Big screen yoga on demand
Here, the stretches are on tap and there’s no banter with the instructor...
The future has arrived and gyms across the country are replacing real life personal instructors with technology.
The YMCAembraced the trend last year - not with a lineup of Village People holograms, but with the introduction of ondemand fitness classes in five of its 12 fitness facilities. With technology provided by Fitness on Demand the company can deliver guided programmes via large screens in group fitness spaces.
Members sign into the class of their choice via touchscreen, including everything from yoga to high intensity interval training. For this session I chose virtual warrior yoga with instructor Shaye. Virtual yoga is just like the version you may have done at home. AtYMCA Auckland Central it simply comes with a screen four times the size of your average television and an accompanying sound system.
A small touchscreen sat on the wall, outlining the various levels and lengths of the yoga classes available.
From a selection that included 10-minute introductory lessons for beginners to one-hour advanced slogs, I chose the ‘‘Yogafit for Warriors’’ programme for its medium intensity and 30-minute timespan.
There were no other willing participants so the group fitness room was all mine. With a yoga mat and rectangle block assembled, my virtual instructor Shaye popped up on the screen. She confessed that this class demonstrated how yoga can help military veterans and their families cope from the trauma of war. It was definitely the wrong selection on my part. In any normal situation you could head back to the touchscreen and choose another programme. I soldiered on.
After the five-minute introduction, the PTSD-themed class eventually worked through all the regular elements you’d expect from a traditional vinyasa yoga class. There was some deep, concentrated breathing to begin, movements from child’s pose to cow and cat pose, downward dog through to plank, warrior two to triangle pose, and some more focused breathing to finish. It’s your living room workout regime taken to the next level. The upsized viewing platform and thumping sound system - together with the distraction-free atmosphere of a gym - creates a stimulating workout environment. Virtual yoga is most suitable for those who already have experience with the age-old discipline. Given the nature of a virtual instructor, first-timers won’t be given the same amount of attention: a real life instructor can physically guide limbs in the right direction and answer questions. Though there are few risks associated with yoga, beginners should always exercise under the guidance of a trained professional. Virtual yoga is available at several YMCAfitness centres. Find out more at ymca.org.nz.