One year ago today, we closed the doors to the studio for what we though would be a few weeks. It has been a full year since we have been able to operate in a "normal" way. I wonder what normal is now. I remember the chaos, confusion, and fear I felt when I first heard the terms social distancing, COVID-19, coronavirus, and PPE. As the owner of a small business, I had to scramble and make decisions on the fly. The last class I taught in studio was on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, and everything still felt okay. The next day, we initiated stringent cleaning protocols, removed shared blocks, straps, and mats, and turned off the shared water filtration system. On Friday, March 13th (yes, Friday the 13th!), Jill taught the 12 p.m. class, and then we shut our doors.

Looking back on those first few days (which felt like so much more time), I have no regrets about the way we handled things. In fact, here is my life mantra and personal philosophy: Always do what you think is right in the moment. If you do what you feel is right, you will not regret it, even if things change. If you do not do what you think is right, and things don't work out well, you always will have regret. Regret is a terrible thing.

So what does it mean to do what you think is right? It means trusting your instincts, listening to your heart, and staying open to new information. It means living your life in a way that every choice is important. Every decision needs to be consistent with what you believe to be right, just, and fair, and motivated by love not fear. This is not just about "important" decisions, but about every decision because they all lead to a path.

When you compromise what is important to you for a week, a month, or a year, you slip off your path onto another, and it can be hard to get back. My wise husband Steven uses the analogy of sailing your boat just one degree off course. Doing that can lead you to a completely different destination! Now look, I am not saying compromise is bad, but is it really as good as people make it out to be? When I use compromise in this way, I am referring to compromising your instincts, your truth, your belief system, and your integrity. Integrity, to me, means being the same person in every circumstance, not just the ones that are easy or convenient.

Well, nothing about this pandemic has been easy or convenient for any of us!. Yet, one year in, I do not intend to give up! We have all been through so much together that I simply cannot imagine my life without O2. So, to answer the question that I keep getting: When do I think we will start offering in-person classes again? My answer is when each of my staff in the studio is vaccinated. That means we may start with just a few classes and then add on from there. Honestly, I think it will take us all some time to feel safe and comfortable in the studio again. The good news is we already have our new air filtration system, floors taped for social distancing, and cleaning protocols in place. Also, here is one thing that might be good about being old: I likely will be fully vaccinated before some of the young ones who teach for me, so you will see me in person sooner!

We all know that this world is anything but predictable, so I will continue to keep you all in the loop as to our plans. In the meantime, please stay in touch, through email, online classes, social media, and however else you can think of. This has been a rough year and we all can use as much support from each other as possible. Here's to more sunshine, warm days, open doors, and a yoga practice that keeps us looking towards the light and trusting our intuition.

With so much gratitude, love and light,

Mimi

Have you heard? Members of the O2 Yoga Teacher Training Program have been teaching four 60-minute Intermediate-level karma classes each week. These class are offered for a reduced drop-in rate of $7.50. All the proceeds from these classes go to charity. It is a win-win-win, as it allows these bright young things to work out the kinks and practice teaching, you get to practice along with them, and we send some much-needed cash along to organizations in need. I have had the pleasure to take class with each of our teachers-in-training. Their classes are straight up, strength-building O2 Yoga classes!

Sign up via MindBody in advance to receive the Zoom links to join these classes.

March 19th-20th

Friday 5-9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

$195 total for both days

Don't miss out on this super fun workshop with Mimi and Elliot on Astanga Second Series and on teaching advanced postures such as Lotus, headstand, forearm stand, shoulder stand, and arm balances.

The workshop is an elective in our 200-hour teacher training program and is appropriate for existing 200-hour teachers-in-training, previously certified Registered Yoga Teachers (RYTs), and students who want to learn more about some of the technical, fun, and behind the scenes aspects of teaching and practicing O2 Yoga.

Contact mimi@o2yoga.com if you have questions.

Tuesday, March 30th

7-8:30 p.m.

$20

Join Elliott once per month for a tour through the Astanga primary series. We'll have time before the class to talk through the narrative of the sequence, and after to break down poses and talk about modifications.

This month's workshop will be on Tuesday, March 30th from 7-8:30 p.m. The Zoom link will be sent to registrants 25-30 minutes before the workshop begins.

In case you missed it, Kate (bottom right) is now teaching Basics on Thursday mornings at 7 a.m.!

Keep your eyes on our social media and online schedule to find out when Aileen (bottom left) and Sarah Rose (right) will be returning for their next pop-up classes!

Let's celebrate spring by focusing on one of the classic yoga poses, Lotus (Padmasana). Now this posture can be challenging and intimidating, but it doesn't need to be. This pose and all of its variations work on mobility around the hips, strong and stable knee and ankle joints, balance, and precision. Let's bloom like the gorgeous lotus flower, as we look towards more sunshine and flowers.

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.