Victoria Klein

Online yoga classes are becoming more popular each day + are a great way to practice with teachers you may never have the chance to practice with in-person … but what are online yoga classes really like?

Are they safe?

Are they fun?

Are they engaging?

In this blog post series, “Online Yoga Class Review”, I invest my time + money to take online yoga classes - then I give you the nitty gritty, both from the perspective of a practitioner + a yoga teacher/instructor.

From Kundalini + Vinyasa to Yin + Restorative (+ so much more), I’ll try any yoga style + any teacher at least once - and then give you my honest, constructive feedback + finding those online yoga classes that you just gotta try :)

From YogaVibes.com:

Practice opening to grace in this online Anusara yoga class, the first in a series of classes, taught by Sarah Faircloth, focusing on the Universal Principles of Alignment as outlined by Anusara yoga. In this mixed level class, you will practice a whole spectrum of poses designed to help you attune to this first Principle of Anusara yoga. Opening to grace is how we connect and attune to an energy that is bigger than any one part of ourselves or any one individual being. It is that connection to each other and to the energy that is flowing inside of us already. Tap into that in a more powerful way simply by opening to it. You will create space within your body through this carefully sequenced series of postures, which will allow you to be more receptive to opening to grace. Practice several different backbends and hip opening postures to create this space. (58 mins.)

Level 2 Anusara; Focus: Alignment-Based Flow, Backbending, Chest Opening, Hip Opening

[Right-After-Class Impression]

If you’ve never practiced Anusara-style yoga before, this class isn’t for you. Like every different style of yoga asana, Anusara offers the opportunity for a delightful experience physically, mentally, and spiritually. That being said, there is particular languaging and cues that new-to-yoga or new-to-Anusara students may not understand.

For example, this class began by chanting the “Anusara invocation”, which is in Sanskrit, and isn’t explained, so unless you already know it (I’ve heard it but didn’t have it memorized), you’ll start off this practice feeling a bit lost.

Throughout class, teacher Sarah Faircloth uses a lot of “flowery” language, common to Anusara, which can be confusing and/or distracting if you aren’t used to it (or in the mood for it). For example, Sarah reminds us to “soften your skin” numerous time - a useful cue for some but can be mind-boggling for others.

Due to the languaging and somewhat-confusing alignment cues, this is definitely a level 2 class for a student who has practiced Anusara before.  Note: I practiced Anusara regularly with KK Ledford in San Francisco in 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed her teaching.

I took this class first thing in the morning, and while my mind certainly feels awake afterward, my body is only somewhat open - the front of my body feels open, but the back of my body is still tight. Also, the class winds down quickly - it would have been nice to do more seated poses before Savasana.

[Next-Day Impression]

My body is feeling good - including my back body. Interestingly, my back body feels more relaxed than yesterday. Delayed relaxation maybe - is that possible?

As previously mentioned, I would definitely classify this practice as a level 2, but particularly for folks that have done Anusara before. If this is the first yoga class you ever try, you might be a bit overwhelmed/confused/put off. That being said, I am totally open to take another online class from Sarah Faircloth + experiencing her teaching style again.

Online yoga classes are becoming more popular each day + are a great way to practice with teachers you may never have the chance to practice with in-person … but what are online yoga classes really like?

Are they safe?

Are they fun?

Are they engaging?

In this blog post series, “Online Yoga Class Review”, I invest my time + money to take online yoga classes - then I give you the nitty gritty, both from the perspective of a practitioner + a yoga teacher/instructor.

From Kundalini + Vinyasa to Yin + Restorative (+ so much more), I’ll try any yoga style + any teacher at least once - and then give you my honest, constructive feedback + finding those online yoga classes that you just gotta try :)

From YogaVibes.com:

A quickie, or mini, SmartFLOW class, working towards urdhva dhanurasana (upward bow or wheel pose). Perfect for those days when you only have an hour for your practice. (63 mins.) 

Level 2 Vinyasa Flow; Focus: Alignment-Based Flow, Backbending

[Right-After-Class Impression]

This practice was very much alignment-focused, which means holding poses for longer period of time as you refine various elements of each posture, supported by consistent references to specific bones + muscles. Add in the numerous references to Ujjayi breath and a clear assumption that you know the foundation of each pose + you’ve got yourself a Level 2 class.

Annie Carpenter has a delightful personality, speaking is a firm yet encouraging tone. She had us begin on our backs, which is a nice change-of-pace, guiding us into a supported heart-opener to prepare for the upcoming backbends - not at all what I expected, but a surprisingly enjoyable way to start a practice.

There wasn’t much of an intro at the beginning - we just moved right into the supported heart-opener. Once we came to standing, at the 14-minute mark, we Om-ed. I don’t think I’ve ever Om-ed that far into a practice, but once again, it was surprisingly enjoyable. There was a different energy to the Om than what you usually experience at the very start of a class.

