Essentrics® on Zoom

Zoom has become a way of life for many of us.

Even with the reopening of fitness centers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many people feel more comfortable in an online setting. For them, it’s a way to work out without feeling intimidated or sensing that people are sizing them up. A woman who took one of my online classes said she tends to feel uncomfortable in an in-person setting and prefers the privacy that a virtual setting has to offer. Of course, the success of an online class depends on many factors. They include:

• The technology working as it should with a stable internet connection – one’s location plays a role in having a good connection versus one in which the signal is unreliable

• What the instructor is wearing –the instructor needs to wear bright clothing so the participants can see what the instructor is doing

• How well the instructor sees the participants – they also need to wear bright colors so they can be seen and receive occasional feedback from the instructor

• Good lighting and camera positioning 

• Sound quality 

In my online Essentrics® classes each week, I ask if anyone is new and I welcome that person. I also encourage people to exercise at their own pace if they have had injuries or medical interventions. The online forum is a very good way to connect with people in different parts of the world. My classes are geared toward people of all ages and levels of fitness and many return week after week, sometimes with friends in tow, eager to tune in to class through Zoom. That said, let’s get moving!