth one, but the yoga studios are still in the second one.

I started teaching at the beginning of February 20, and a bit more than a month later, I had to adapt my teaching through the screen. Of course, I didn't have many customers back then. Anyway, I didn't feel like doing business during a crisis, so I chose to give some free classes for friends mainly and anyone else who wanted to join. I have tried WhatsApp, skype, messenger, but the zoom was the most convenient. It is still the most preferable for most teachers to give live classes if they want to see their students. Many chose YouTube. They are streaming their classes private or unlisted for their students. I chose Zoom because I want to see my students who keep their cameras on. Zoom meetings are very convenient. They allow small communities to stay in touch, to have a conversation, get feedback, exchange information, and simply see each other. For me, as a teacher is foremost to see my students. I am adapting this way the speed and the level if necessary. For private sessions or small classes, Zoom or similar apps makes it possible to see and correct your student. This makes it possible for people from different countries to join. That creates a sense of unique community when people situated in distant parts of the world practice yoga together at the same time.

Many people prefer home practice. They only practice with YouTube or other videos, and they don't feel so comfortable in studios. I was also practicing by myself for years before I find the motivation to start visiting local studios. For me, yoga was a private experience that aimed to prepare the body and mind for meditation, and this I could do just fine by myself. 

Here is to mention that I was visiting meditation and pranayama workshops and seminars. Single events with hundreds of people, but this was "learning" and the practice I would do by myself. It is just that yoga can be so different. People have their understanding of how they should practice, and that is just fine.

The first Asana class I took in 2014 and was so different than I expected. Candles, gentle music, relaxed people. I dived fully into the present moment. I did not know what to expect, and I didn't get to choose the next pose. Surprisingly for me, people there were not flexible, and the teacher was not a hippie. The most astonishing was that I was in a much deeper state than in my home practice. Sometimes, guidance is what we need, to not control and to not think about it.

Then I realized, there is no better or worse yoga. There are just different ways to practice. A teacher is needed, even if it is not to teach you something new. Just to be there for you, giving you some energy and pushing you forward.



I also know people who don't want to practice at home at all. Solely in a studio with a teacher. Some people like crowded studios, where you can barely unroll your mat. They find it motivating to be surrounded by many people. Others prefer it in a small, intimate environment, a "safe bubble." Many people would never go to a studio, unlike others who cannot get the motivation to even attempt yoga at home. Many people like yoga, yet they don't think it's worth paying for it or cannot afford it. Many others would spend a lot of money on their hobby for expensive mats and clothes, special workshops, classes, and memberships. Some yogis only practice with recorded videos. They can watch anytime and pause if needed. Many yoga practitioners would only take live-streamed yoga classes because it is "more real." Some will avoid booking and making appointments. Others need a structure and plans in their daily life. Luckily, there are enough possibilities according to taste. See, yoga can be so versatile, and we don't even talk about styles and levels!

Switching to Yoga at Home can be both challenging not only for teachers but also for students. They have to find space to unroll the mat undisturbed for one hour. Maybe they also have to get a yoga mat, yoga blocks, or other props accordingly to the practiced style. Then, they will need a device with a big enough screen to see the class. So, it requires some preparations. At the same time, some yogis are glad they don't have to travel to the studio. They can take a class with the favorite teacher while enjoying the privacy of their own home.

My advice is to prepare a small yoga corner. Maybe add some candles and lights, listen to relaxing music or so. You can charge that little spot with positive energy, even if not by doing yoga. Maybe sitting in peace having a tee or anything else that you like. Slowly, you will develop a habit, and then it is easy. You don't have to make the decision every time to practice. Simply when you look in that direction, you will desire to jump on the mat. After the first class, the mind will create positive associations, and then you are unstoppable. I hope so, I can't promise you, but I believe you can make it if you want it. Maybe it would also help you if you book in advance. Then the decision is already made, and you should just not doubt it. For my online classes, I started offering recordings to the participants. The minus here is that some of the yogis stopped showing up in class regularly and prefer to watch the recording. For other yogis, the recording doesn't matter as they simply want to do live. As a student, recordings also don't work very successfully. If I

stop to go to the toilet or to check my phone, maybe I won't continue. And if I continue, then I am already cooled down. But if I cannot attend an event, it is practical to have a recording. I am curious about what did I miss, and I am happy to catch up.

