Frequently Asked Questions
About Guided Yoga
- What is Guided Yoga?
Guided Yoga is an online yoga studio that creates customized yoga classes based on settings that you control. The key settings you can adjust are: type of class (yoga, chair yoga or yoga breathing), level of difficulty and length of class.
- What are Guided Yoga's classes like?
Guided Yoga provides audio and visual support for your yoga class to guide you through your yoga session. Each image shows an individual pose and the audio instructions give guidance in transitioning between poses as well as helpful information once in a pose. Yoga instructions often use imagery to help you to move your body in healthy ways, but if a pose does not feel comfortable, you should release and consider whether there is another way to hold the pose that is comfortable for you. You should try to follow the visual and auditory instructions, but as in any yoga class, if the hold times are too long or to short, you should go at your own pace and catch up later.
- What supplies do I need?
Guided Yoga requires very little set up. For chair yoga or pranayama you can sit in any chair near enough to your computer to watch the instruction. For traditional yoga, generally you should have a space large enough to lay down in, some type of mat or non-slip floor covering (and perhaps padding like a blanket), comfortable clothing and water should you become thirsty.
- How do I choose a level for my yoga practice?
To chose a level, first consider how long you have been practicing yoga, how you are feeling (tired, energetic), and any health limitations you are currently experiencing. If you have health limitations, we strongly suggest that you consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. We recommend beginning at a gentle setting, regardless of your level of yoga experience, to get used to Guided Yoga. Next, choose the length of time
you wish to exercise. Choose the time according to how much time you have available to exercise and your comfort level. Although Guided Yoga can provide a full body routine in as few as 10 minutes, we recommend longer classes to allow you to fully relax and assimilate your practice.
- Do I you have to be thin, flexible and in shape to do yoga?
No, you do not have to have to be any of these things practice yoga. One goal of yoga is to help you become healthy and happy at any size or shape! Guided Yoga allows you to customize your yoga class to your level of yoga experience and your fitness. Starting with a short restorative class
can allow you to build your comfort with yoga slowly. One of the guiding principles of yoga is patience and kindness to yourself - never causing yourself pain or discomfort, going slowly and cultivating love and respect for your own body.
- Do I have to dedicate a lot of time to the practice of yoga?
Yoga is a flexible practice whose health benefits are not necessarily tied to exercising for a set amount of time.
Many people who practice yoga find short periods of time each day. Finding the right balance for you and your body may take time - you may start with short
10-15 minute segments and move over time to longer practices, or you may find that you only have time once a week for an hour segment and that you can supplement through the week with shorter classes. Since yoga is different for everyone, Guided Yoga's flexibility is helpful because it allows you to experiment with the right balance for you.
- How does Guided Yoga choose the yoga poses for me?
Guided yoga uses basic yoga poses in sequences designed by our yogis to be comfortable and to create
smooth transitions for your chosen yoga level. For chair yoga, you will be sitting down for all poses. For traditional yoga you will go from standing to sitting to laying down at the end of the class.
- How fast-paced are the classes?
The pace of Guided yoga is fairly slow by yoga standards. Poses are held for around 30 seconds or less, though if discomfort is felt we recommend releasing the pose and either repositioning for comfort or resting for a moment. The free trial classes use gentle settings meant for those new to yoga, or for those who simply want to exercise in a very restful and easy way.
- Can I really practice yoga at home?
Many yoga practitioners practice yoga at home. With Guided Yoga to guide you through your class, all you need are a few simple items. For traditional yoga, a space large enough to lay down in, a comfortable non-slip mat, a few blankets or bolsters for support (if desired), comfortable clothes and some water. For chair yoga, a chair and comfortable clothing is all that is truly required. As with any exercise, the key to a successful home practice is just to take the time to do it, and always be gentle and kind to yourself. Through Guided Yoga we aim to provide the support you need to get started or to continue and supplement your practice of yoga.
- Does it matter where I live if I want to join Guided Yoga?
Guided Yoga is delivered online and our members live all over the world, with many from the United States, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada. When you sign up, membership prices are quoted in US dollars, but because of the flexibility of PayPal, anyone anywhere can sign up for Guided Yoga.
Subscriptions
- How does the one month free trial period work?
The free trial period gives you the opportunity to take full advantage of Guided Yoga and gives you access to all member features for a one month period. At the time you sign up, you will be asked to provide a credit card number. This credit card will not be charged anything at the time you sign up. If at any time during the trial period you decide that Guided Yoga is not right for you, the free trial may be cancelled and nothing will be charged to your credit card. See below "How do I update, change or cancel my subscription?" for how to cancel a subscription. If you do not cancel your subscription before the end of the free trial period, then on the one month anniversary of the date of your initial sign up, your credit card will be charged for the first subscription payment. For example, if you signed up for the free trial period on March 3, and you did not cancel your subscription by the end of April 2, the first charge to your credit card would be made on April 3.
- I just registered but I cannot log in
Upon registration, you should receive two emails: one from Guided Yoga upon creation of your account, and one from PayPal upon completion of registration. You should be able to log in at any time after both of those emails have been received. Please keep in mind that your email address and password are case-sensitive, so you must enter them as indicated in the account creation email that you receive from Guided Yoga. If you still cannot log in, please contact us and we will respond as quickly as possible.
- How do I recover a forgotten password?
Please go to the password reset page and enter the email address that you used to register with Guided Yoga. An email with a new password will be sent to you immediately.
- Why do I get redirected to PayPal to make payments?
Guided Yoga does not retain any credit card information about its users. Instead, our users are directed through secure connections to PayPal for payment processing. You do not have to create a PayPal account in order to sign up for Guided Yoga.
- May I pay in a currency other than U.S. dollars?
Yes! Although prices are quoted in U.S. dollars, Guided Yoga is able to accept payment in many of the world's major currencies through PayPal.
- How do I change my password and/or email address?
Please log in and use the My Account page to change your password and/or email address.
- How do I update, change or cancel my subscription?
Please log in and use the My Account page to update, change or cancel your subscription. You may also log into PayPal directly to manage your subscription.
Technical Questions
