Verbal and nonverbal communication differences between in-person and live-streamed group physical activity: a specific investigation into yoga instruction

Live-streamed group exercise programmes are used increasingly to start or maintain physical activity behaviours. However, participants’ performance and long-term engagement can be impacted in live-streamed programmes due to communication gaps with the instructors and peers. We analysed verbal and nonverbal communication differences between in-person and live-streamed group yoga classes to understand current challenges in live-streamed exercise programmes. A total of 29 group yoga class videos (14 live-streamed and 15 in-person) were annotated and analysed for verbal and nonverbal communication events. We found significantly reduced individual feedback in live-streamed <i>vs.</i> in-person sessions, while the trend was reversed for physical pose demonstrations. Environmental incidents hindered fluent communication in live-streamed sessions. The study identified interaction gaps in live-streamed group physical training in both verbal and nonverbal communication, especially in relation to providing personalised feedback for performance improvement. Potential ways to improve instructor-participant interactions in future designs for remote exercise platforms are discussed. Fitness programmes are shifting towards remote exercise platforms, like live-streamed sessions and promoting at-home workouts. However, these platforms currently lack group learning support, posing challenges for instructors and participants. This study investigates issues with current video conferencing platforms for physical training, offering insights for future design improvements.