I hope this blog post finds you healthy!

As in so many places, Seattle has been hit hard by COVID-19. Most everything is in shut-down mode in Seattle, including all gyms and yoga studios. I was supposed to be in Costa Rica right now giving two back-to-back retreats, but, sadly, I had to postpone until 2021.  Our Washington statewide stay-at-home order has Rick and me staying put like everyone else.  If it were not for my online LIVE STREAMING yoga classes, I would not have any work at all.

Artwork by Barbara Wollner

The last two weeks have been all about learning how to teach yoga online.  There have been a few glitches and sharp learning curves. But even so, teaching online has been a great experience!  Offering these online yoga classes during this difficult time of social isolation, economic crisis, and the life threatening viral contagion has been incredibly timely and meaningful. I had no idea that I could connect so deeply with the yoga community.  As I teach, it seems the yogis are there with me, their makeshift yoga studio seemingly extending into my living room. We stretch, strengthen, breathe, calm our nerves, clear our minds, dissolve our anxieties, and practice being the ever present peaceful witnesses to our lives!

Via the online live streaming of my yoga classes, I’ve been able to bring together a worldwide community of yogis. Friends and students, who live far away or have moved, can now take yoga with me again!  People I have met over the years through my travels and retreats abroad have joined my classes. My sisters, nieces, and nephews join me every day as do my cousins from Italy, Canada, Germany, Belgium, and England. I am ever so grateful so many people are joining my yoga sessions.  I feel love from the yoga community coming in great big giant waves.

Doing yoga at home asks us to create a home yoga space! I asked the yogis to send me photos of their “make-shift” yoga studios at home.  I received some great photos and videos. Some of the photos are interspersed within this blog post.

FACEBOOK Live Streaming from Seattle: Yoga with Fran
Daily 7-8am Gentle Hatha Yoga (Pacific Standard Time)
Daily 8:30-9:30 All Levels Hatha (Pacific Standard Time)
Offered 7 days a week, to get us through this difficult time of social isolation, world health, and economic crisis.
Suggested donation $10-$20 per class via PayPal or Venmo Some pay for a few classes in advance. (You can find me on Venmo by using my email. If you don’t have my email, post a comment and I’ll be in touch).  This is my life’s work and I’m so pleased to be able to offer this life-saving hour during this time of social distancing.
  • Classes are streamed live every morning, including Saturday and Sunday!
  • Facebook Live Online Streaming yoga sessions are recorded and posted on my Timeline for 23 hours so you can watch at a later time.
  • Click my Facebook Profile Page link, where the streaming appears. The streaming does not appear on my Facebook Business Page (Yoga by Fran Gallo), though originally it was supposed to.
  • If doing the live class with me, log on about 5 minutes early so I can greet you! You can type messages and we can interact.
  • I suggest connecting your iPad or computer to a Bluetooth speaker so you have more control over the volume and you’ll hear me better.
  • It might be easier to find the live streaming if you click “follow” or ask to be my “friend” on Facebook Profile Page: Francesca Gallo
  • My streaming yoga classes are public so you can share with your friends and they can easily join us, as long as they have a Facebook account, by connecting to my Facebook Profile Page: Francesca Gallo

Don’t do Facebook?  I’m also Live Streaming Yoga Classes for OmCulture Yoga Studio using the Zoom app.

OM CULTURE Live Yoga Streaming from Seattle: Yoga with Fran

Monday 4:00-5:15pm Gentle Hatha (Pacific Standard Time)
Monday 5:45-7:00pm All Levels Hatha (Pacific Standard Time)
Wednesday 4:00-5:15pm Gentle Hatha (Pacific Standard Time)

  • Download the Zoom App if you don’t have it. It’s free.
  • Pre-register for class at OmCulture online
  • Find the email from sarah@omculture.com with a zoom meeting code so you can join your virtual class. She usually sends the code about 15 minutes before the start of the class. Click the icon on zoom with the + sign that says “Join Meeting” and enter in the meeting code from the email to join the class. (If you don’t receive your link, please check your junk mail!)
  • We will keep the video and audio on your side turned off so you can enjoy privacy during your practice. If you can’t find a comfortable way to view the class on your screen just make sure to turn up the volume so your teacher’s voice alone can guide you through your practice.
  • Login to your zoom account 5-10 minutes before class begins so you can have time to settle in virtually.
  • You are welcome to turn your audio to say hello at the beginning and end of class. For improved quality all around, we will turn off your audio when we are ready to begin. We’d like to prevent the video stream from locking up due to internet connectivity issues. We have found that audio and visual quality are improved when students keep their cameras off during the practice.

I hope you will join me for the online yoga classes.  I have gotten so much positive feedback from those taking the online yoga classes. I think after you read what the online yogis wrote, I might be “seeing” you next week, too!

