Covid-19 News for Monday December 14th
By order and direction of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), all events and social gatherings are suspended to significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission related to social interactions and travel.
Last updated: December 14, 2020
Fitness centres, studios, exercise and gyms
By order of the PHO, restrictions are in place for indoor group exercise. These temporary restrictions are in place to limit the amount of physical and social interactions and travel to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
- Review the PHO Order – Gatherings and Events (PDF)
High intensity group exercise
Businesses, recreation centres or other organizations that organize or operate high intensity group exercise must suspend the following activities:
- Hot yoga
- Spin classes
- Aerobics
- Bootcamp
- High intensity aspects of circuit training
- High intensity interval training (HIIT)
High intensity group exercise causes a sustained and accelerated rate of breathing and may involve close contact with other people.
Low intensity group exercise
Businesses, recreation centres or other organizations that organize or operate low intensity group fitness activities may resume activities providing they follow the guidelines.
An updated COVID-19 Safety Plan using the guidelines should be posted clearly at the facility for everyone to follow. Health authority approval to re-open is not required but safety inspections continue regularly. Low intensity group exercise does not cause a sustained and accelerated rate of breathing and do not involve close contact with other people. These include:
- Yoga (Hatha)
- Low intensity exercise machines and cardio equipment
- Pilates
- Light weightlifting
- Stretching
- Tai-Chi
- Low intensity Barre classes
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The BC Government website has updated the PHO again late this afternoon and has finally released the industry specific guidelines for Low Intensity Group Exercise. The upshot of this release is we can reopen ASAP as the protocols have not changed fundamentally from the protocols as published in the December 4th update. There is one small change that requires the students to be 2.5 metres apart when engaged in class activity so we will take tomorrow to remap the studio, likely resulting in a maximum of 8 students in person each class. Apart from this small change, your experience will be the same.
You must book in advance, and must provide your contact info in that booking. No drop-ins allowed at this time.
You must self screen before planning to attend in the studio, and we will screen you for symptoms on your arrival as well.
You must arrive no sooner than 15 minutes before class starting and must leave in a timely manner after class to allow us to clean, sanitize and prepare for the next class.
You must maintain 2 metres distance at all times when arriving at the front door and throughout your time in the studio. Great care must be taken to prevent bottlenecks at the front door when arriving and leaving.
You must come wearing your workout clothing and bring your own mat, water bottle and props.
You must wear a mask at all times in the studio, only taking it off once you are safely on your mat and prepared to start class. Hand sanitizer will be provided at the front door and students will be encouraged to use it when entering and other times when practical.
If you are still unsure or uncomfortable about coming in person and you aren't able to do online classes either, please remember that all valid punch passes and unlimited passes are on pause until you are ready to return.
Yogi's these are all things we have been doing at our studio already, you are all used to this and are all fully compliant so we've got this!
Tomorrow, Tuesday December 15th will be online only as we remap the mat locations, Wednesday December 16th we will open the doors to live and live streaming classes on our regular schedule. Live booking and the latest schedule will be available on the website by no later than Tuesday afternoon.
Thank you all for your support and kindness, it means the world to all of us here at One Yoga Vernon.
Namaste!!
Shawn