Driven out of a desire to create a solution for everyone, I started a small YouTube channel - something that I thought I would never do. Someone couldn't join the Zoom meeting and asked me if I could record a video and send it to them. Some participants found it hard to stick to a schedule. I thought it was a good idea to record the class, and maybe someone else would also like to do yoga with me. Yoga is about energy and frequency. A small YouTube could also help potential students to decide if they want to join my live classes. It took me a while to decide to expose myself online. I always thought this was not new yoga, so why should I post the same thing everyone is posting. There are enough yoga videos and workouts in the internet space. I thought if I post, this would be like spam if it is not unique content. Now I am happy I did because even if the only handful of people but there is someone who wants to hear the down dog explained by me or do a short flow with my guidance. Surprisingly for me, I even inspired some acquaintances to try some yoga with me. Even people who I didn't hear of for years saw my videos on social media. They were watching and attempting some poses and sending me pictures. It was great to reconnect and stay in touch. I was even astonished when I heard that my amateur YouTube brought me some customers in the studio later on. Once we reopened, I was using the platform YouTube to upload some short tutorials for my regulars. They could deepen into alignment of a new posture if they missed a class. I also recorded a few workouts if they want to practice with me when I don't have a scheduled class. During the lockdowns, I was motivated to record workout-videos also for people who liked my in-person-classes but cannot afford online yoga right now. 

This Channel began more like an experiment. I took an online course for Social media marketing manager during the first lockdown, and I was encouraged to try. I was a freshly newbie-yoga teacher, and I am still not so experienced, but I have a lot to share. By now, I have uploaded 118 videos on YouTube. Some of them I even streamed live. I started only 2-3 months after my first class as a teacher, but I got the confidence to do it because time is not a measure of experience or competence. This is why I was never hiding that I am a new teacher. I know it might even sound like I am showing off. I was posting on social media about it, didn't cut it off of my marketing. Teaching yoga is a beautiful journey to a self-exploration, self-expression, a vocation, connecting with people, inspiring and aspiring. You see yourself in a new light, and this process needs to be observed and cherished. This is why I encourage other new teachers to be proud that they are passionate and dedicated, brave to begin something new that can be life-transformation for them and their students. I think everyone has had at least one of those super experienced but demotivated teachers. The most boring subjects in school, right? Now you know what I mean. Young teachers, on the other hand, are often pupils' favorite ones. Children don't doubt their teaching skills, but they like the subject if they like the teacher. Maybe yoga is also like that. Teaching is finding the balance between confidence that you know what you are doing and doubting if you are good enough. If you never question yourself, you will not develop, and we know that only dumb people never doubt themselves. So, head up if there are some newbies (no matter in what skill) reading this right now.

Not a professional channel, still trying out different devices and playing with settings. Learning how it works - part of the "new yoga" or the yoga of the new normality, more and more digital.

I was also one who was against social media and wanted to "keep it real." A year ago, like many other people, I still believed that online services were beyond my level and are no worth it. We had to change our mindset, learn to adapt and adjust. Zoom, Moodle, Teams, Skype, and WhatsApp had done just fine when there was no better option. Or no other at all.

Zoom might be the best for online yoga communities, but it can cause you a Zoomache, a bad one. Especially if you don't know what you are doing and why they are changing something all the time and making it more difficult instead of easier. Some of my customers even refused to join my online classes because of Zoom. They have never used it before, and they didn't want to try it, so they preferred to do yoga with me on YouTube. I get them! I couldn't find a better substitute for Zoom, and I didn't want to make people download and sign in for more apps. Some already struggle with the booking software eversports I am using, add Zoom meetings, too many links, and usernames. 