This was an excellent class and just what I needed, especially for the stress and tension in my shoulders and hips from being cooped up for 10 days. And my 5-year old got to see me practicing yoga so that was a big bonus. I’m going to try to attend this regularly if you keep offering it! Thank you for moving quickly to offer your classes online.

I’ve been walking as much as possible (maintaining distance, of course) while we have the good weather, and look forward to joining you for these sessions. And I deeply appreciate the way you’re dedicating each practice (e.g., healthcare workers).

Yes, I feel ‘wrapped’ in Love 💜💜💜
Thank you for sharing your JOY of yoga and shining your LIGHT so bright around the world.

So very lovely to have the online yoga. I woke up very early today, full of anxiety and sadness for the world, and it was wonderful to do the 7 am class – a sense of being together that works even though online. And it helped me find calm amid this storm. Thank you!

YES – just hearing your soothing voice is enough!

Thank you for your online class today. It helped bring some normalcy to life and to feel connected. Thank you for being there. I miss you and doing the yoga put my anxiety at bay! I had my yoga community with me and that felt grounding!!

I appreciate you so much! It’s so much easier anyway for me to do yoga at home. I hope you continue this forever.

Love the live stream yoga and your big heart.

I have enjoyed the two classes so far and plan to log in as much as possible!
I have set up my “studio” in our spare bedroom. I have a big mirror and extra speakers and just enough space. I grabbed a firm king size pillow off the bed to use as a bolster this morning. It worked well enough.

Thanks Fran! Wonderful, strengthening, uplifting, calming, relaxing.

I can’t tell you how much your video yoga sessions mean. It is like a little bit of normalcy in all this craziness.

Great class today. Thank you so much. Practicing Yoga with you twice a week is without a doubt going to help me get through these difficult times.

Thank you so much for today’s practice. I wasn’t sure that I would like it and I was wrong… I loved it! See you on the virtual mat again soon!

I want to support you because you’re doing such good work. It truly was a godsend this morning as I had been up since 3 am and the stress level is so high of late. I was totally channeling all of the difficult times in the past where your classes and our retreat were so healing to me. Thank you so much.

Yes, yoga is definitely the panacea at the moment. There’s an unprecedented amount of things to worry about, things outside of our control, and unknowns with unknown timelines, all of which are very challenging to deal with. So yoga and meditation are key. Thanks for your efforts, I truly appreciate it. It’s wonderful to have easy access to your classes!

Just a quick note to say thank you for pivoting to these zoom classes! I am so grateful for you and your beautiful spirit, and for the opportunity to still practice yoga with you. I am also so grateful for the opportunity to stretch (literally and figuratively) in these worrisome times. You were my first zoom experience.  I also want to thank you for making me think about my home (specifically, our bedroom) as my yoga space! I have a wonderful view of many trees in Woodland Park. (I tried to be enthusiastic about tree pose, haha.) I had to dash to my closet for something to use as a strap – I chose a black belt. I had to dash back later for something longer to do the back/shoulder wrapping pose – I chose my longest scarf and folded it on the diagonal! There are so many things to be learned and improvised during these trying times.

A well accoutered home yoga studio! The blanket wrapped around the roller makes for a great bolster. (Anonymous: thank you for sharing!)

I have so much admiration for your ability to connect with all of us like you just did. And now we all walk around our houses with improved spirits.

This is wonderful Fran! A sunny spot during a cloudy, uncertain time.

This is the best thing to come out of this epidemic. I can’t wait for class tomorrow!

Namaste Fran. Thank you for helping us stay grounded while the earth shakes around us.

In the midst of trauma and crisis, staying grounded, balanced, flexible, strong and open is so very challenging. But beginning each day with postures to work on all of these, and work on accepting where we are with them in the present moment, is so very valuable. Thank you for sharing your strength with us, Fran. I am so grateful.

Thank you, Fran. It is so nice seeing you and enjoying your class! Hugs from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I’m isolated but I don’t feel alone thanks to your class and others who are sharing their stories online! 💖 I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon!

This is how I keep sane every day. Fran’s classes are live 7 days/ week 7am Gentle yoga and 8:30 am Hatha pacific time.The classes stay on her website until the next day. There are many wonderful yoga teachers and classes online now, but I feel like I am in a community every morning when I start the day with her.

I read the newspaper before your session and I’m in panic mode… after one hour of your yoga I feel like we’ re going to make it through and am much more relaxed. Thank you!

Having something consistent, wonderful and healing every day that we can count on in these uncertain times is really a miracle. Thank you, Fran.

OMG, it’s better every day.  Can’t even think about starting the day without you. You have to do this forever, thank you Fran

Thank you, my yoga community for your tender hearts and bright spirits. We will get through these tough times together.  Namaste, Fran (Hope to “see” you on the mat soon!)