I personally enjoy a class that weaves the physical practice into other elements of yogic philosophy + everyday life - this was not one of those classes. I still enjoyed the class, but it felt more like a strength-training workout for me.

Also, we ended up needing a blanket + a block, which is not listed in the class description. Most folks usually have a blanket lying around, but not everyone has a block. Also, it’s not fun to have to pause class to go run + find props.

Physically, I feel great - relaxed, open, stable. I think I might have enjoyed the class even more if I took it with Annie in-person. There were times that I wasn’t 100% sure that I understood her alignment instructions + it would have been nice to have her reassurance.

[Next-Day Impression]

Once again, this class continues to surprise me. I’m feeling good - my legs + lower back feel solid. Unexpectedly (or perhaps not), the front of my shoulders are quite sore. Of course, the peak pose for this class is Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow/Wheel), which requires strong + open shoulders … I think mine just needed a good workout, haha. 

If you’re looking for a class that is highly focused on alignment, doesn’t blend in yogic philosophy, + opens your shoulders + chest … this is the right class!

I can’t believe I’m writing this post. Last year, I blogged extensively about my experience in a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training program + my teaching career after graduation.

Originally, the plan was to teach for a few years, then probably take the 500-Hour YTT in 2014 … surprise, 2013 is my year!! :)

In less than 3 weeks, I’ll be starting another immense educational journey as I undertake a 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training program. I am extremely excited + ever-so-slightly intimidated by all there will be covered:

• March 22nd - 26th [The Energy Body (Special Guest Teacher: Nischala Joy Devi)]
• May 16th - 20th [Relaxation, Healing & Yoga Nidra]
• June 21st - 27th [Teaching Skills, Methods & Practice Immersion]
• July 18th - 22nd [Philosophy: Sutras, Bhakti & Mantra]
• September 13th - 17th [Philosophy: Gita, Karma & Meditation (Special Guest Teacher Rolf Sovik)]
• October 11th - 15th [Therapeutic Application of Asana, Breath & Anatomy - Lower Body]
• November 15th - 19th [Therapeutic Application of Asana, Breath & Anatomy - Upper Body]

The program covers the following topics in depth (+ more!):

• Sanskrit, Mantra & Chanting
• Yoga Nidra, Relaxation & Meditation
• Yoga for Stress Management
• Therapeutic Application of Asana
• Bhagavad Gita & Yoga Sutras
• Pranayama, Prana Vayus & Maya Koshas
• Body Reading & Observation
• Karma Yoga
• Instruction Refinement
• Adjusting & Assisting
• How to Design a Workshop

Presented by the same school as the 200 YTT I took, True Nature School of Yoga, you can be sure that I’ll be blogging all about it!! Needless to say, I’ll have enough ideas for blog posts for at least a year (though it may take me longer than that to get it all written, haha).

Before this crazy adventure begins (again!), there is one more thing I need to say to you: THANK YOU! Thank you, each + every reader out there. I hope that my experience + my writings have helped you in some way. I make no $$$ off this blog - I simply love writing + helping people + yoga. Thank you for sharing this journey with me + I hope you’ll stick around :) <3

Still have questions about my Yoga Teacher Training experience and/or Yoga Teacher Training in general? Just ask! :)

Let me start by saying this is the first full version of the Bhagavad Gita that I’ve ever read, so I can’t make any comparisons to other translations. I have read many quotes from the text, but this is the first time I’ve read the whole Gita beginning to end.

That being said, this translation + brief commentary by Graham Schweig is phenomenal! 

I liken reading the Bhagavad Gita to reading Shakespeare - the text is rich with meaning, though it may be tough to grasp without extra insight. Schweig does a great job of providing a little bit of guidance while you let the text speak for itself. The final appendix, titled “On This Translation”, explains Schweig’s means of translating the ancient text + I highly appreciate how he did everything he could to maintain the text’s integrity + complexity when presenting it in English.

Having studied + practiced many of yoga’s core concepts, reading the Gita is a natural extension of delving deeper into the world of yoga. The Gita adds a much richer concept of what yoga is, compared to just reading the Yoga Sutras (which I’ve reviewed here + here).

Whether you’ve had an introduction to yoga or not, Schweig does a wonderful job making the Gita understandable - and you’ll likely be even more curious about yoga afterward! I can easily see myself reading + referring to this translation for many decades

Note: The Gita is a beautiful book for folks of all faiths to read, whether they consider themselves yogis or not. If you have devoted yourself to a particular religion or faith, keep an open mind when you read this book. Krishna, who is the highest God in the Hindu religion, can easily be seen as the God you have chosen to worship. Each religion has their own version of “the highest power”, but more often than not, they are preaching the same message: love one another + leave the Earth better than you found it.

What is your favorite translation of the Bhagavad Gita?

[Are you a book geek too? Join me at GoodReads.com!]