Why I still teach in a studio

Look, I get it. Online yoga is convenient. You can do it in your pants, your dog can join in, and you don't have to find parking. During lockdown, we all became very familiar with practising yoga in our living rooms, trying not to kick the coffee table during warrior pose.

But here's why I still teach in a studio, and why people still drag themselves out on cold Tuesday evenings to practise with me in person.

I can see the person in front of me

In a studio I can see a strained neck in cobra and offer another position before it becomes painful. On a video call, the same strain just carries on.

That's most of the job, honestly. Watching, and changing the plan when the plan doesn't fit the people who turned up.

Wobbling together

Ten people breathing quietly make a different room from one person following a video. You hear the sigh when everyone finally lets go.

And when the person next to you wobbles out of tree pose and laughs, you stop taking your own wobble so seriously.

Your phone and washing stay outside

At home there's the doorbell, the phone, and the washing you can see from your mat.

For 90 minutes, you can pay attention to the class. That's rarer than it sounds.

Why I still choose the room

Online classes have their place. If you're ill or away, I'd rather you practised at home than not at all.

After more than a decade of teaching, I still prefer a room where I can see the person in front of me.