If someone had suggested at the beginning of the year that I should deliver my classes online, I would have been rather dismissive with a ‘don’t be ridiculous’ response. I would not have had the confidence, not have known how to go about doing it, let alone heard of Zoom.
Fast forward to this week, and I delivered my first paid-for classes via Zoom. It’s amazing what you can achieve when forced to do so. Once I got my head around the concept, I thought I would give it a whirl. Then there was the decision with how to price this form of delivery. My classes are normally £50 for a five-week course, but with this, not only am I teaching skills, I’m offering them an experience in a unique and tranquil space. However, a lot of the cost and expense is greatly reduced. I’m not giving them a bottle of massage oil, printed notes, I’m not needing to heat, clean and prepare the studio. No need to wash towels, rugs and cushions, or bake cakes and provide tea. No travel expense to studio in Hale. Still need to cover some business operating costs, including the platform subscription, and my expertise and teaching time. I decided to keep numbers limited to make it easier to interact with the mums and have some sort of chat. I set the cost at £24 and condense the course to four weeks – with notes emailed each week, plus any one-to-one support if needed. I optimistically think that some lockdown measures may be lifted – I live in hope.
To ensure I wasn’t fumbling about using the technology, I already practiced using the platform over the past couple of weeks, offering classes to those mums whose classes were stopped mid-course as well as a refresher massage class to all mums. It’s worked out well and have learnt how to manage it. And as the mums are way more tech savvy than I am, they know what to do!!
My face to face massage and reflexology class was due to start at the end of April and some bookings had already had paid up, but I was delighted that those booked were happy to convert to online and I picked up more bookings. So, I welcomed mums and little ones for baby massage and reflexology and baby yoga. It’s so hard for them. Yes, they want to learn skills to help their baby with ailments, such as colic, reflux or wind. But the main point why mums take activities like this is to meet other mums, make new friends, get to go out, have structure. The all-important, chat, tea, cake at the end of each class has been key for everyone to get to know each other and share experiences. Although I can’t make them a cup of tea, I try to facilitate a bit of a chat. It’s nice for them to just talk to someone else and share thoughts. I want to make everyone feel comfortable and not awkward. They are being denied real interaction to some degree – despite the platform being interactive, it’s difficult to truly get to know people and for them to get to know each other. But as long as they don’t feel alone and isolated, it’s a step forward and away from day to day mundane.
For me, it’s an odd mix of being quite exposed with my singing and teaching – my husband has certainly learnt a lot! And as everyone mutes themselves, the uncertainty that they can see me clearly and everyone are able to follow me – but when I see them doing what is instructed, I know they’re OK and following me. But I also want to ensure that mums feel they are learning skills, receiving good value for money with time well spent. I’m confident with my teaching, knowledge and experience, plus I am using the platform effectively and make it enjoyable for everyone. I am thankful that my business can continue to some degree despite it’s dramatic reduction.
Watch Zoom In by Duran Duran from the album Red Carpet Masacre
Baby Massage Course to be announced soon!
