Yoga In Challenging Times

Dear Yogis

Whaddaya know! It’s Friday the 13th. Make it lucky! Week after week I ask gym-going yogis to use their own yoga mat. Week after week people don’t! Now that we have the ‘worst health crisis for a generation’, says the PM, and ‘many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time’, please use your own mat! I don’t want to lose my loved ones. This borough, Ealing, has five confirmed cases of Coronavirus sufferers. They will have infected others. Who knows if they were on that mat before you!

www.gov.uk  says there are 2 main routes by which people can spread COVID-19: infection can be spread to people who are nearby (within 2 metres) or possibly by touching a surface, object or the hand of an infected person and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes.

Health Harvard says: People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic. However, there have been reports of Coronavirus spreading before people show symptoms... or are only experiencing mild symptoms.

Around £30-£40 is a reasonable amount to pay for a mat. Cheaper than that and you’ll probably need chalk to prevent you from slipping. Here in Ealing, the easiest place to get a really nice mat at a good price is Decathlon. Their yoga belt is only £3.99. I’ll get a couple to try in my Home Studio. I hear that Triyoga is telling people not to use their blankets because it’s impossible to wash them after every class. Absolutely! Here’s one for £12.99 if you fancy your own. No, I’m not on commission. It’s just close by, excellent quality and good prices.

Training

downdogapp.com says: ‘Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many people are avoiding gathering in large groups, which includes yoga studios and other fitness spaces. In order to help out, we are making all of our apps completely free until April 1’

Home Studio

This week, I can hardly write about anything other than Coronavirus as it relates to my home studio. The first thing is that more precious to me than anything else in the world are my very elderly parents. This is the definition of a vulnerable household. Please practice social distancing if you have any symptoms of any type of cold or flu. If you have been here and subsequently test positive for Coronavirus, please tell me. Advice for deep cleaning where a symptomatic individual has been is incredibly extensive including keeping a place closed for 72 hours.

I have made a couple of changes here. I have flannels in the toilet and bathroom instead of towels for you to dry your hands. The yoga mats are cleaned with Dettol Odourless Antibacterial Cleaner after every class. You are very welcome to come with your own mat, face masks, hand sanitiser, and water and any other measure you feel you need. However, I may decide to close the studio depending on the advice of Public Health England. If that happens, I will move your class booking or return your money. If you want to pre-empt this, let me know and I can move your bookings a month or two down the line.

Yoga in the News

The Washington Post has: How gyms and yoga studios are preparing for the Coronavirus. ‘Carley says bringing her own mat and blankets to class makes her feel more in control. “Sharing these items with hundreds of people each week left a lot to be desired,” she says.’

The Evening Standard has: Should you still go to the gym during the Coronavirus outbreak? Dr Jenna Macciochi, an immunologist at the University of Sussex, says: "It is still safe to go to the gym but all the usual hygiene practices need to be followed vigilantly, especially cleaning down shared equipment. Gym goers should also remember that intense exercise without adequate recover can be immune suppressive leaving you open to infection."

On a lighter note, CNN International has: A bill proposes bringing yoga back to Alabama public schools, but without the Namaste. ‘The class would have to be offered only as an elective, all techniques would be required to have English descriptive names, and chanting, mantras and using the greeting "Namaste," which translates as "I bow to you" would be prohibited.’ The ban went into effect in 1993.