Practicing yoga online — whether through a live class or a prerecorded session — has become a normal and genuinely valuable way to maintain a consistent practice. Done well, it's convenient, flexible, and surprisingly personal. Done carelessly, it can feel scattered and unsatisfying.

The difference is almost always in how you prepare.

Set up your space

Your environment matters more than most people realize. Before class, take a few minutes to create a setup that supports your practice rather than working against it.

Space: You'll need at least two to three feet of clear space around the perimeter of your mat — limbs extend further than you think, and you don't want to find out the hard way where the coffee table is during a lunge. Remove anything with a sharp edge from your immediate area.

Props: Have everything within reach before class begins — mat, blocks, strap, bolster, blanket. A good instructor will tell you at the start of class what you'll need, but having everything nearby means you're not wandering around during precious practice time.

Quiet: Do your best to find an uninterrupted window. Mornings work well for many people but find what fits your schedule. Let housemates know you need an hour, silence your devices, and put your phone on airplane mode if you're not expecting anything essential. Small children and pets can stay nearby if needed — just move with extra awareness to keep everyone safe.

Prerecorded vs. live online classes

These are two different experiences and it's worth understanding what each offers.

Prerecorded classes — like those on YouTube or in on-demand libraries — are flexible and versatile. You choose the teacher, the style, the length, and the time. They're a wonderful asset to a home practice.

The important thing to understand is that prerecorded teachers are cueing a general audience. Your injuries, your energy level, your anatomy — none of that is being accounted for in real time. This means you need to bring your own self-awareness and judgment. Know when to modify. Know when to stop. Yoga should never hurt, and in a prerecorded class, you are your own best advocate.

For home practice, prerecorded classes work best when the content is familiar — think of them as good daily vitamins rather than a place to attempt something new and risky for the first time.

Live online classes offer something different. Even when a teacher can't offer individual attention to a large group, smaller live sessions can feel remarkably personal — often like a semi-private session at a fraction of the cost. The teacher can see you, respond to what's happening in real time, and offer cues that are specific to what they observe.

Whether or not to turn your camera on should always be your choice. But if you're comfortable doing so, it genuinely helps your teacher help you.

Camera and lighting — two things that still matter

If your camera is on, two simple things make a significant difference:

Camera angle: Position your camera far enough away that your full body is visible — standing and lying down. Place your mat parallel to the camera so your teacher can see your alignment clearly from the side. This is the single most useful thing you can do to get real feedback from a live session.

Lighting: Make sure light is coming from in front of you or from the sides — not from behind. A bright window behind you turns you into a silhouette and makes it nearly impossible for your teacher to see what you're doing. Face the window, don't sit in front of it.

A note on etiquette

Online yoga is still a shared space, even across screens. A few simple things go a long way:

Show up a minute or two early. It gives you time to settle, check your setup, and let your teacher know about any injuries or modifications you need before class begins. Arriving mid-cue is disruptive for everyone.

Engage when invited. Some teachers use the chat, some encourage audio questions. If interaction is welcome, participate — it makes the class better for the whole group.

Read the studio's policies. Cancellation policies, class norms, expectations — these exist because teachers and studio owners have put real thought into creating a good experience. Taking a moment to review them is its own small act of mindfulness.

You should always feel safe in whatever environment you practice in. If something feels wrong, leave and find a space that works for you.

Ready to go deeper?

If you're new to yoga and want a complete guide to preparing for your first class — online or in person — I put together everything you need to know in one place.

Get the Beginner's Guide: How to Prepare for Your First Yoga Class → — $5

And as I build out a library of evergreen online programs — for all levels, on your schedule — stay tuned. More coming soon.