Yoga, Exercise Instructors Move Online

ALTHOUGH GYMS AND STUDIOS ARE CLOSED DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, YOU DON’T HAVE AN EXCUSE NOT TO EXERCISE. THAT’S BECAUSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE PIVOTING FROM “IN-PERSON” TO “IN-HOME” INSTRUCTION TO MEET THE NEED. THANKS FOR WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK, BROUGHT TO YOU BY ALPINE BANK, MEMBER F D I C. I’M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE. FOR SOUTHWEST COLORADANS LOOKING FOR A PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL OUTLET, LOCAL FITNESS INSTRUCTORS, YOGA TEACHERS AND PERSONAL TRAINERS ARE STRETCHING OUTSIDE THEIR STUDIO WALLS AND BUILDING TECHNICAL MUSCLE TO KEEP HOME-BOUND RESIDENTS MOVING THROUGH ONLINE CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. TAYLOR MONTGOMERY, THE LEAD WELLNESS COACH AT MERCURY SPORTS MEDICINE, SAYS THE PANDEMIC IS FORCING INSTRUCTORS AND PARTICIPANTS TO “JUMP” INTO BECOMING MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE USING VIRTUAL TOOLS FOR WORKOUTS.  PILATES DURANGO CO-OWNERS, RHONDA UNKOVSKOY AND MARISSA HAGA, SAID THEY HAD TO TURN ON A DIME: FIRST, QUICKLY GATHER INFORMATION ON WHAT THEIR STUDENTS NEEDED,  CREATE A NEW SCHEDULE, LEARN HOW TO RUN ZOOM, AND TRANSLATE THEIR CLASSES INTO AN EQUIPMENT-FREE, MAT-BASED FORMAT. MICHELE LAWRENCE (PHOTO),  FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF INNER PEACE YOGA THERAPY AND AN ONLINE INSTRUCTION VETERAN, WANTED TO HELP TEACHERS QUICKLY LEARN TO DELIVER THEIR CLASSES ONLINE. HER FREE WEBINAR ON LEADING YOGA OVER ZOOM HAD MORE THAN 400 INSTRUCTORS FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY REGISTERED FOR THE SESSION.  DESPITE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES TO MAKE THE 180 DEGREE PIVOT, YOGA DURANGO CO-FOUNDER AND OWNER SHERYL MCGOURTY SAYS GOING “ONLINE” WAS ESSENTIAL TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY DURING THE TURBULENCE:
WELL, FOR ONE TO, TO BE OF SERVICE RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO CONNECT. WE HAVE SUCH A STRONG COMMUNITY OF, YOU KNOW, YOGA AT DURANGO, AT YOGA DURANGO, AND I THINK FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONNECTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME AND TO SEE OUR FACES, AND WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER’S FACES.
BOTH INSTRUCTORS AND PARTICIPANTS ALIKE ARE SEEING SURPRISING RESULTS.I WAS SO TERRIFIED TO TEACH ONLINE, AND NOW I’M REALLY ENJOYING IT,ACTUALLY. I’M REALLY ENJOYING IT. I FEEL DEEPLY CONNECTED. I CAN SEEPEOPLE MOST OF THE TIME. AND IT IS OUR POINTS OF CONNECTION RIGHTNOW. WELL, I THINK BECAUSE WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, WE HAVE ADEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHENTICITY AND EVERYBODY’S DOGS ARE WALKINGTHROUGH AND THE KIDS ARE GETTING ON THE SCREEN AND DANCING AND IT’SREALLY FUN, SEEING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND TO SEE PEOPLE JUSTNEEDING TO ADAPT AND DOING IT REALLY WELL. LACEY JOHNSON, A DEDICATED JUNGLE GYM MEMBER, SAYS  IT’S HEARTBREAKING TO NOT BE AT THE JUNGLE GYM: SHE MISSES THE FAMILY ATMOSPHERE, FRIENDLY BANTER AND COMPETITIVE NATURE. BUT SHE APPRECIATES HOW THE JUNGLE GYM ADAPTED TO COACH AND SUPPORT MEMBERS WITH WORKOUTS, FUN CHALLENGES, NUTRITION TIPS AND RECIPES. MARYL WINTERSHEID, THE CHIEF FITNESS COACH AT MPOWER PLUS, SEES VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION BECOMING INTEGRAL TO HER BUSINESS:
I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD MY PERSONALIZED BUSINESS AND PRESENCE LOCALLY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITHIN SPORT, IN REHAB AND FITNESS AND WELLNESS HERE WITHIN DURANGO. BUT THEN, ALSO MORE LIKE THE BROADER COMMUNITY, FOR THOSE WHO WANT THAT REMOTE OPTION, LOCALLY AND IN A BROADER GEOGRAPHICAL COMMUNITY. SO REACHING OUT AND EXPANDING FURTHER THAN JUST JUST HERE IN DURANGO BECAUSE THE, YES, THERE’S A LOT, THERE’S A LOT TO BE OFFERED AND ACCESS. IT’S REALLY WHAT I’M SEEING THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ONLINE. FOR MORE INFORMATION: VISIT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES’S ONLINE PAGES: THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EDITION OF THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK. I’M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE FOR THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK.