CORNER BROOK, N.L. — In a time when people need an outlet for the stress that COVID-19 may be creating in their lives, Nancy Buckle is hoping she can do something to help.
Buckle is the owner of Namaste, a Corner Brook yoga studio.
On Monday, the studio was to hold its last in-class sessions for a while as recreation facilities, educational facilities and businesses across the province implement precautions against COVID-19.
By Wednesday, she’s planning to offer classes online.
Buckle said that’s something she’s been slowly working on developing for some time.
“It’s just is a sensible step for any brick and mortar yoga studio business if you have the opportunity to do it.”
It hasn’t been a priority for her as the studio here and maintaining the integrity of the in-person class has been the focus and what she considered most important.
When the impacts of COVID-19 started to happen, Buckle felt this was the time to move forward.
“But in desperate times where we have to innovate, we have to adapt, we have to change quickly to service people’s needs, this was a way that we could do that,” she said.
“We’re going to reach a point where people are not going to be able to come in in person. It’s going to come fast and furious and we’re also going to be the place where people need it the most and are going to feel really lost without their yoga practice.”
To make the jump to online classes, she had to keep safety in mind, follow guidelines and, above all, make people comfortable.
“Not take away the one thing for them that is bringing peace and calm in the middle of this craziness, this high level of stress and anxiety.”
While the focus is on her local clients, Buckle knows the online classes will attract a new group of people looking for an outlet.
She already has sound and recording equipment that she uses in online yoga teacher training, so making the transition to online classes should be fairly easy.
The online classes will be run through Zoom.
“But in desperate times where we have to innovate, we have to adapt, we have to change quickly to service people’s needs, this was a way that we could do that.”
She did a test run on Sunday by offering a free public link and had 37 people from across Canada and the United States participate.
The studio has a 24-person capacity and the average class has been eight to 12 participants.
The feedback from the class showed the plan works.
“They felt the actual energy from us, from the instructor. They felt like they were being spoken to directly and they felt connected.”
All the information on how to get involved in the online classes will be on the Namaste Facebook page and website https://www.namastestudios.ca/.
Buckle said there will be clear instructions and videos that will make the transition as easy as possible for people.
The online classes are not the only thing Buckle is doing. She’s also sharing some guided breathing and meditation techniques with people through Facebook.
While the province is not in complete quarantine and isolation, Buckle said she’s been glued to media and social media for news of COVID-19 for the past few days. That has left her feeling anxiety and stress, and was keeping her awake at night, so she turned to her yoga tools and skills.
“I know what I need to do in order to keep myself calm, in order to benefit from breath work.”
So, while she feels extremely vulnerable putting herself out there, especially when she first wakes up, she doesn’t care and is holding some Facebook Live and Watch parties to guide others.
“Because you know what? We all need this right now. I know it, I can do it, I can provide it for free, why wouldn’t I.”
Twitter: WS_DianeCrocker
