Offer live online yoga and fitness classes with our Video Live Stream Hosting

The demand for online yoga and fitness classes is steadily increasing. We will show you how to offer your yoga and fitness classes online with ease and reach a broader audience.

Why offer yoga and fitness classes online?

In today’s world, digitization, mobility, and flexibility play an increasingly important role. As a result, demand for online yoga and fitness classes continues to grow. This allows customers to stay active wherever they are, whether in the home office, in the garden, or while traveling, because they are not tied to a specific location. Livestreams create a sense of community and increase motivation, since no one has to work out alone. Unlike recorded videos, which can be accessed at any time, livestreams scheduled at fixed times provide structure for a training routine.

Yoga instructors, trainers, and fitness studios are increasingly offering their classes digitally and live in order to meet changing customer needs.

What equipment is needed for online yoga and fitness classes?

To successfully offer fitness classes online and teach yoga online, you need a livestreaming service. In addition, you need a sufficiently fast internet connection and suitable streaming hardware.

Video Live Stream Hosting for broadcasting

Our streaming servers act as the ideal link between your yoga and fitness instructors and your participants. You can easily embed your stream into your website using our Video Live Stream Hosting, or alternatively, we can create a custom password-protected landing page for you. During each one-month period, you can host as many online yoga and fitness classes as you like. We provide sufficient resources for your desired number of participants throughout that time.

Internet connection

Before your yoga or fitness class reaches your viewers, it must be transmitted to the streaming server via your internet connection. A suitable upload speed is therefore essential. The higher the stream resolution, the higher the required upload speed.

Since the actual upload speed may differ from what your internet provider advertises, you should perform a speed test before hosting an online yoga or fitness class.

Streaming hardware on site

Video encoder

A video encoder receives your video and audio signals and sends them to our streaming server, making your online yoga or fitness class accessible to viewers. Various video encoder solutions are available. The only requirement is that the encoder is compatible with the rest of your equipment, such as the camera and microphone, and sends the signal to the streaming server in RTMP format.

Software encoder: There are various software and app-based video encoders, some of them free, that you can install on your smartphone, tablet, or notebook. Since live stream encoding is computationally intensive, your hardware must be sufficiently powerful. A good free software encoder is, for example, OBS Studio.

Hardware encoder: Hardware encoders are dedicated devices responsible for encoding. Pure encoders such as the LiveU Solo do not require a computer or additional encoding software. Other hardware, such as the ATEM Mini Pro from Blackmagic Design, combines a video switcher and video encoder and can be controlled through additional software on a computer.

To offer your yoga or fitness class online, using a software encoder together with sufficiently powerful hardware is a very good choice. It is usually easier to handle than a hardware encoder. Especially when using a free encoder and existing hardware, this option is also more cost-effective.

Microphone

Movement is essential in yoga and fitness. Wireless headsets and lavalier microphones offer the advantage that no cable restricts your freedom of movement and the microphone remains close to your mouth at all times. Bluetooth headsets are common, but they often do not provide the best sound quality. If sound quality matters to you, a wireless microphone or headset is the better choice, although these solutions are usually more expensive. Built-in camera and webcam microphones are often not of high quality and are therefore not recommended.

When choosing a microphone, it is also important to consider battery life, which can vary significantly. If you offer several yoga and fitness classes in a row, sufficient battery life is essential.

If the microphone has an XLR connection, you will also need an audio interface. This is often the case with higher-quality microphones.

Camera

In principle, any camera can be used to broadcast a yoga or fitness livestream. You can use the cameras built into smartphones, tablets, or notebooks, as well as webcams, action cams, camcorders, or professional film cameras. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual requirements for image quality and framing.

Webcams usually have a USB output and can be connected directly to a computer via USB. If your camera has an HDMI or SDI output, an HDMI or SDI to USB converter is required to connect it to the computer.

In addition to the camera, a tripod is recommended for stable and optimal positioning.

Lighting

To ensure that participants can clearly see the instructor at all times, good lighting is essential. This aspect is often overlooked, but it is crucial if the camera is to capture a good image. You should not rely solely on daylight or existing room lighting. Although daylight is generally a good and natural source of light, it varies depending on the time of day and season and can therefore be difficult to control. Existing lighting such as ceiling lights often creates unflattering shadows.

Optimal lighting for online yoga or fitness classes can be achieved with additional photo or video lights positioned behind the camera and aimed directly at the training area.

Mobile complete solution

As a complete mobile solution, we have designed a Streaming Backpack that includes a hardware encoder, camera with a high-quality integrated microphone, LTE modems, tripod, and battery for up to 12 hours of self-sufficient livestreaming. This is a strong option for your online yoga and fitness classes if you prefer a high-quality, ready-to-use solution.