Q. How do I sign up for a course in the shala?

You can purchase a course from here. Follow the instructions to complete your payment, using either a credit card through Stripe or PayPal. You will then receive an email with your shala username and password, and will be able to use to log in and find your course on your dashboard page. From then onwards, you will be able to log on to https://shala.laurentober.com and access all your purchased courses.

Q. How do I get to my course?

You will find your course on your dashboard page. If it is not there, please ensure that you have both purchased the course (you should have an email receipt and a welcome email from us if this was successful) and registered for the shala (the links to register for the course are in the first email we sent you following purchase).

Q. What is my password?

When you purchased an online course, you received your password by email. If you have lost the password, click Login and use the 'Forgot password?' link to receive an e-mail with instructions how to reset it.

Q. The video looks blurry or low quality, what's going on?

Our videos use a technology called adaptive streaming, which means that the video player will intelligently choose the highest quality possible based on your network connection, graphics processing ability, and player size. Over the course of viewing a video, the quality will change to accommodate any changes in network connection or graphics processing to make sure you always receive the highest quality video possible on your connection and setup.

This means that if you have a poor connection speed or low resolution monitor, you won't be bogged down with unnecessarily large playback files, and things will run smoothly.

If you would like to, you can choose to view a video in a different quality by clicking on the gear icon in the right-hand side of the player, and choosing the quality you like.

If you are experiencing blurriness or low quality, you can overcome this by:

• Using a fast, reliable internet connection. When a video plays in lower than expected quality, it’s likely because your Internet speed (bandwidth) or computer processing speed cannot support higher quality playback.

• If you can, try switching to a different internet connection.

• Make sure your internet browser is up to date.

• Try browsing in an Incognito or private browsing window. This will disable your extensions and clear your cache and cookies, which often improves performance. Instructions for multiple browsers here.

Q. How do I download the audio/PDF files?

Click on the download link, and the file will open in a new tab.  To save the file, right click (on a Windows computer) or control click (on a Mac) and choose the option to download and save.

We recommend downloading and saving the practices to your computer. While some devices allow you to download and save files, many mobile devices do not (or require you to download a third party app). From your computer, you will be able to transfer the files to your mobile device, if this is where you want to use them.

Q. How do I play the downloaded audio files?

You'll need a media player to play the files, which are in .mp3 format. We use iTunes, but there's loads of others out there, take your pick. If you're using iTunes, on your computer, just drag and drop the audio file into iTunes. You can then play the file on your computer, or sync it with your iPhone or iPad to play it on the go.

Q. My device is not playing the audio / video files. What can I do?

The audio and video recordings should work on all computers and devices, however sometimes this doesn't happen as smoothly as we would like it to, usually because of the internet connection.

If you are watching a video, trying pressing pause on the video, to allow it to buffer.  Go and make a cup of tea and when you come back, and with any luck it will be ready for you to watch the whole way through without interruption.  If a slow Internet connection is the problem, it should now play perfectly.

If you continue to experience problems, we recommend listening to the audio option, or downloading the audio the files to your computer, and listening to them after they have all been downloaded.

Q. The audio file I downloaded stops half way through. What's going on?

Try downloading the file again. It might have been corrupted in the download process.

Q. What do I do with the file I downloaded that ends with .zip?

A zip file is a very common, compressed file that takes up less space on your computer. After downloading it on your computer, double-click the zip file to 'unzip' it. After double-clicking, newer Macs and Windows computers unzip the file instantly and you will see the unzipped file with the same name or a whole folder with several files (if you downloaded all the audio files in one go), possibly in a new window. You can then play (double-click), copy or move these files like any other files on your computer. After downloading it on your mobile Android or iOS device like iPhone or iPad, if you cannot unzip the file, you will need to install an app to do so. You can find free apps to unzip files in the app stores by searching for 'zip'. Then follow their instructions to install the app and unzip the file.

Q. I'm not getting all the course emails. Where are they?

Sometimes emails get re-directed to spam, or if you're using gmail, they get redirected into the 'promotions' tab. Take a look in one of these places, the missing emails are probably there. To prevent this from happening again, be sure to put Lauren's email address in your address book (it's hello@laurentober.com), and if you're using gmail and you're getting emails in the 'promotions' tab, just drag the course emails into the 'primary' tab and all future emails should end up in your inbox.

Q. Can I buy the course for a friend?

Yes you can indeed. What a lovely friend you are! Just purchase the course in your friend's name and email address, then use your own details for payment. Easy. All email correspondence about the course will go to them.

If it's a gift for a special day (and you don't want them to know before that), sign up in your own name and be sure to let us know by email what you intend to do with your order.

Q. One of the links isn't working. What should I do?

Whoops! The Internet is a changing place, and sometimes links disappear or are moved. Send us an email with the location of the broken link and we'll fix it. Thanks for your help keeping the shala working smoothly for everyone.

Your question not answered here?

Get in touch below, we're happy to help.

Q. Are all the practices safe?

We've done our very best to select practices that are safe for teaching in an online environment, and we've included information about when it might not be a good idea to practice them, however we cannot and do not know your specific needs and situation.

So please listen to your body and your intuition, and only try the practices you feel comfortable with. Please take care of your self, and take responsibility for your own safety. If you have a current illness or injury, are pregnant, or if you're recovering from surgery, please talk to your doctor or health care professional before you try any of the practices. By taking part in the course, you acknowledge that your health and safety is your own responsibility, and that you will make choices that are safe for you.

Q. I'm pregnant, can I do the practices?

Most of the practices are perfectly safe to do during pregnancy. I recommend checking in with your health care provider to make sure they're happy with you practicing yoga during your pregnancy, and constantly checking in with your body to make sure if feels safe. Some practices need modifications during pregnancy, and these instructions are clear in the information about the practice.

Q. I'm injured, can I do the practices?

It depends. I recommend checking in with your health care provider to make sure they're happy with you practicing yoga while you're injured, and constantly checking in with your body to make sure if feels safe.

Q. I didn't feel so good after one of the practices, should I do that practice again?

No. Listen to your body. If you try a practice and you don't feel so great afterwards, perhaps it's not the right practice for you. If you're not sure, check in with an experienced yoga teacher in your local area, or book a private session with Dr Lauren Tober. We're happy to help.

Your question not answered here?

Get in touch below, we're happy to help.

Q. How can I update my email address or other details?

When you're logged on to the shala, go to the INFO drop-down menu (top right) and select the MY ACCOUNT option.

Here you can update your email address, name and other contact details.  Be sure to press UPDATE to save your changes.

Please note that you cannot change your user name (that you use to log into the shala).

Q. What is a shala?

A shala is a sacred space, where students come to learn about themselves through the teachings of yoga. It's a kind of a sanctuary where learning and healing take place under the guidance of a teacher. Be sure to take off your shoes before you step in!

Your question not answered here?

Get in touch below, we're happy to help.