Goal: To safely and lawfully reopen small yoga and pilates studios in Phase 4 of the New York Forward plan.

We, the New York Coalition of independently owned yoga and pilates studios are advocating for the safe and lawful reopening of yoga and pilates studios in Phase 4 of the New York Forward plan. Unlike large commercial gyms, or even fitness studios, where high intensity exercise takes place and clients move about randomly often using shared equipment, yoga and pilates studios are much better able to enact appropriate social distancing measures to ensure the safety of our employees and clients. Furthermore, with regard to the transmission of COVID-19, there is scientific evidence from the CDC that shows that yoga and pilates are much safer forms of exercise when compared to high intensity fitness. The study Cluster of Coronavirus Disease Associated with Fitness Dance Classes, South Korea outlines how while there was transmission of COVID-19 in high intensity dance classes, there were no cases of transmission in yoga or pilates classes. The authors of the study “hypothesize that the lower intensity of Pilates and yoga did not cause the same transmission effects as those of the more intense fitness dance classes,” (Jang, Han, Rhee).

As of now, yoga and pilates studios are lumped in with large gyms and fitness studios when it comes to the ability to reopen in New York, and since gyms and fitness studios have been excluded from Phase 4, we currently have absolutely no guidance from the state on when we will be allowed to reopen. Our goal is to separate small yoga and pilates studios from the classification of gyms and fitness studios and to allow for the reopening of yoga and pilates studios in Phase 4. We believe that the physical and mental health benefits of yoga and pilates, including the tremendous benefits to the immune system and ability to aid in long term disease prevention, are a valued part of life in New York and that we will be able to safely offer these benefits to our clients during a time of need. 

Phase 3 is about to start in New York City. Amongst the businesses to reopen before yoga studios are restaurants, bars, hair salons, barber shops, and nail salons - all businesses where human contact and proximity are not only unavoidable but imperative. In the case of restaurants and bars, alcohol will be consumed, which is likely to lead to impaired decision making around social distancing considerations at the individual level. Yoga and pilates classes require no human contact. Instructors and students can remain 6 feet apart and wear masks, as they are already doing in states like Maine which have provided clear safety guidelines for reopening. While it is important to note that some areas of the country, particularly in the South and West, have seen a rise in COVID cases with their reopening, it is also important to note that those states reopened against public health recommendations as their infection rates were on the rise. New York has seen a steady decline in infection rates and is therefore in an entirely different position. If, however, the incongruous reopening of the businesses mentioned above in Phase 3 is based on economics and not health considerations, the economic impact of the yoga and pilates industry should also be taken into consideration. Prior to the pandemic, yoga studios were projected to bring in $11.6 billion in revenue up from $7 billion in 2012. All of this is in jeopardy now. With no reasonable way to plan, widespread studio closings are occurring, resulting in the loss of jobs, and more are imminent with every week that passes while our facilities remain empty. Therefore, we urge our state and local governments to reconsider yoga and pilates studios as their own industry for the purposes of reopening. 

We understand and agree that if yoga and pilates studios are to open in Phase 4 that we must do so in a limited capacity and with strict guidelines to keep our clients and staff safe.

We propose the following:

- Restrict capacity to allow for 6 feet of distance between each mat. Use floor markers to indicate where mats should be placed when entering class. 

- Allow for a minimum of 30-minute gaps between classes for cleaning and to decrease congestion and density. 

- Staff to conduct regular (after each class) disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, common areas of the facility, and any equipment using disinfectant cleaning supplies according to CDC guidelines. 

- Discontinue the use of shared props and studio mats until it is safe to reintroduce them. Clients will bring their own mats.

- Discontinue hands-on assists.

- If applicable, close showers and locker areas.

- Require all employees and require or encourage all clients to wear masks. We are happy to follow and enforce whatever the state guidelines are with regards to mask policy.  Employees will also be required to wear gloves during cleaning.

- Limit all class times to 60 minutes or less. 

- Keep doors and windows open where possible to improve ventilation

- Maintain strict facility protocols, including a COVID-19 reporting protocol that would trigger a brief studio closing in order to clean and notify employees and clients about possible exposure for proper testing and tracing to occur.

- Develop and distribute studio safety plans to educate clients about our policies.

- Place signage at entrances and throughout buildings (particularly high traffic areas such as service counters) alerting staff and visitors to required occupancy limits, physical distancing requirements, and face covering policies.

- Clients potentially at high risk for COVID-19 can be advised to work with their primary care provider to determine if utilizing a yoga or pilates studio is reasonably safe for them. 

Persons at high-risk for COVID-19 include:

1. People 65 or older

2. People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled including:

• People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
• People who have serious heart conditions
• People who are immunocompromised: Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications
• People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
• People with diabetes
• People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
• People with liver disease