June 1, 2021

Greetings!

The time has finally arrived! We will begin in-person classes again this Saturday, June 5th. Lots more details below, but I wanted you all to know two things:

  1. We will be easing into the in-person classes and adding on more as we see the need, given the participation in the ones that are scheduled.
  2. We will continue to offer online classes for the foreseeable future, and all of the in-person classes also will be livestreamed.

It has been 15 months since we closed our doors. I honestly cannot believe we made it, but the truth is, we are nowhere near out of the woods. We could not have made it this far without:

  1. Your help, participation in online classes, recorded classes, teacher training, donations, and words of encouragement
  2. The support of the City of Somerville. We were awarded two grants to help with rent, which were incredibly helpful and needed. I actually got a personal call from Thomas Galligani, the City's Director of Economic Development, checking in with me and asking how the city could help. Incredible!
  3. The loyalty, courage, patience, and skill of my incredible teachers!
  4. And last, but definitely not least, the O2 Crew: Elliott, incredibly talented teacher and manager; Kelly, director of communications and support system for our work-study team; Emily Reiniger, our sign-in coordinator; and our sign-in team

Needless to say, the next few months will be daunting, but I am moving forward with a sense hope and gratitude. Resilience is crucial in these times. I have often thought recently that being resilient is exhausting. I guess I just need to do more yoga!

On a different note, I want to let you know that I am writing this from Nicaragua with puppies on my lap. I am officially the Vice President of the board for NicaLove. I have had the opportunity to work with my friend Julie Burke on the ground here and have a new appreciation and respect for all that she accomplishes, not just for the animals, but also for the community. I have been lucky to participate in a spay/neuter clinic, work at the shelter, and support the local school here. I call this Yoga in Action. We must not only do yoga on our mats, but also in the world. Please check out the section below for more info about my trip and upcoming plans.

With so much gratitude, love and light,
Mimi
Mimi
Julie
The Return of In-Person Classes and the Continuation of Online Classes

In-person classes will be starting up this Saturday, June 5th, with all in-person classes also livestreamed! Here is our schedule for the first week of in-person classes.

Saturday, June 5th
8 a.m. Basics with Mimi
9:30 a.m. Power with Mimi

Tuesday, June 8th
5:30 p.m. Intermediate with Elliott

Wednesday, June 9th
12 p.m. Intermediate with Mimi
5 p.m. Basics with Mimi
6:30 p.m. Power with Emily

Thursday, June 10th
9:30 a.m. Intermediate with Elliott
5:30 p.m. Intermediate with Elliott

Friday, June 11th
12 p.m. Basics with Elliott
Protocols for In-Person Classes

  • We will be adding classes as the weeks progress once we determine demand.
  • All registration needs to be done online, and we will not be accepting walk-ins (at least at first.)
  • All students and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in in-person classes. There will be a consent form that all students need to sign when coming into the studio for the first time that also lets us know your vaccination status.
  • In-person students must preregister for class no later than 30 minutes before class.
  • There will be a new option for in-person classes called "The Model"! There will be one slot available for each class that will be free. The Model will be the person on screen for the livestream participants. It will be required that this slot be filled by a student who has practiced at O2 for a least one month or more. This will be first come, first serve! We will add more details about this role on our social media pages and website.
  • In-person classes are drop-in and in-person class card only. Check out the sale below for discounted in-person class cards! You will be able to use up existing class cards here as well (but not online class cards.) If you already have an existing class card for in-person classes, please email info@o2yoga.com so we can help you apply it to an upcoming in-person class.
  • Doors will be open 30 minutes prior to class.
  • Masks will be optional, not required.
  • Students will check in at the front desk by giving their name to the teacher.
  • Class size will be limited to 20 students, at least to start.
  • Students will take all belongings into the studio with them and put them in the cubbies near the back door.
  • Touch-less hand sanitizing stations will be set up near the front door, door to the studio, and back door. Please use them as you move through.
  • As you move through the space from the front door onward, please wait six feet back from the next person for your turn to register and set up you mat.
  • Students will have the ability to opt-out of adjustments by picking up a token at the front desk and placing it on their mat. Adjustments will avoid the neck and hands.
  • When class is over, students will take turns gathering up belongings and will exit out the back door.
  • We have installed a new down-draft ventilation system, as well as air purifiers with UV sanitizing and filtration. The back door will be left open whenever possible.
Stock Up and Save: Class Card Sale

To mark our first in-person classes in 2021, we are offering special 21-class cards and other class card deals this week. The discounted packages will be available for purchase until Thursday, June 10th.

