We can't deny the changes that covid brought to the yoga world in 2020. As a yoga instructor, I wanted to share my experience navigating this new norm, and I would love for you to share your experiences as well!
Studio owners and teachers scrambled just to keep the doors open. "Should we offer more classes than just yoga?" "Should we start a book club?" "Maybe if we start doing our classes on youtube we can stay open.." The weight of maintaining yoga in the way we had known before was so heavy. Would we ever know studio yoga again?
Just to keep the hope alive, and a sense of community, I started teaching at the local park a couple nights a week starting in the Spring and into the Fall. As it started to get cold and dark, I knew I had to figure something out. One of my students had a CBD shop that actually used to be a yoga studio in town, and she offered to let me teach classes there until I found a solution. My biggest thought was, "What do you do when a safe place to do yoga doesn't seem so safe?" I wanted my students to know that there was a place for them to come and practice as long as they were comfortable to do so. They could wear a mask or pick a corner away from others if they felt the need, with no judgement.
My teacher trainer gathered a team of teachers that believed in the mission of providing a space for our community and braved opening a studio. As fearful as she was to open a studio in the middle of a pandemic, she would say, "If we build it, they will come." And boy did they!! We had the grand opening December 13, 2020. We were so surprised to see the amount of people that signed up. The amount of people that needed yoga. A place to breathe, and sweat out the things that were no longer serving us. A time to set aside for ourselves, where to do list and the want and needs of those around us didn't matter for just that hour or so.
Although we can't deny the obstacles of finding this time or space to practice yoga, or even providing it, we have come to the conclusion that people need and love to have a since of belonging and community, a space to come to open up energetically, and work through life together.
As yoga is an ebb and flow, and always evolving, we are still navigating how yoga looks in our world today. To have in person class, or not. If and when we are able to start assisting again. How to provide this safe place and keep it safe. Cleaning guidelines... and the list goes on. Regardless of the ups and downs and obstacles, I am proud to say that I am part of a community that has found a way.
If you are unsure of how to find yoga that is accessible to you, your body, and your needs, please don't hesitate to reach out. We would love to be apart of your journey and help you find something that works for you.
Whether it is online, at the park or a studio, I encourage you to make a way for yourself because YOU ARE WORTH IT.
What is keeping you from getting started?
Namaste, XO,
Mak