Almost exactly 4 years ago– March 22, 2020– I wrote about developing my Zoom identity. Back then, most of us were noobs at Zooming, but we quickly adapted to Zoom-versions of everything from therapy to French class to bedtime stories to Zoom-Zumba.
Back then, I touted the benefits that Zoom yoga classes provide– namely, they made me more comfortable doing (easier) modifications of poses, or holding them for shorter periods, taking a pause, and then resuming. It felt liberating to be un-visible (different from invisible, obvs), free to move or stretch or be still in ways that suited me in the moment.
Yeah. That was sooo four years ago.
Mind you, I am massively appreciative of videoconferencing technology. It made possible the continuation (after a fashion) of so much of my pre-pandemic life: teaching Zoom classes, going to Zoom parties, weddings, funerals, faculty meetings, book club sessions, even attending Zoom church. And of course, those Zoom yoga and exercise classes.
Now, in March of 2024, we all have a lot of experience with the pros and cons of non-in-person meetings, conferences, medical appointments, physical activity classes, etc.
For Zoom physical activity classes, there are definitely some pros:
- When I’m not feeling peppy or having a tightly scheduled day, Zooming is better than nothing.
- There are recordings of lots of Zoom classes (my yoga studio makes them available for a week after the class), which can be handy.
- I get to be un-visible (I’m really liking this word; I hope you don’t mind) during classes when I’m not feeling up to pushing myself hard.
- A Zoom yoga class, for example, offers me more structure than my doing some yoga by myself; it also makes me practice for longer than I would if left to guide myself on the mat.
But there are most definitely cons.
Zoom yoga (for me, at least) is soooo inferior an experience compared to in-person yoga. Being in the same room with a teacher and other people is motivating, companionable, probably safer (e.g. we would be more protected from harmful variations on poses), more conducive to learning and developing a deeper practice, and just more fun.
And I promise you that singing bowls sound way cooler and more cosmic in person than on video. To wit:
Another sort-of con (at least for me) is the wholesale availability of Zoom versions of yoga, meditation and exercise classes. The problem for me is that inertia plus habit plus any suboptimal daily circumstances makes me think, “oh, I’ll just do this over Zoom instead.” At which point either I don’t Zoom at all, or I Zoom and participate in a less committed way.
Of course your mileage may vary. But it’s so tempting to try to multitask during Zoom-anything because we CAN. About six months into the pandemic, I was on Zoom church, when I saw one person doing core exercises on their living room floor during the sermon. They had forgotten to turn their camera off– oops! And yes, we all know that more embarrassing things have been spotted during Zoom sessions, but that’s not my point here. It’s rather that so many things pull us in the directions of doing much more (e.g. multitasking) or doing much less (not participating in the class exercises or poses, etc.) when we are on Zoom.
It’s not Zoom’s fault, and it’s not totally our fault, either. But, I’m now facing a choice: muster a bit more oomph for in-person activity, or develop a more active Zoom identity (or some of both).
Readers, where are you on Zoom physical activity classes? Are you over them, or are they now a big part of your life? I’d love to hear from you.