Here are some tips to help you prepare for a Zoom yoga class. Please reach out with questions or concerns not covered here.

Registration

How to Register

  1. Please register in advance using the registration link on the Live-Stream Schedule. I use an online registration service called Ribbon Club to manage my schedule and accept payments.

  2. After completing your registration, you will receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link and password. Please watch for an email from the following email address: confirmations@ribbon-confirmations.com. It may help to add this email address into your contacts and check your spam folder if you do not receive it right away.

Set-Up

Download Zoom

You will need to download Zoom onto your device. You might want to do that now, or leave yourself a few extra minutes before your first class. 

Video On or Off? It’s your choice.

Practicing from home means that we are often navigating and negotiating with family and pets. If you would like to leave your video off for class, you are always welcome to do so.

I will log-in 10 minutes before class starts so that we have an opportunity to say hello to each other. I invite you to leave your video on during class if it works for you, your family, and the technology you are using to login. If you leave your video on, I may offer personal suggestions for you during class.

I will demonstrate postures occasionally, but I am going to spend most of the class on my computer and engaged in your practice. I will try and explain things clearly and succinctly since visual cues are limited. 

Seeing you and saying hello is one of my favorite parts of using Zoom, even if that is just for a minute before we start practicing.

Ideal Technology & Make the Best of What You Have 

These are suggestions, please use what you have and know that we are all doing our best with what we have.

I find it easiest to use a laptop with Zoom so that you can easily adjust the camera to show your mat while still being able to see the screen. You will also get a better (larger) view of my demonstrations with a larger screen that can easily be tilted. If you do not have a laptop, you are welcome to use a desktop computer, iPad, or iPhone.

Mat Set-Up

It is helpful if you can set up your camera at about waist height and facing the long edge of your mat. This allows me to see you when you are standing and on the floor, but we can work with any space and angle that is needed.

During Practice

Audio Tips

I will have you muted by default when you enter. If you want to ask a question or say hi, press the microphone icon in the lower-left area of your screen to unmute yourself. Please re-mute yourself before class starts. 

Screen Viewing Tips

There are two options for viewing your screen in Zoom.

  • Gallery View shows you a little box with each person all at once (pretty fun to see everyone when we first sign-on!).

  • Speaker View shows you the person talking and stays on the last person to talk (this will be helpful when I start to teach).

  • Turn off Self View there is an option to turn off self view. I really like to do this when in a meeting.

Sending a Chat Message

If you want to tell me anything about your body/practice, you can send me a private message by changing “everyone” to “Dawn Hayes” in the chat window. 

Suggested Props

Props made specifically for yoga can be helpful, but many household objects can make great substitutions.

Soft & Strong

  • Block (or step stool, or chair) 

  • Blanket (or beach towel) 

  • A strap (or scarf, belt, or bathrobe tie)

Flow, Form, & Fire (the sliding parts of practice) 

  • Wood Floors: a slippery blanket or socks 

  • Carpet: 1-2 paper plates or a cookie sheet