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When there's a virus spread by close physical contact, the worst thing you can do is continue to shed your body weight in sweat within coughing distance of a few dozen strangers.
So Kari Doherty and Annie Ory, co-owners of Sellwood hot yoga studio yogaRIOT, knew fairly early that COVID-19 would change how they did business.
"We wanted to immediately address it by getting content online," says Doherty. "Membership is the lifeblood of our yoga studio, so if our members aren't coming, getting them to still feel like they're getting value is important."
Anybody can watch an Instagram video or follow along with a podcast, but Doherty wanted to maintain the integrity of the in-class experience as much as possible. Now, members can register for daily virtual classes taught by their regular instructors via Zoom.
With the exception of the studio's infrared heating system, the classes are a close substitution for pre-pandemic yoga sessions. Once you enter the Zoom call, you're greeted by a livestream of the instructor and every other class member.
The first 60 minutes are made up of yogaRIOT's signature Baptiste-style yoga—power poses, sun salutations and measured breathing designed to condition the whole body. The last 30 minutes are left for mindfulness activities meant to stimulate community connection.
Granted, the virtual sessions do require some creativity. Doherty encourages members to clear out a space in their home, crank up the heat to the max, and light candles or an oil diffuser. If you don't have yoga blocks, pull out the pots and pans. If you usually practice with a strap, try using a hand towel.
"It's not just about the yoga itself," says Doherty. "It's about getting in a room with people who make you feel normal and familiar. It's about being in community."
Sign up for virtual classes at yogaRIOT.com.