Dear Yoga for the People Community:
As you are all keenly aware, our whole community, in fact whole world, is responding to the COVID -19 precautions. Many of you are surely trying to figure out how to navigate your day to day roles and responsibilities or care for loved ones who may be at risk. We understand the ambiguity of this situation can be stressful. We write to emphasize our care for you, for your health, and for your ongoing ability to take care of yourself and those around you.
Yoga for the People is following public health recommendations, and is committed to the health and safety of our volunteers, sites, and participants. We support individual well-being for all connected to YFP. While it is sad that at a “time like this” when we need to come together, to breathe, to reflect and connect, we are advised not to collectively engage together and we will honor the advice of medical professionals.
In following the recommendations for “social distancing”, YFP asks that site coordinators and volunteer yoga teachers communicate with one another over the phone or email to determine the best plan for communication with participants at each site. At this time, we would like for yoga teachers to hold off on teaching at the sites until further notice. If you are a site that is waiting for a teacher to start a class, or a teacher who has yet to begin your class, this temporary halt of our services applies to all YFP projects.
Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend the following to protect yourself and others:
Are there any alternatives to an in-person yoga class?
YES! If your site has the capacity to zoom, or use google chat, or face time to bring the teacher to the participants, we encourage you to consider remote options. Or perhaps this option can be considered if the “social distancing” recommendations persist for an extended period of time. We recognize that at many of our sites, participants look forward to their regular yoga class and we do not want to cause additional stress in the lives of those we aim to serve. At the same time, it is critical that we honor the health and safety of all involved. If remote options feel overwhelming or simply are not feasible, please let your participants know that we intend to return as soon as it is considered safe to come back together.
Site coordinators, we will be reaching out soon with some tips for mindfulness practices and gentle options for participants to try without being in a class. We hope you will continue to engage in taking care of yourself and those around you, and that you will be able find some calm within the storm of this situation.
If you have questions or concerns or need support in thinking about how to manage the situation at your particular site, please reach out to us at yogaforthepeople@gmail.org
We wish each and everyone one of you well and hope that you are finding support as needed. We will follow up as further updates are available.
In appreciation of our community, we thank you for collaborating with Yoga for the People and helping us bring yoga to people who would not otherwise have access to it.
Sincerely,
Kate Ross
Program Director
Yoga for the People
As you are all keenly aware, our whole community, in fact whole world, is responding to the COVID -19 precautions. Many of you are surely trying to figure out how to navigate your day to day roles and responsibilities or care for loved ones who may be at risk. We understand the ambiguity of this situation can be stressful. We write to emphasize our care for you, for your health, and for your ongoing ability to take care of yourself and those around you.
Yoga for the People is following public health recommendations, and is committed to the health and safety of our volunteers, sites, and participants. We support individual well-being for all connected to YFP. While it is sad that at a “time like this” when we need to come together, to breathe, to reflect and connect, we are advised not to collectively engage together and we will honor the advice of medical professionals.
In following the recommendations for “social distancing”, YFP asks that site coordinators and volunteer yoga teachers communicate with one another over the phone or email to determine the best plan for communication with participants at each site. At this time, we would like for yoga teachers to hold off on teaching at the sites until further notice. If you are a site that is waiting for a teacher to start a class, or a teacher who has yet to begin your class, this temporary halt of our services applies to all YFP projects.
- We ask that all of our classes be cancelled for the next several weeks, until further updates are available.
- Many of our teachers are located in sites with vulnerable populations, and we certainly do not want to contribute to their vulnerability.
- We recommend that individual sites follow their internal protocols, and communicate clearly to our volunteers regarding any necessary precautions.
- Sites, please remember to contact volunteers if you have necessary health information about participants or staff at your sites related to possible exposure to the virus at your site.
- In kind, we ask our volunteers to communicate clearly to your sites if you have had any exposure or could have potentially been in contact with the virus.
Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend the following to protect yourself and others:
- Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you are experiencing fever, cough or having difficulty breathing.
- People with milder, nonspecific symptoms such as nasal congestion or mild cough without fever should be careful, practice good hygiene and self-care, avoid close contact with other people and be on the lookout for worsening symptoms.
- If you or a loved one has recently traveled out of the country or been exposed to the virus, but do not exhibit any symptoms, a 14 day “self-quarantine” is recommended.
- Do not attend yoga classes, work or events if you're ill. Please stay home and avoid contact with others except when seeking medical care.
- Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue or with your shirtsleeves — not your hands — when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Are there any alternatives to an in-person yoga class?
YES! If your site has the capacity to zoom, or use google chat, or face time to bring the teacher to the participants, we encourage you to consider remote options. Or perhaps this option can be considered if the “social distancing” recommendations persist for an extended period of time. We recognize that at many of our sites, participants look forward to their regular yoga class and we do not want to cause additional stress in the lives of those we aim to serve. At the same time, it is critical that we honor the health and safety of all involved. If remote options feel overwhelming or simply are not feasible, please let your participants know that we intend to return as soon as it is considered safe to come back together.
Site coordinators, we will be reaching out soon with some tips for mindfulness practices and gentle options for participants to try without being in a class. We hope you will continue to engage in taking care of yourself and those around you, and that you will be able find some calm within the storm of this situation.
If you have questions or concerns or need support in thinking about how to manage the situation at your particular site, please reach out to us at yogaforthepeople@gmail.org
We wish each and everyone one of you well and hope that you are finding support as needed. We will follow up as further updates are available.
In appreciation of our community, we thank you for collaborating with Yoga for the People and helping us bring yoga to people who would not otherwise have access to it.
Sincerely,
Kate Ross
Program Director
Yoga for the People
