Zoom to Om: How to get the most out of your home yoga practice

I would have lost my shit a long time ago if it weren’t for my yoga practice and my longtime teacher, Emily Longfellow.

Emily has been a studio owner in the Aspen area and Roaring Fork Valley for 23 years and is a teacher with a capital T. She’s more of a master or a guide, someone who brings a rare combination of skills, experience, wisdom, and raw talent that make her so much more than a yoga teacher. In all the years I’ve known her, I have never once seen her teaching falter, even when she’s in the midst of a personal crisis; we’re talking divorce, death of a parent, a wildfire burning a few hundred feet from her house, and now this effing global pandemic. She’s always extremely present in her teaching and goes way beyond the mat when it comes to integrating themes, choreography, and lessons that encompass a lot more than series of postures. Emily has the uncanny ability to teach me the lesson I need to hear when I need to hear it. She led me through my wonderful pregnancy; nurtured me postpartum after a rough delivery; inspired me to stick handstands like a boss; and has provided the one constant in my life that I can count on, even during a pandemic—yoga.

Emily Longfellow has owned a studio in basalt for 23 years. "“The most time i ever took off from yoga was 10 days,” she says. “not being in the studio is a huge sacrifice, but i knew we all needed to stay engaged and connected online,” she says of offering a compete schedule via zoom.

She’s also a total badass. From the start, she had contortionist-level flexibility, mastering the most advanced poses, tying herself in a graceful knot. I’ve also watched her improve her strength, mastering her own handstand practice through sheer tenacity and dedication, working on her skill day after day, millimeter by millimeter. She curated and branded her own signature style of Vimana Yoga, a culmination of the many different styles of yoga she’s studied over the last 20 years.

Emily hardly took a day off when the stay-at-home order was issued. She immediately jumped on the Zoom bandwagon, offering a complete schedule online and later, adding in special virtual events from handstand clinics and meditation seminars to weekly meet ups and wine tastings. “Our last meet up we were on until after 11 at night,” she says. “It was so much fun.”

I caught up with Emily to talk about what it’s really like to teach on Zoom, how to get the most out of your home practice, and how the woman who takes care of everyone else (including two kids), is able to take care of herself.

Emily has been a studio owner in the valley for 23 years and is a teacher with a capital T.

On surviving and thriving during the pandemic …
I knew it would be really important for people to have some routine to keep us all engaged. I’ve had students reach out and tell me they were resistant to trying Zoom, but found it really helped them cope with stress and stay connected to the community. I’m also doing my first online teacher training. We have 10 people participating from all over the world, which would never happen in a studio setting. One of the trainees is from Singapore, and she logs on with us at 1 a.m. and stays on through the night. It’s pretty amazing because I get to watch the sun rise in Singapore.

On how to stay positive …
I take time to honor what I’m feeling and voice what’s coming up for me. I confide in friends who support me. I cry. But then I’m going to put on my yoga pants and get back to it. These hard times are going to happen and it’s okay to be in the moment and say, “this sucks,” and to allow your emotions to come up. But you can’t live in that emotion. That’s where people get stuck; they let that emotion become their identity. I’m saying, let’s get re-centered, re-engaged, and keep going.

On self-care …
I started fly fishing last year when I lost my dad. I needed something that focuses and relaxes me. I’m god awful at it, but it’s been such a saving grace for me. I’ve also been meditating and taking classes with my own favorite teachers online and doing a few courses of study in areas of my own practice I want to work on.

Yoga on Zoom …
Teaching on Zoom is really interesting. Some days I can see everyone and other days every box will be black except for one. I try to envision us in the studio and what I would say if we were all together. I think the most challenging aspect is creating a practice that feels seamless, so I can keep you guys engaged. I worry you’ll get distracted and walk away from the practice, so I’m doing intricate sequencing and constantly moving around the mat so everyone can see me from the best angle. It’s a lot of brain games which is good; it’s keeping me aware and mentally engaged. And of course, I’ve gotten very invested in everyone’s pets!

On how to get the most out of your home practice …
Try to go for a walk or take a hot shower with a lot of steam before you start so you’re warmed up. Hot tea is also really good to hydrate and warm yourself at the same time. It’s also a good idea to try to have a designated space for your yoga; keep it clear and clean. I brought out a few little statues, so I can see them when I’m teaching. Make your space sacred.

On lessons on and off the mat …
We are like Aspen trees. We are all vibing and sourcing from each other and realizing, now more than ever, how much we need each other. It’ a really beautiful piece of this experience. I feel so connected to everyone even though we’re apart. //vimanayoga.com

 What are you getting out of your home practice? Share your story in the comments.