I know how horrible of me.
What do you mean? I can’t live with yoga, my students can’t either… blah blah blah.
The world is changing.
What we thought was useful and joyful is probably a breeding ground for infection and we have to do better.
What we were doing is going to be forever changed and if you are constantly combating that, you are suffering.
We must remind ourselves that we are inextricably interwoven and what we do has consequences on other people. Your infection can kill other people, even if it doesn’t kill you.
Everyone knows we can’t go on the way we have been, that things are going to and have to change, policy is going to be different, rules are going to be in place.
So instead of complaining, how are you/we getting ready?
Here are 10 things that yoga professionals can do while in quarantine to help them when they get out:
1. Look at spacing potential for your current classes and class size.
Can students have 6 feet of distance between you, them and others? How will that affect your potential earnings if your classes are 25-50% normal capacity? How will you mark off those spaces for your students so they know where to be? How will you space people out when coming and going from your studio/classes? No overlapping class times. No waiting in groups of 20 to get into classes in the lobby.
2. Start to collect and source masks, gloves, cleaning supplies and disinfectants for your community spaces.
Look into professional cleaning companies. How are you going to disinfect shared spaces, cabinets for personal items and shoes, computer keyboards/iPads for signing in, and clean after every class? Is it even potentially in your budget? Start just looking at the costs of these new necessities, if you can’t purchase them now due to limited capital. Each employer/teacher will have to adhere to these guidelines. Also, is it ethical to leave it up to volunteers to clean your space or should you be paying someone for those services?
3. Start creating community guidelines for your students and spaces in regards to sick policy.
Are you going to be taking temperatures? If you notice someone with symptoms, will you ask them to leave?
4. What happens if someone with a positive COVID-19 case has been to one of your classes?
CDC recommends 14 days quarantine for those exposed to a positive case. Do you have protocols in place for people to report confirmed cases? Sick pay for those who are in quarantine? Have you created your policy to let people know when there is a confirmed case, what does it include?
5. What if you have to close your space down again due to an infection outbreak?
What does that look like? How does it work? Will you need doctors clearance for the positive person before they can come back to work?
6. Reconsider how to provide props for classes.
Currently sharing items that are used by others without proper cleaning in between is not safe. Will you have people bring their own props? Will you not use props or have limited props? Who will pay to have props cleaned? How will that affect your cash flow?
7. Continue to nourish online offerings and communicate virtually for those who will be unable to join in-person classes.
8. Innovate new yoga related revenue opportunities (workshops, webinars, online courses, coaching, wellness groups) for your community so you can weather the potential challenges that your business will continue to have for the foreseeable future.
9. Apply for as much help as you need to survive this pandemic, but also realize that you might not get that help from the government. Think of community gatherings, support one another, ask others who are more fortunate to help sponsor your space/students.
10. Remember that nothing is going to go back to the way it was right away. Even when guidelines relax, people will still be faced with making choices to support themselves and their families and yoga might not be on their priority list. Business may not come back as quickly as thought and it also may get closed again, if outbreaks flare up. Do you also have other revenue opportunities that you can pull from in this time period? Many of us will have to rely on alternate sources of income other than yoga teaching to get through this challenging time. Now is the time to look at all of your financials! Every penny you spend, pay attention because it’s adding up quickly.
Also remember, just because we can’t answer all the questions doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be thinking about them. Just as we continue to practice the teachings that have helped our lives so much, we need to continue to self-study and put in the work—so adapt and stay present.
Sending you loving kindness now and always.
-Kimberly