I wanted to record my experience during this pandemic because I often find living through historical events much isn’t remembered.
Back in January we started hearing about lockdowns in China. Watching it slowly expand. Yet being reassured that was so far away. By February though I felt a need to feel more prepared. I don’t know why exactly because as I went to the store and checked out with over $400 of food that was frozen or pantry items I said “This is for Corona virus preparation” and everyone looked at me like I was crazy. I just felt better knowing could be prepared.
Now I’m not the one who does this though. So many other times people run to the store and I don’t go. Because the fact is I live around so many stores. Getting to them and being fead is not an issue. But this was different. What if supplies run low, what if I am not allowed to leave. That changes everything. My only regret was I didn’t stock up on paper. But that has been fine.
During these crazy times we learn to live differently. I think many treated it like a snow day but that feeling of doing nothing and laying around lots its bliss about a week later. I was home trying to heal so for weeks I couldn’t do much and was often on pain medication. I started receiving messages of places i worked at that had finally decided to shut down. Many yoga studios didn’t do this. They are a small business and financially this hurt them. But now they had too because of laws but also because it was best for the clients and teachers.
But the studios still needed to have income. Many who never had an emergency back up plan suddenly had to figure out how to do this remotely. Which is challenging because for Yoga studios they have two major costs; real estate and teachers. They still have to pay for those costs even if they aren’t using it. Furthermore in times of economic crisis it is hard to expect revenue come in when many are loosing their jobs, worried about income, food and having a home. So many offered free classes but that doesn’t help the studio or teacher.
I was observing this and was glad that I have much in place to operate on my own if needed. I have had my own brand and webpage and started to look into processing payments on it. I have always been able to change with the times so I quickly started examining ways I could help others but also keep some minor income from teaching coming in. The Federal Government spent a week trying to pass a bill that would help many including small business and contractors. Yoga teachers for the most part are contractors. So they don’t get unemployment. You may think all contractors are paid more than an employee but for yoga teachers that isn’t the case. They are paid this way really because the studio is small and looking for the most cost efficient way to operate so not having additional employee costs helps them.
For yoga teachers who are doing this full time means that all income stopped. I was told by some corporate offices I teach at that their HR said it would be a liability issue and they couldn’t offer live streamed yoga classes. I asked why because this was with someone they hired already and not playing a video - but me live with them. I never got an answer but I find HR doesn’t always know why and they find out later they were wrong. But there were a couple I kept teaching at online.
I set up my zoom, figured out how I could do more open public classes and went to work figuring out when I wanted to teach when ready. I started out just teaching the corporate classes at first. Then adding the others and I decided to ask for donations. Some have problems with offering free or donations because they feel it hurts their business but I disagree. Any business has this issue. It is wrong to think everyone goes for services simply for the less expensive or free. Those that do are not there for your service anyway.
Those attending my classes are there for a style and class I offer - they can’t get that from others. Everything else that can be found is out there and they can get that anywhere - so when I designed my virtual classes I started with “What will be different than others”. Since I have a BS in Business and accounting it is just part of my background to think this way.
So by week three in April I was getting ready to teach again. I had a feeling and turned out I was right; many by week 3 to 4 were really changing. Many were irritable, restless, angry, scared and upset. More than usual. Some would call me or email - ready to quit their job, had enough, ready to just go back to their life as they knew it. I knew that I have a message to offer in my virtual classes so I would do this.
I get on about 15 min before and check in to just talk. Some got on and simply started to cry. This was their first interaction outside of work and home in weeks. Of course they want to apologize but there isn’t a need is what I told them. “Is the sound of your spouse chewing getting on your nerves yet?” “When you go outside and see someone cough are you scared?” “Did you get as excited as I did when the store had toilet paper?”
All just trying to connect and see we aren’t alone. Yoga and meditation teaches us this so I can’t help but think this is the best time to help others. Of course we want the past life in our thoughts. But we won’t get the past again. That is the past. We can move forward. Accept the change and way it is now. There is much we are reprioritizing right now that makes us evaluate and maybe not go back to things we did.
The air quality has changed all over the world because we are not driving as much. There is much nature is showing us right now. I do worry for those trapped in unsafe situations though and hope that they will make changes to help themselves.
I have never been one to watch tv and the news is just flooded with much. Human nature wants to know “why” so much that we forget to ask other questions. Somehow this has turned political on-top of it all. Instead of uniting we blame. Because that is easier than admitting we just don’t know.
Right now we just don’t. We don’t know if your body is immune to this virus after having it. We don’t have a vaccine and not sure if that vaccine would work on other types. We think we know how it travels but again we don’t know 100% for sure.
All we can do is our best to listen and trust ourselves. Simple things like washing our hands, sleeping enough, resting and eating right are things that help our immune system. Period! Always has and always will.
So that is what I do by teaching. Helping others sleep, eat and improve their health. Each day I get a new message from someone who came on-line and they share that even in one class, how that helped. It extends past just doing physical exercise though. If that was the case everyone exercising would sleep well and not experience stress.
Right now we are all practicing being at least 6 feet apart from each other. At stores in the DC area many lines are this far apart. Wearing a mask is now required to go out; in Virginia. However each state is different. Many southern states I have heard have done nothing more than close schools.
There is a silver lining though in everything. I think we are lucky to have so much virtual and online. It helps us to connect. Only be aware of what that is. Some have created some positive news on social media so we have a prospective. Healthcare workers are using TikTok to do videos of them dancing with each other; in the midst of this awful time. Families stuck together are using it to have live talks and dinners with each other. Some are attending Church and other services online. Older generations who never would have used social media are connecting.
We remain hopeful and patient. We want to go back to our life but that shouldn’t outweigh the need to stay in. I can see this as many are starting to anticipate the end and getting back to business. But just imagine if we stayed in all this time but then returned and it started all over again. We would have wasted our time and money; lets be patient and listen to those who have our interest of health in mind vs business and money.