Brick and Mortar Yoga Studios That survived the pandemic

Brick and Mortar Yoga Studios That survived the pandemic

Brick and Mortar Yoga Studios
That survived the pandemic

by iana velez

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YOGA PLUS MAGAZINE - STUDIO Photo - LIVING YOGA

Emotional. Terrifying. Determined. Surreal.
These are just a few words studio owners use to describe what owning a yoga studio during the pandemic was like.

We put the call out to find studios in our community who had managed to reopen their brick and mortar spaces once restrictions were lifted, and were relieved to hear many had managed to survive. They share their inspirational with us in the Fall of 2021

Living Yoga
Forest Hills, Queens

When did your studio originally open? 

Living Yoga first opened in 2009. I purchased it from the original owner in May 2019, about 10 months before COVID-19.

Describe what it was like to shut down your physical
studio space?

Closing the studio was surreal, but I had seen how yoga studios in other countries were forced to shut down, so I was already preparing for that possibility, and communicating to my students and teachers about it. In fact, I placed our first Zoom class on our schedule several days before Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued his shutdown orders. Still, our teachers and students appreciated the concern I had for keeping everyone safe and pivoting to livestream classes quickly. So even though the studio physically closed, people were still able to keep up with their yoga practice, at least for the first few weeks, without too much of an interruption. I thought we would be closed for a few months at most. Never in my nightmares did I think we wouldn’t be allowed to reopen for more than a year.

How did you stay inspired and motivated while your studio was shut down?

It was really hard because help from government agencies and industry groups was seriously lacking. The market for online yoga classes was oversaturated — everywhere I turned, people were offering free or unbelievably cheap yoga classes on Zoom. When things felt hopeless, I thought about all the notes and messages I received from my members when I first took over the studio. They told me about how they had been practicing there for years, and how the practice helped them through some really difficult life challenges. I remembered how beloved the studio was by the community; I couldn’t possibly let them down. That gave me the energy to keep going. There was no way I could allow Living Yoga to be closed at the end of all of this. I was determined to make it through, at all costs.

Describe to us what it was like to reopen? 

It’s been wonderful to have people back in the studio again and to see new faces walking through our doors. A yoga studio filled with people has a vibrancy, energy, and joy that you feel the moment you step inside. I am so grateful to be able to walk into this space every day, serve our community, and lift people up physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

What surprised you most about your studio and community? 

I was really touched by how many people continued their memberships. Given the shortcomings of doing yoga on Zoom, I was expecting most members to discontinue their memberships, but they didn’t. In fact, about 60% kept them active. This told me they understood how crucial their memberships were to the future of the studio and the livelihoods of our teachers. Those that couldn’t afford to continue them found other ways to prop the studio up — whether it was by amplifying us on social media, supporting our T-shirt fundraiser, or passing along leads for small business relief. Our community rallied around the studio in so many small but impactful ways. They were as devoted to keeping the studio running as I was.

How do you see the future of yoga studios?

All those predictions about the demise of yoga studios are wrong. In the early days of the pandemic, Zoom was all the rage. As the months wore on, and we were forced to live our lives almost entirely on Zoom, attendance for Zoom classes plummeted. Don’t get me wrong, live streaming yoga classes are here to stay. People like having the option of taking a class online from time to time, but the in-studio experience is about community and connection — the chance to see friends, to share hugs and a laugh, to practice in a calming environment without distractions, to receive a timely physical adjustment — and that’s just not something you can’t easily replicate on Zoom. For those of us who are still around, the core purpose remains the same: quality yoga instruction in a safe and welcoming setting. Yoga studios also need to be better prepared for future disruptions and be nimble enough to pivot at a moment’s notice.

Learn more: mylivingyoga.com
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Dear Rina Column

Dear Rina Column

Dear Rina Column

by Rina Jakubowicz
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Yoga-Plus-Magazine - Dear Rina banner photo
Dear Rina is an advice column with the angle of helping and giving guidance with the yoga teachings in mind. You will see how the teachings are applied in a practical way towards different topics.

