My Virtual Reality Yoga Experience

If you're considering practicing yoga at home, streaming a class on YouTube or using a specialized app like Alo Moves can be excellent alternatives to attending in-person sessions, allowing you to fit yoga into your schedule whenever you have a moment.

However, even the most well-designed workout apps have a potential drawback; the videos and demonstrations displayed on your phone's screen can make it difficult to notice subtle posture adjustments that can significantly impact your practice, particularly in yoga.

Alo Moves believes it has found a solution to this problem for at-home classes with the introduction of Alo Moves XR, a mixed-reality yoga app designed for Meta Quest headsets. Available from today (October 10), the new app is priced at $9.99 per month.

The app offers 32 yoga classes and meditations developed in collaboration with the virtual reality studio Magnopus.

You can either immerse yourself in one of the virtual class settings or bring the instructor into your home for a mixed-reality experience.

Naturally, if you practice regularly, 32 sessions may not seem like much, especially compared to the over 3,000 sessions available on the standard Alo Moves app. Luckily, Alo plans to expand its library by adding at least four sessions each month.

The brand had announced the app earlier this year and spent several months beta testing to refine the experience.

Alo also makes the ambitious claim that the experience is "like IRL, but better," which I wanted to evaluate for myself.

I experimented with virtual reality yoga—here's how it went

My colleague Kate Kozuch tried a demo of the Alo Moves XR app back in May and appreciated how there were multiple versions of the instructor visible, allowing you to see the pose or flow regardless of where you're looking.

Armed with a general idea of what to expect, I put on one of the best VR headsets.

Having attended yoga classes at least three times a week at a local studio before the pandemic, I was curious to see how it would compare to real-world sessions.

The current library includes classes ranging from 5 to 20 minutes, so I opted for a 10-minute session.

The app maps out your room to overlay the immersive class, ensuring enough space for you to practice without bumping into anything.

You don't need the Quest's controllers, as the app employs Meta's hand-tracking technology. I chose the immersive class version to be 'transported' to a more inspiring space than my office.

Initially skeptical, I found myself adjusting to it rather quickly, despite the unusual sensation of wearing a headset.

I assume it would get easier over time, though I occasionally bumped the Quest against the floor during poses like downward dog.

The class was well-conducted, as I've found with Alo Moves' sessions, and it was refreshing to incorporate some movement into my day, often spent sitting at my desk.

But did it truly meet Alo's claim that it's better than in-person classes?

It was undoubtedly different, and following the instructor's demonstrations was easier than streaming a class on your phone.

However, the 'immersive' aspect felt contrary to the way I've traditionally practiced yoga.

To me, yoga is an extension of mindfulness, encouraging you to connect with your body and focus on the present.

The digital pretense of being elsewhere constantly reminded me that it was all a virtual construct.

From a technical standpoint, it's impressive. The videos are high-quality, though the instructor's avatar has a slight 'unrealness,' as if it's projected into your room. Viewing poses from any angle was indeed beneficial.

Based on my initial impressions, Alo Moves XR can enhance your practice, and if you find that immersing yourself in a pleasant digital environment works for you, that's fantastic! However, it's not for everyone, and I still favor live classes.

Technology is incredible, but for me, yoga or any physical activity is about more than merely checking off a task on your to-do list.

Community building, learning presence, and developing body awareness are essential elements for me.

Source: tomsguide

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.