Live online yoga classes really do work!

After teaching up to 5 in person classes a week it was an adjustment process to teach live on Zoom and I was uncertain if it would be as effective for students and as rewarding for me. I have missed providing hand-on presses and comforting touch to those who wanted that aid to relaxation at the end of the session. Yet, the sense of community and connection, the ability to enjoy a full yoga class experience remains. Some find it helpful to not have to travel, especially in the winter. Others appreciate the recordings to supplement the class with practices via video that are offered. I appreciate our community including the pets that show us how cat and dog poses are really done! ~Susanne

Science backs up what many of us have experienced—live online yoga classes are effective!

What the Research Shows

A recent Cleveland Clinic study published in November 2024 found some pretty amazing results for people with chronic back pain who took part in live-streamed yoga classes. Participants who attended weekly online sessions and some practiced a bit on their own reported:

• Less pain (that continued to improve even after the program ended!)

• Better sleep quality

• Much less need for pain medications

• Lasting benefits that didn't fade away

  
  

Why Live Classes Make a Difference

The classes were live-streamed with real instructors teaching in real-time, creating that sense of community and personalized instruction we all value. As Dr. Robert Saper from Cleveland Clinic points out, yoga does something that medications just can't—it addresses not just the physical pain but also the emotional and social aspects of wellbeing.

What This Means For You

This research shows you’re not missing out by choosing the online option. Those live-streamed classes offer real, measurable benefits while fitting into your life more easily.

So roll out that mat in your living room and join our online class with confidence—the science shows you’re doing something truly beneficial for your body and mind!

Tankha, H., Gaskins, D., Shallcross, A., Rothberg, M., Hu, B., Guo, N., Roseen, E. J., Dombrowski, S., Bar, J., Warren, R., Wilgus, H., Tate, P., Goldfarb, J., Garcia Drago, V., & Saper, R. (2024). Effectiveness of virtual yoga for chronic low back pain: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 7(11), e2442339. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.42339