During the pandemic, her work shifted to helping people manage their lives and choices better by giving them guidance and helping them think through their challenges in different ways. Here’s some testimonials to see how helpful her advice has been for others. Perhaps, she can help you too! Please email rina@rinayoga.com or DM her on iG via @rinayoga if you want your question(s) answered.

Dear Rina,
How do I feel sexy again and regain my confidence after a breakup? What are some practices you can share?
Rebuilding in Ft. Lauderdale

Dear Rebuilding in Ft. Lauderdale,

Your sexiness and confidence should never have been placed on a relationship or a partner. So regardless of whether you’re single or not, your sexiness and confidence ideally is alive and pumping! 🙂 Buuut, since we are learning how to do this in reference to a fresh break-up, our first thing to keep in perspective is that this break-up is for the best. I know it’s hard to live this way because we are attached and feel so many emotions. Take it one day at a time. When you are not attached, you can move freely and lovingly. Plus of course, you can see and understand clearly. A mental practice for you: As soon as an emotion pops up, just observe your emotion and say “Hello (insert emotion). You can pass by, but not stay.” Don’t get caught up in the emotion. Don’t look at old pictures, social media, emails, texts etc. Place your worth on yourself and not on your partner. Follow up your “Hello…” with a positive affirmation. For example, “I am already full on my own.” A Physical Practice for you: Masturbate thinking of yourself. Turn yourself on by yourself. Don’t think of anyone else. Make yourself the sexiest mofo alive in your eyes!” Yaaaaas Queen!

Dear Rina,
How do I initiate sex without feeling silly and uncomfortable?
Love,
Shy in Los Angeles

Dear Shy in Los Angeles, 

A sensual woman never feels uncomfortable or silly asking for what she needs and wants. In fact, she’s empowered by it. Not because she’s going to get what she wants, but because she’s empowered by voicing her truth. Consider how you’d like to be approached when your partner wants to initiate sex. Playful yet assertive is sexy. So step up and act that way with them too. Especially since men tend to be visual so if you’re awkward and uncomfortable, they won’t register that as a sexy initiation. Depending on your relationship, you could voice your discomfort if you feel your partner will receive it respectfully and do what they can to make you feel safer and more comfortable. The way to get over it at first is to fake it until you make it… pretend you’re comfortable and confident and eventually you will be. You got this!

Yoga-Plus-Magazine - Dear Rina bio photo
Rina Jakubowicz, founder of Rina Yoga and Super Yogis, is known for her vibrant and uplifting approach for students of all ages. She has been teaching yoga in English and Spanish for over 20 years and has been a featured presenter at Wanderlust Festivals, Yoga Journal Conferences, Kripalu Center, Himalayan Institute, Omega Institute, Yogaville, Sedona Yoga Festival, Telluride Yoga Festival and Mammoth Yoga Festival. Rina is the best selling author of “The Yoga Mind: 52 Essential Principles of Yoga Philosophy to Deepen Your Practice” and has an international following in the U.S., Chile, Puerto Rico, Mexico, South Korea and Andorra. Rina’s yoga videos are found on Headspace, Fabletics, Gaia TV, Yoga Journal Online, Yogisanonymous.com and Udaya, and she is the yoga expert on Univision’s Tu Desayuno Alegre. She has twice appeared on the cover of Yoga Journal in the US and in Spain, and has been featured in Yoga Journal Russia. You can find Rina in Origin Magazine, Mantra Magazine, Glam Belleza Latina, Revista Mujer, MindBodyGreen and other publications worldwide. Rina is grateful for her teachers Swami A. Parthasarathy, Sarkis Vermilyea and Ceci Lester. She lives in Los Angeles and Miami with her husband Eric and Rhodesian Ridgeback dog, Roo.