I was already very close to giving up on Zoom because I was not happy with the video quality, but eventually, the issues were solved. I will share below how. Maybe there is someone else who is struggling with bad video quality on Zoom. I know that many people are happy with Zoom, and they never had any issues, especially the old accounts. Many yoga teachers are frustrated because of the bad quality of the recording. I also thought this was the maximum Zoom would allow you to record (640x320). For a year, many yoga teachers recorded their zoom meetings with QuickTime. (For Mac, it uses the same camera and microphone, no need for extra equipment, but one hour class is approx. 3GB big in 720p and takes forever to be uploaded). I was also thinking about the creative solution as many other yogi hosts. To record the video with my phone and then only to use the audio file from the zoom recording, put it together with an editing program, and then upload it. Some are using screen recorders to record the meeting separately. In general, a lot of work for one yoga class. Of course, quality matters and pays off, but for me, it was simply frustrating. On YouTube, I got a decent quality with the same equipment just like that, but on the paid version of Zoom, I got a blurry video.

I was only giving online classes during the first lockdown. Then, I stopped in the summer because everyone preferred to enjoy the outdoor activities. After being locked down, fresh air and nature were much appreciated when possible, especially for yoga together. I had to continue with the Zoom classes once the second lockdown was announced at the beginning of November. For some reason, my "old" zoom account didn't accept the payment anymore, so I had to make a new one. I don't know if the issues with video quality only apply to new accounts. I know some old users who are very happy with Zoom. I came across Facebook discussions of teachers who have just started with Zoom and were for a solution with the recording. 

During the first lockdown, I was ok with the video quality. At that time, I also didn't have high expectations. I was only thinking about the sequence. Also, the setting and equipment were different. This lockdown (I mean the second for the yoga) I decided to stream from the studio to keep it more professional. I am renting it on an hourly basis. It is very cozy and relaxing, and I love the energy and atmosphere there. As I was collaborating so well with the studio owner, I also wanted to support her. In those difficult economic times, you get to choose which business to support. It matters. Many of my students took the decision to carry on with me. When they could simply watch professional videos of yoga vloggers or take an online class of someone else with more experience. (ok, "many" is maybe not the right word as they are not soo many, but everyone is so exceptional to me, and I love them so much that it feels like I have a whole division.) I am very grateful to everyone who decided to contribute to my small dream coming true and keep practicing. I chose to keep streaming from the studio instead of from home. I also want to bring a little bit of the studio atmosphere to my students' screens so that they can forget for an hour about the new normality (while being part of it). The owner was so kind to lend her 4K streaming Logitech Camera, one of the best models on the market. I have equipped myself with a wireless microphone, and I thought nothing will stop making great videos. Wait for it, you gonna have fun.

In the beginning, there were issues with installing the Internet. I don't know why it took Magenta so long and why they couldn't make it properly. I had to every time take the mobile internet cube from home and plug it there. And how many times I thought now should be good with the new WI-FI, but then I had to give a hotspot from my phone because there was no connection at all. Eventually, I was streaming the Zoom classes simultaneously from the computer (Wi-Fi) and from my phone (mobile) to ensure that the connection will run uninterrupted. But the worst thing was the video! So blurry and unclear, you don't need 4K for this. My students were happier with the front camera of the iPhone, so you can imagine.

Many people complain about Zoom video quality. I came across Facebook groups where yoga teachers claimed it is not possible to enhance the video quality. I found even tutorials on YoutTube on how to record a Zoom meeting with another program. It turned out I was not the only one who could not use Zoom properly. This is why once I found a solution, I wanted to share it immeadiately so that it can also help other people.

The thing is, even if you see yourself clearly on Zoom, doesn't mean that the people will see you like this and will receive that image. Highly possible is that the participants will see the quality of the recording. Miracle steps that improve it immediately is to select speaker view and full screen. At least one attendee must be in full-screen mode in order for you to  be able to send HD quality and to be able to record the meetings with decent quality. Ideally, all of the attendees need to be in full-screen and active speaker mode so that they can receive better video quality from you. This means, The quality of your videos and your recordings as a host will also depends on the participants. You need to have at least one eligible to receive HD in order for you to be able to send it and record it. It sounds awkward because if you don't know the people who will join and  if they will select full screen and speaker view, maybe you wont be able to record the meeting in a good quality for someone who is not able to join live. It is like this. I have tried a few times. You can also try for your yourself.

