What are the benefits of an online yoga training vs an in person yoga training?
Both online yoga training and in-person yoga training have their own unique benefits. I have done both so I can see the benefits to each side of this. I wanted to share my thoughts on them.
Benefits of Online Yoga Training:
Convenience: One of the biggest benefits of online yoga training is that you can practice yoga from the comfort of your own home or wherever you are. This means you can fit a yoga practice into your schedule more easily. This for me at the moment is a big bonus as it means I can fit it in around family and work life.
Flexibility: With online yoga training, you have the ability to pause and rewind videos, which can be helpful if you want to review a particular sequence or pose. You can also choose the length of your practice based on your schedule and needs. Again, this is great for those lectures that are a bit challenging and need a bit more focus or a refresher.
Cost: Online yoga training can be more cost-effective than in-person training. You don't have to pay for travel expenses, and the cost of online courses is often lower than in-person classes. This is something that has been a big benefit for me. I know I’ll be back at more in person trainings soon but for now this means I can keep growing and developing my knowledge without additional financial stresses.
Variety: With online yoga training, you have access to a wide variety of teachers and styles from all over the world. You can explore different practices and teachers to find what works best for you. This has meant I’ve connected with some teachers that I may never have had the chance to study with or come across. The power of online means that during my research they’ve popped up for me to see what they do.
I have done the following trainings online as a student: yoga nidra, one of the yin trainings, 85hr Prenatal & Postnatal Teacher training and a 50hr traditional hatha training online.
With the prenatal training I had done a 30hr training in person before. The Traditional Hatha training was during covid so that particular yoga school had put it online to make it accessible to students as there was no travel. This studio has now made it a regular online training for students who can’t make it to Bali for the in person training.
Benefits of In-Person Yoga Training:
Personalised Attention: In-person yoga training allows you to receive personalised attention from the teacher. This can be especially helpful if you are newer to yoga or have specific questions or concerns about your practice. It is a different experience being live for this reason.
Community: In-person yoga training provides the opportunity to connect with other students and create a sense of community. You can share your experiences and learn from others. When I reflect on my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training this is something that I’ve taken away from it - I have a really lovely community from the fellow students and teachers on it.
Feedback: In-person yoga training allows the teacher to give you hands-on adjustments and feedback, which can help you deepen your practice and avoid injury. Also it can be helpful if you have lots of injuries or health concerns as you can work more closely with a teacher in person.
Environment: In-person yoga training provides a dedicated environment for practice, which can be helpful in creating a mindful and focused practice. This can be really helpful to make the training immersive and take away from outside distractions. If you know you aren’t great at making time or doing things self paced or focusing with a laptop then in person is more beneficial for this.
Ultimately, the decision to choose online or in-person yoga training depends on your personal preferences and circumstances. Both have their benefits, and you may find that a combination of the two works best for you. I know being able to study online has meant that I have had access to other teachers and learnt new skills that I am already implementing in my teachings. It’s one of the reasons I have created my own Yin Yoga Teacher Training as an online and in the future in person training.
There is space for both online and in person learning.