I cannot sign into the BI labs using my "personal email" address.

Question

When launching labs related to BI I am sometimes (often) prompted to sign in (within the virtual desktop). When I input my email address I receive an error message telling me that I can use a personal email and that I should input a work or school address. I am currently unemployed and not in school so I lack both of those options. Does this mean that I am not able to access the labs within these exercises? What is the problem,and what is tthe work around?

Note my "personal email" is the same gmail address that is associated with my MS account and my Learn profile.