If the past few months have taught me anything, it’s that growth isn’t predictable. It’s not always a well thought out plan that proceeds on a linear course toward a pre-conceived goal. Sometimes it’s an ugly, messy breakdown that leads you toward a breakthrough you didn’t even know you needed.
The COVID-19 shutdown was that ugly, messy breakdown. We all had to learn new skills and systems in order to maintain our yoga practice. As we begin to emerge from total shutdown, we continue to learn new skills and refine our systems so that we can continue to grow with the practice of yoga.
First, I need to express my deepest appreciation for my fellow yoga teachers at MSY who, along with me, had to learn new technology and ways of teaching in order to continue to serve you. I know there were moments of ugly, messy breakdowns, but they persevered and broke through with new skills that will continue to serve them in the future.
Next, I cannot adequately convey the love, gratitude, and deep appreciation I feel for those of you who have continued to show up to our online classes day after day, week after week, for the past two and a half months. Thank you for adapting to all of the changes that have taken place.
Thank you also for your generous donations that have kept MSY afloat during the shutdown. Those donations have made it possible for us to purchase new equipment that will improve the quality of our live streaming for those of you who continue to practice with us from home. Beginning this coming week, you should notice improved audio, video, and lighting in our live Zoom classes! Please bear with us as we learn to use this new equipment, and please provide us with feedback, both positive and negative, so that we can continue to serve you in the best ways possible.
Many of you have asked about purchasing packages and subscriptions for our online classes. Until we are able to operate at full capacity, all of our online classes will continue to be offered for free. However, because you’ve asked, and because we need to continue to put new systems in place as we make the slow transition to new normal ways of operating (which will include continue to live stream classes from the studio), I am working on a way to offer monthly unlimited online yoga subscriptions for MSY as well as packages of individual online classes. I expect to have those ready by mid-June. In the meantime, if you so choose, you can continue to make donations.
Whether you are attending classes in the studio or online, I’d like to encourage you to register for class as early as possible. Registration for in-studio classes is available for several weeks out, and some classes fill quickly. Jennifer, Paula, and I are making a greater effort to schedule our live-streaming via Zoom at least a week in advance. You can find those links in our calendar by clicking on the class you want to attend. By registering early, you secure your spot and reduce the risk of your class being canceled. We understand that the new process of registering for the Zoom meeting and having to input a password is an added burden, but these steps help reduce the risk of Zoom room break-ins, which is the last thing we want during our yoga practice.
As some of you make the transition back into the studio, please remember that we have new waiver. Please read the waiver at home and, if possible, print it, sign it, and bring it with you to the studio.
We will continue to keep you updated on our efforts to improve your experiences at MSY, whether online or in the studio. Please feel free to reach out to us with feedback and/or suggestions. MSY is YOUR yoga studio, and we love seeing and hearing from you!
See you in class!