How Local Yoga Studios are Serving New and Experienced Students

When life gets challenging, yogis rely on their yoga and meditation practice to foster physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Since being deemed “non-essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic, studios have been going out of their way to serve their students, knowing that they likely need yoga now more than ever.

“Yoga, meditation and breathing techniques regulate the nervous system and chemicals that impact mental health, assisting in the balancing of moods and combating the stress response experienced during anxiety and panic,” explains Sydney Wasdin, owner of True Yoga and Therapy, in Daphne. “Mindfulness allows us to remain in the present moment, aware of ourselves and our needs—ensuring our ability to appropriately care for ourselves and alerting us to when we need to reach out for help. It also helps us maximize feelings of joy in our life and make the most out of life itself. All things that we really need right now.”

How Studios Are Adapting

True is offering virtual yoga classes via a Facebook group for members. Each day new classes are instructed live and all past classes are saved for replay.

While their Fairhope and Daphne studios are closed, Soul Shine Yoga is also relying on a Facebook group, as well as Vimeo, to host live and on-demand classes for members. Additionally, their free community Facebook group is open to everyone and features weekly wellness talks, a book club and other inspirations.

Glow Yoga of Gulf Shores and Mobile has opted to offer all livestream and YouTube classes for free.

Yoga for Newbies

For individuals who have never been to a yoga studio, it’s a great time to seek out beginner classes in a variety of styles and with different teachers. Virtual classes don’t require a big financial investment, plus getting familiar with the practice at home can ease anxieties of attending an in-studio class down the road.

“Do it with your family and laugh your way through the learning curve while the seriousness of a yoga studio isn’t there,” suggests Glow owner Jennifer Guthrie.

Mobile’s Synergy Yoga owners Chris and Dana Garrett recommend focusing on stress release, breath and relaxation. “Don’t focus on the pose itself, as remote instruction may not give you the same feedback as actually being in the room with the teacher, but focus on how the activity/class makes you feel from more of an overall wellness perspective. That mindfulness of ‘Do I feel better now than before I started?’ is one of the main takeaways, especially now in these extra stressful times.”

Wasdin recommends that everyone practice at home with caution, especially first-timers. “When using any internet-based resource, it’s like swimming at a pool with no lifeguard on duty when you’re learning. I recommend finding an instructor that you like from a local studio so you eventually have the opportunity to practice with them in person.”

Long-Term Effects

Most studio owners plan to continue offering at least some virtual classes even when the threat of coronavirus dissipates. Guthrie says creating the online platform is one positive to come from the pandemic, noting that they have been able to reconnect with members that have moved out of the area and share classes with seasonal residents not currently living here.

“The students in our community have come together and we will be so much stronger as a community as we come out of this,” says Soul Shine Yoga owner Emily Sommerville. “We have gotten to know each other on a new level. We are building relationships and supporting each other in new ways.”

As believers in the studio environment for the long-term benefits, Synergy’s focus has been on the eventual reopening of the studio. “Thus our scrupulous cleaning and sanitizing procedures we have put in place to assuage people’s concerns,” say Chris and Dana. “In addition, social distancing may alter the way some folks teach, with additional focus on the detail of the spoken word when refining a student’s pose instead of (once permission was granted by the student) a corrective touch.” Optional masks and capping the number of students in a class are also likely.

As Guthrie comes to terms with the fact that a group hug is unlikely when her studios reopen, she remains optimistic about the resilience of the community. “This is uncharted territory and we need to let go of any expectations we have for ourselves, others or normal life. We’ll do what we learn in our practice and that’s breathe through and find gratitude for just this moment.”