This has been a difficult month for me, filled with a lot of loss. We lost our son Dylan three years ago. His loss is ever present and painful. (Read more of my reflections here.) We lost the ability to keep our doors open to in-person classes for the third time. This obviously is a very different kind of loss because it was a choice. I made the decision to close the studio each time before the choice was made for me, but it still feels like a loss: a loss of connection, a loss of community, and a loss for this business that I, my family, and my staff have worked so hard to stay open through so many challenges, not the least of which were losing my son and COVID-19.

I know that COVID has taken many lives and there are so many people grieving their own losses. This is why it is so important to me to put the health of others ahead of the health of my business. That said, it isn’t easy to look forward to more challenges and wonder how long I can hold on. The truth is, though, I cannot imagine my life without the physical space of O2 and my connection to the Somerville community. And I am really freaking stubborn and determined to not allow this choice to be made for me.

So, here we are, talking about what we do have in our lives right now and what we can make choices about. I would very much appreciate your continued support and participation in the O2 community, even if it needs to be virtual for now. (See our current schedule here.) I wish I could tell you when we will reopen but I simply cannot. That said, if you have a live class card and want to convert some or all of its value to an online class card, just let us know. I will do my best to hold on, but I need you all to hold on, hold O2 up, and keep us a part of your daily life.

Take a look below for ways that you can make the choice to keep our community going strong, both on and off the mat.

We will have a modified schedule for Labor Day weekend. Join us online for one, two, or all of the classes listed below!

Join Elliott online this Tuesday evening for our monthly tour through the Astanga primary series. We'll have time before practicing to talk through the narrative of the sequence, and after to break down poses and talk about modifications.

Date: Tuesday, August 31st

Time: 7-8:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Registration link: tinyurl.com/9-2astanga

Facebook event page to share: https://fb.me/e/MobkmNSP

Registration fee: $20

Location: Online via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to livestream registrants 25-30 minutes before the workshop begins.

Let's talk about our summer-themed pose: navasana, a.k.a. boat pose. When we think of core strength, we often think of sit ups, but the reality is, strong core is about stability and integrity. It is about the ability to stand up tall and withstand whatever comes at you metaphorically, energetically, or physically, just like wind, waves, and water. (I love alliteration!) Boat pose is a perfect selection given the trying times that we continue to live in.

Please let us know if you have any feedback and questions by emailing us and connecting with us on social media (links at the bottom of this message).

Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (CDC) for detailed information on COVID-19.