Studio Update 5.24.20
While we do not know yet when we will be open for in-person classes, here’s what we DO know:
- We miss you. A lot.
- BYSJ will open when it is safe and recommended to do so.
- Regardless of when that is, it is unlikely to be in the next few weeks.
- We are closely following the official guidelines as they are released by Santa Clara Public Health, California Department of Public Health, and the CDC.
- We are already preparing to adapt our procedures, as best we can, to the best of our knowledge.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Limited class sizes
- Guided social distancing inside and outside the room
- Continuing our free Wednesday and Saturday classes online on Zoom
- More time between classes to enable cleaning & disinfecting of high-touch areas in our studio
- Personal protective equipment and daily health & temperature checks for all staff
- Updated member safety procedures (aka we will need YOUR help, too)
Once we are open, for all of you who have time-limited memberships, we will automatically extend your membership by however long it is that we were closed. And for those of you who have continued to keep your membership active during this time in support of the studio: THANK YOU.
We can’t wait to open our doors to you, to again become the safe sanctuary we all need, love, and miss. Our hearts and thoughts are with you.
With love from,
Michele and the BYSJ staff team
IMMEDIATE STUDIO CLOSURE – Monday 3.16.20 2 PM
We have just gotten word from Santa Clara County that there will be a mandatory shelter-in-place directive effective until April 7th. Our priority is to help you do your yoga (even if on your own at home, instead of here with us), to take care of our staff and their livelihoods, and to say ‘welcome home’ again in person as soon as it is safe to do so!
What does this mean for your yoga practice and our community?
- We are live-streaming a daily Pranayama exercise at 10:00 am. Taking regular deep breaths, to calm the mind, and strengthen your respiratory system, is the #1 best medicine we all need right now. Be sure to join our Facebook group, BYSJ Everywhere.
- We offer free audio recordings on our YouTube page. This is not limited to members – please follow, and share with ANYONE who needs Bikram Yoga right now.
- We offer free live classes on Zoom, twice per week. Please see our events page for more details.
- We offer membership holds for the duration of the health emergency to anyone who needs it. Conversely, if you are able and willing to continue to support Bikram Yoga San Jose during this time via your regular memberships, we appreciate it – from the bottom of our hearts.
We will be in touch as this health emergency plays out, and we look forward to saying ‘welcome home’ again in person as soon as it is safe to do so!
Memberships
We are suspending our no-holds policy. If you need to suspend your membership for your health or the health of your family, please email tonni@bikramyogasanjose.com. We will pause for the duration of this emergency. New students: We will also extend Introductory Offers.
Indoor Environment Quality
By Matt Newman, senior teacher and studio construction project coordinator
Many people have been asking about the safety of our Yoga room in the present circumstances. As many of you know, I am passionate about air quality, so I wanted to take some time to lay out the facts of our solution and how it compares to the “norm” because we have something extraordinary and unique to Bikram Yoga San Jose.
When we designed the system, we did not start with the typical requirements of heat and humidity but rather focused our entire design around Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ). This led to a great deal of focus on air quality and airflow. The conclusion was we wanted a lot more air and far better quality than is typical.
How much more?
In normal operation, we have 3 1/2 times the recommended airflow, capable of refreshing all the air in the room almost eight times per hour.
During phase one of our reopening (whenever that is!) we will have about six times normal airflow.
How much better?
Viral and other organic contaminates were something we wanted to eliminate – increasing airflow automatically and significantly improves the situation, however, we wanted to go much further, and so we installed a special ultra-violet UV-C/PCO technology used at hospitals in recovery wards and ICU, and other places where IEQ really matters, to deactivate and filter out over 98% of viral load, compared with less than 10% for typical filters.
Why that big fan in the room? Should I be concerned?
Hell no! That HVLS (high volume, low speed) fan is your best friend! It is an integral part of the whole air system to ensure no stale or potentially contaminated air lingers in the room, but rather is exhausted to the outside as soon as possible.
What happens to my exhaled air before it leaves the room?
When you exhale, the vast majority of air droplets you expel will hit the floor before they have traveled six feet – this is one of the reasons we maintain social distancing.
Also, your exhale gets greatly diluted by the room – as long as the air is being refreshed – hence airflow so important.
Additionally, viral load has a half-life in the air – it doesn’t last forever, and in very hot environments will die much faster than normal 70-degree Farenheight environments.
Is there still a risk?
Of course – if you leave your house your risk increases. And only you can assess the level of risk you are willing to take to navigate life and balance your considerations.
When the County and State assess the risk for gyms and yoga studios is acceptable they will allow us to open.
However, my one resounding message in all of this is that BYSJ specifically is far safer than the average facility, exactly because we prioritized the indoor environment and air quality in every aspect of our design.
Bottom line – more fresh air = healthier environment.
Think outdoors – tons of air, gentle breeze always keeping the air around you fresh.
I would also like to thank Jack Zarour – one of our members, and world-class veteran mechanical engineer expert in the design of pharmaceutical clean rooms, who helped us design this solution.