If activating Full-screen mode and speaker view mode doesn't help, maybe you haven't enabled the Group HD video setting.

You need to do that three times. From the app settings on your desktop, from the profile settings, and from the account settings. If this doesn't help as well, then you have to contact customer support.

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Here is to mention that Zoom ha amazing customer support! They reply fast and are very attentive, Just make sure you explain your issue as detailed as you can.

On Zoom website claims that 720p is the maximum that you can get with a pro account but only in a meeting of 2 participants. It also says that you can enable it from your desktop app. I did, but it was not enough, so I contacted support. If it says it is possible, but it's not, then is something wrong, right? They told me I have to enable Group HD from the account settings. Not only from the client and from the profile settings. Account settings are at the highest level. If it is not enabled there, you will not get it. I did, but it was still nothing changed. Then they activated it for me.

I understand that if everyone enables HD video, we might not be able to use Zoom anymore. For many people, the video quality doesn't even matter as long as they don't have to see small details. For many types of meetings, the quality of the image is not important at all. If the light is good enough, then the image quality will also be clear, even if it's only SD. If you find the best settings for your camera, even 640x360 might also be enough. I have seen good videos, and I couldn't believe it's only 640x360. So, it all depends on you, your setting and equipment, and your needs.

I am not an IT or Zom customer support. I am just sharing my experience. Maybe it will be useful for someone. I couldn't believe that so many people struggle with Zoom, and they accept it as ordinary. Are you one of those lucky guys that never had an issue with online meetings, or you are struggling like me? Comment below, and share with me your experience. I'd like to hear from you!

At first, I thought the issue is because of my old computer or due to the camera, or simply setting. Maybe it was all together. I have no idea. Windows can also contribute to making it more complicated getting a good video.

I started from scratch. The last update was more than ten days ago, so I started fresh with a clean installation of Windows. Then I modified the registry and downloaded all recommended codecs. I have even upgraded the RAM by myself.

During the first lockdown, I was learning SEO and how to push my website on google. During this lockdown, I went even further and unscrewed my laptop to increase the RAM. Things we do for yoga.



Philips 0 was the necessary size. Finding the correct screwdriver took me more time than finding the matching RAM. I purchased a whole set of screwdrivers in case I decide to unscrew something else.

Those are some of the challenges we the online yoga teachers are facing. I wanted to share because it might be useful for someone else. We all learn together with the help of google and social media. Exchange can always speed it up finding a solution or, at least, will create a feeling for support. You are not alone in this. If experts are reading, their feedback will be much appreciated.

Quick about the microphone. Jelly Comb Wireless 2.4G. Nothing special, for sure you get a much better one but if you are in a search for a priceworthy solution, this one I can recommend. I got it three months ago and so far I am very happy. Very easy to use and the sounds are good. I chose it because of the color if I have to be honest. I was not sure which one should I get so I took one which looks pretty. Was not a bad decision in the end. It has even included an audio adaptor for Mac or iPhone 6. For iPhone X you can get an extra adaptor (the small white cable above). Charging is easy with a USB Cable. You can check the audio quality on my YouTube channel. I am using it for most of my recent videos. For example that one below.

The audio quality of yoga classes is maybe even more important than the video if you have to choose which one to focus on first. Some of my students even said that is not so important if the video quality is blurry as long as I am explaining well, they don't even look at the screen. It seems like this budget microphone saved my online yoga classes when I was struggling to achieve decent video.

 Maybe the next one I will get will be the so popular Rode Wireless Go but for now, this Jelly Comb will do the job.

Online yoga is easily being booked online. I am using the eversports software. It's a bit pricey for a freelancer who only has a few classes per week but is good. It offers a lot of features for yoga studios and is easy to use by customers. What I find very convenient is the new video library. I just started working on that and putting some content there.

https://www.eversports.at/s/yoga-with-yordanka/recordings

This how I adapt to digital yoga. Thanks to exchange with other yoga teachers (online) we can grow. If you like, share below in a comment how are you doing it.