Yoga House & The COVID-19

** UPDATE AS OF MARCH 24th, 2020**

We are excited to announce that Yoga House will now offer classes online! You may find more information via the button below.

UPDATE AS OF MARCH 15th, 2020

⚠️COVID-19 Update – Temporary Studio Closure ⚠️

Yoga House has decided to be proactive and will be temporarily closing the studio beginning tomorrow morning to do our part to practice social distancing and keep our community safe. As of now, the studio will temporarily closed from Monday March 16th to Saturday March 28th. Please know that we did not make this decision lightly and you are and will be the first to know of any updates. We love our community dearly and trust that we can thrive in the midst of uncertainties.

From Yoga House President, Melissa Lowe
(this message was issued on Friday, March 13th, and the studio has since temporarily closed):

Hello yogis,

I hope you and your loved ones are all well. This message is coming in light of the COVID-19, or the coronavirus and the rising concerns related to COVID-19 [aka Coronavirus]. Here’s how Yoga House has prepared and is responding to the health concerns at this time. We will also continue to update you as new informatin arises in our email newsletter, Facebook Community Page, and our business Facebook Page.

First, our doors are still open and classes and events are continuing as scheduled at this time. However, we also agree in taking proactive measures for everyone’s benefit. A few months ago, I sat down with the Montrose County Health Department to talk about what Yoga House can do to be more sanitary in our day-to-day operations. At that time – and before any health outbreak – we began new health protocols, which are still in effect today, and we are actively striving to improve. In November, we sent out an email newsletter, and posted in our Community Page of the actions we have taken. After much research, review, conversations, and meditation, I wanted to be transparent about the concerns, our protocols, actions, and inform you of our updated initiatives regarding COVID-19 and Yoga House.

CONCERNS

As we all have now heard, there is a  growing concerns related to the outbreak of COVID-19 and in the midst of developing treatment and immunization, we have genuine concern for the health of our community and loved ones.  Many businesses, including Yoga House are doing their very best in taking proactive measures. At this time per the Center of Disease and Control and Prevention.

PREVENTION

Studio Health Protocols initiated in November 2019:

• The studio is professionally cleaned and disinfected once a week
• Yoga House provides sanitizing sprays for all yoga mats and props onsite for students and instructors use
• Blankets are washed weekly on the highest and hottest settings per Montrose County Health Department’s recommendations
• Mat washing cloths, hot yoga face towels, hand towels, and eye pillow cases are washed after each individual use
• Antibacterial hand soaps, and antimicrobial alcohold-based hand sanitizers available
• Instructors utilize hand sanitizer between students when providing hands on assists and adjustments
• Communicated with community (students & instructors) to be symptom free for 48 hours before returning to the studio following sickness

Additional Protocols Initiated March 12th, 2020:

• Instructors have discontinued providing hands on assists
• Instructors have discontinued using hot yoga towels and eye pillows
• Instructors are cleaning the floors after each class
• Studio management is ensuring our studio has sufficient paper products and cleaning supplies available for instructors and students use
• Hand washing guidelines, symptoms and prevention informational flyers from the CDC have been posted at the studio
• Water dispensers, hot water dispenser will not be in use during this time
• Juice drinks have been removed from the studio at this time

Resources for Additional Information

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• You may also find good information HERE about the coronavirus from the World Health Organization (WHO)
• Yoga Alliance

Montrose County

• Public Information Line: 970-252-4545
• https://www.montrosecounty.net/

Colorado Department of Public Health  

• CO Help Line: 303-389-1687
• https://www.colorado.gov/cdphe

WHAT WE ASK OF YOU & OUR INSTRUCTORS

Our mission is to keep our doors open as long as possible and to persevere through this time. Your cooperation will help us, and our community! Here’s what we ask of you according to the recommendations from the CDC:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (Create a 20 second mantra!)
• If soap and water are not immediately available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care (Yoga House requests you remain home until you are symptom free for at least 48 hours)
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (including your phones!)

In addition, please consider the following:

• Bring your own yoga mat, props and blanket (the studio has these available for purchase on site if preferred)
• Wash yoga mat and props after every use, including home use
• Bring your own, filled, water bottle to the studio
• Refrain from bringing food items into the studio at this time
• Please notify an instructor or staff member immediately of any restocking needs or concerns, we are here to help!

CLASSES, EVENTS, 200-HOUR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING

At this time, all of our classes, events, and 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training remain as scheduled until further notice. We are following the Center of Disease Control, World Health Organization, Colorado & Montrose County Health Departments as our reliable sources in making any future changes. If any changes occur, we will update you via our email newsletter, Facebook Community Page, and our business Facebook Page.

We are working fervently on assembling online yoga resources and classes that we will share in our Community Page to help you to sustain your yoga practice at home if you are unable to make it to the studio, or if any health concerns grow in our area.