We are offering discounts on three class packages for in-person ("live") classes:

  • 21-class cards: $375
  • 10-class cards: $190
  • 5-class cards: $100

In-person drop-ins will remain $25. Class cards are valid for one year, and are non-transferable.

Buy in-person packages and livestream class packages under the online store tab on our MindBody page: https://tinyurl.com/mbo2y. Click on "Services" and choose either live classes or streaming classes.
Fall 2021 In-Person Teacher Training Program

Mimi will be offering our first in-person teacher training in two years. Teacher training will begin in September and end in December. Email mimi@o2yoga.com if you are interested. More info to follow soon.
Focus of the Month: Headstand

This month, we will focus on headstand. This pose literally and figuratively will turn your world upside down, which is good practice since everything seems a little topsy-turvy right now.

The pose requires strength, balance, and courage. That said, you do not ever need to put your feet in the air. You will gain lots of benefit by simply connecting your head to the ground and seeing this new perspective.

In order to practice headstand, you need a strong core, spine, and a lot of trust. We look forward to getting you there!
Yoga In Action

A few years ago, my friend Julie adopted a beautiful girl named Belen from an orphanage in Nicaragua. She had started volunteering there and was very involved in supporting the community, especially the kids. Fast forward to today, and she is now the founder of NicaLove and I am on her board. I serve as Vice President a.k.a. Vice Lady Always with Dogs. (That is what the community calls Julie here, in Spanish, of course, and without the Vice.) There is a very long story in between, but I want to tell you about my incredible experience of being here in Nica with Julie doing the work that she does.

It has been busy, chaotic, sometimes incredibly stressful, painful, emotional, dirty, and so, so, satisfying. There is a branch of yoga called Seva, which means service. Julie is a master guru of Seva Yoga.

Here is a quick rundown of what we have accomplished in five days:

  • Assisted the shelter she works with, Fundación ADAN, to vaccinate and de-worm 57 of the 280 animals under her care (split between 13 foster homes and the shelter), cut nails, clean, and most importantly give the beasties lots of love and attention
  • Secured non-profit status in New Hampshire
  • Transported, and assisted in 39 spay/neuters (29 dogs and 10 cats)
  • Bought and installed two new white boards and brought school supplies to local schools
  • Purchased and delivered masks, rubbing alcohol, sanitizer, fruits, and veggies to local families. COVID is still very present here.
  • Visited and brought food and presents like watermelons (who knew?) to a retired, rescued working cart-horse named Polomo (below), who now lives on a farm sanctuary
  • Fostered, vaccinated, cleaned up and socialized two beautiful puppies (above) who we will be taking back with us on the plane to be rescued by loving families
  • I had thought I would try to teach at least one class from here, but I barely got on my mat except for a brief moment with the beauties below. I was too tired, busy, and filthy to do any yoga (at least on the mat.)
  • However, we have started planning a yoga retreat here in Nica for this winter that will include surfing, vegan food, animal and community work, and yoga both on and off the mat.
  • Steven and I are donating a washing machine to the shelter, as they have been washing all of the towels, blankets, beds, sheets by hand which is incredibly labor intensive and time consuming. This will give Elisa (below) more time to do the work that she should be doing and is so good at. I saw her break down and cry about two puppies that died in her care that she feels responsible for. It is all-consuming, difficult work.
Polomo (above) and Mimi on her mat with new friends (below)
Elisa
We Are Here for You!

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.
ABOUT O2 YOGA... 
O2 Yoga provides students a place to grow in their practice, to be challenged, to work towards goals, and to be part of a community. Our Astanga-inspired, athletic, vinyasa classes all build on a theme — every month, a specific focus inspires our teachers' unique sequences — which gives students the chance to learn more about a posture or major tenet of the practice. Every teacher at our studio has gone through Mimi’s 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training Program, so the O2 style shines through in every class. Can't get enough O2? Visit o2yoga.com for more information on the studio, and always feel free to email us with questions at info@o2yoga.com.
O2 Yoga Studio

288 Highland Avenue
Near Porter and Davis Squares
Somerville, MA 02143