Survival Guide to Online Teaching

As I locked the studio to begin our shelter-in-place, I paused. Suddenly reality hit, I have to teach online.

Unlike most teachers, I’ve taught online webinars and classes, and at one point even ran a successful e-commerce biz. The thing is, this isn’t something that comes naturally and after years of being in the studio I needed to dust off my own online-teaching hat.

Learn from my mistakes over the years, and remember that just because you’re now on screen doesn’t make you a different teacher. It’s just a different delivery method. I’m including my go-to’s and the key things I’ve done to make my classes and private sessions successful.

Check your tech!

Set up your space: If you’re demoing, make sure the camera can see your body when you stand up or lie down.
Make sure the mic (on your laptop, phone, or in-ears) are able to pick up your voice clearly.
Internet Speed: A good internet connection seems simple but if you have others streaming on the same wi-fi it can bog down the bandwidth.
Be comfortable with whatever software and hardware you’re using. Practice with a friend until you’re feeling confident.

Gumption Collective Teaching Survival Online Pilates Yoga.png

Music

Are you used to teaching to music and n ow feeling off-beat? Bring back your rhythm. You probably already have playlists you’re used to teaching to, or you have a few favorites you follow.

Class Tip: I send a curated playlist to the group in their confirmation email. When we first begin, I mute the group and ask them hit play Counting Down 3 - 2 - 1. I place my phone, playing the music just far enough away that I can hear it but the group can’t. Curious how I know they can’t hear it or it’s being recorded? I test my tech! [I’m not a music lawyer. So, double check with your legal people to make sure you’re good to go. This is your thoughtful disclaimer that you need to use a proper service and pay the proper fees for your music.]

I also recommend looking into Epidemic Sound which has both personal and commercial license subscriptions, and Power Music, specifically for pre-mixed and BPM based lists.

Be Yourself

We’re used to energy surrounding us in the room and it’s something we all feed off of. The thing about the internet — they’re on the other side of a screen. I do my best to imagine my students energy and then drop into my own flow. The flow for me is a rhythm of how I speak, transition between movements, and the

I try not to over cue. I count out loud less. I might give them an initial beat to follow (if you or they don’t have music) and then I allow them to move. I do this because the internet does lag (those slow glitches or slowdowns) and while we are all Zooming or Google Hanging Out there’s bound to be a time when your lovely face freezes on a screen.

You might stumble and fumble your words. You might even forget how to cue a movement you’ve done a million times. And it’s all okay! Laugh it off and move on. Give yourself grace. Teaching to a screen gets easier over time.

Private Lesson - Write out a plan

These lessons apply to teaching private lessons too. One standout difference is the aid of writing out a plan. In person I don’t often “lesson plan” or write out every detail of what I plan to do beforehand with client. But online private lessons? I write out a guide or simple lesson plan to follow. It helps my brain organize, as well as write out key ways of explaining an exercise that I might have tactile cued in the past.

And above all… have fun! These are strange times for all of us. Do your best and if online teaching isn’t your jam, that’s totally okay too.

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