Deepening our capacity to witness life is easily one of the multitude of benefits we derive from the practice of yoga.
In order to do so, we have to feel safe. It helps to feel loved, to feel seen and to feel heard, so that we can turn our delicate awareness inward. What lies within? What are the great mysteries the breath will reveal as we hold this pose? As we transition to the next? As we embrace stillness and cultivate well being?
We are all committed to having a space, no matter how large or how intimate...
A space that is a place of healing, warmth and joy.
And so, as we as a collective navigate this unchartered territory of a new communicable disease, COVID—19, I would like to pause and make some commitments to one another.
Commitments and requests:
1. Deep cleaning. We are doubling down on our practice of deep cleaning the studio. We clean the studio daily. Historically, we have done a deep clean at each location twice a week. We are now going to deep clean Hulen four times per week, in addition to our daily chores that all teachers participate in, as well as our karma yogi cleans during the week and lovingly even wipes down the walls.
2. Staying informed. We are staying in touch with the recommendations from the World Health Organization and the CDC. We are implementing those steps as they are offered. We hope and trust you are doing the same (especially washing hands). This is just another opportunity for self care. Yogis are really great stewards of this.
3. Stay home if you're feeling under the weather. I have asked all teachers not to teach if they are feeling anywhere less than 100%. We have many subs on standby, and we can lean on each other as needed. I am holding myself to this same standard. Please, if you have a cough or cold, even if you think it's just allergies, please take precautions and stay home until you feel better.
4. Boost your immune system. Rebecca Emery has created a brief list of ways to boost your immune system, as we would with any virus going around. She has given me permission to share them with you here...
Optimize Vitamin D and vitamin C
Optimize nutrition
Get 7-9 hrs good quality sleep between the hrs of 9p-5a
Manage stress
Sweat and move
Lay off processed foods, gluten, dairy, sugar, chemicals, alcohol, and anything else that triggers chronic immune response.
Thieves oil, start using (we happen to sell Young Living products!)
Consume whole food pre and probiotics like kimchi, sauerkraut, low sugar yogurt, kefir, leeks, asparagus, radishes, artichokes, to name a few
"Beef up your immune systems like a beast, friends," she says. Rebecca Emery has lots of tips and ideas for maintaining your health and immunity. You can find out more about her skills here.
5. Respecting one another's space. Touch is a part of our teaching, for many of us. Often, I literally feel as though I teach with my hands. As many of us have discovered, the slightest minute adjusted with the turn of a heel or the grounding of hands can have a profound impact in the flow of energy in the body in the pose. For now, I've told my classes that I am going to temporarily suspend hands on assists. If you want your teacher not to adjust during class, please mention this to them upon check in. We will respect your space and needs, as a collective. The same goes for the chilled lavender towels we distribute at the end of class. If you would like to abstain, simply place your hand on your belly while we are handing them out.
6. Reduced class capacity. For the time being, we are decreasing our maximum class sizes from 40 to 30. This is another commitment from us to ensure that we have plenty of space in our practice, so that no one feels overwhelmed, and so that we can continue to practice together in a space of ease.
7. Potential online class channel. We are pursuing creating an online streaming class service in case we end up in a temporary scenario where we cannot indulge in our public classes. Hopefully, this is just an added service we can offer ultimately.
Our hope is that these are simple precautions which ideally will be looked back on fondly as helpful and pre-emptive — nothing more, nothing less. Above all else, let's maintain calm, steady, kind awareness for one another.
And please know, we are grateful for you. Our transition from two spaces to one has been super invigorating in ways that we could not have imagined. Thank you for your patronage.
If you have specific questions or concerns, know that you can email me at rbutlertx@gmail.com
From my heart to yours.
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