If you own a yoga studio, you might be wiping your brow and congratulating yourself on
surviving the pandemic. However, while authorities have lifted most restrictions, you still owe
your staff and students a duty of due diligence to keep your facility as safe and hygienic as
possible.
What should you do to keep your operations in tip-top shape? Here are five ideas for practicing
proper yoga studio hygiene.
1. Invest in PPE
Your state may have lifted mask restrictions months ago. However, risks remain for those with
compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Yoga can
be an outstanding complementary treatment, but only if they feel safe in your facility.
As a business owner, you dictate which restrictions you enact. While performing pranayama or
breath work with a mask is challenging, it isn’t impossible. If you have several students who feel
uncomfortable in an uncovered setting, perhaps you could experiment with one or two mask-
required classes for those with ongoing COVID concerns.
Either way, the right PPE protects the wearer, not only those around them. For example,
surgical masks protect against large respiratory droplets and reduce the overall transmission
rate. While they aren’t a failsafe against getting sick, they significantly reduce the risks of
infection. They also require no fitting and allow most people to breathe comfortably even when
exercising.
Additionally, having people sanitize their hands is a must. Ordinances generally dictate restroom
specifications for commercial establishments. However, you should also create a sanitizer
station near the entrance so incoming participants can clean their paws before touching any
shared equipment.
2. Establish a Regular Cleaning Schedule
Many facilities featured pandemic signage indicating that crews disinfected them recently or
regularly. What does that mean in reality?
Your cleaning schedule should follow a five-step process of cleaning and protecting yourself,
wiping in the right direction, leaving EPA-approved cleaners on surfaces for the recommended
time, and finishing with the proper disposal of PPE and sanitation materials.
You should disinfect shared surfaces every day, preferably after each class. Here, your guides
can become indispensable resources, instructing their class participants to cover their mats with
towels and use sanitary wipes and sprays to clean off shared straps and blocks.
3. Encourage Personal Mat Use
Most yoga studios contain a stash of equipment for newcomers and those who simply forgot to
bring their gear to the gym with them on any given day. While regularly disinfecting these
shared tools can significantly slash disease risk, most participants feel more comfortable using
mats and blocks other exercisers haven’t already made all sweaty.
Therefore, do your best to encourage personal equipment use. You might consider expanding
your present facility with retail sales – increasing your revenue while allowing participants to pick
up a mat or straps when they have it on their minds. Look for high-quality, sustainable vendors
you feel good about representing your brand.
4. Maintain Your HVAC System
Your building’s HVAC system plays a significant role in determining how healthy you, your staff,
and your participants remain. You don’t need germs blowing around your building if you want
packed classes. The deep pranayama practiced in many yoga classes deserves fresh, clean air.
Change your filters according to manufacturer directions. There’s no substitute for this
preventive maintenance, as even duct cleaning can leave facilities with worse indoor air quality
than before if significant debris accumulates thanks to inefficient practices. Once every year or
two, have your system inspected for signs of leaks, mold, or contamination.
5. Opt for Essential Oils
Incense and yoga have gone hand in hand for millennia. However, the smoke can produce
more particulate matter than cigarettes, creating a hazard for your students’ lungs. Ordinary
paraffin wax candles aren’t much better, as they can emit toxins like formaldehyde into your
indoor air.
Your best bet is to opt for essential oils for scenting your studio. You can pick up diffusers for
around $20 each, making it affordable for you to create a signature aroma. If nothing but
incense will do, look for bricks and magic burners that slash smoke emissions and keep your
indoor air pure.
How to Practice Proper Yoga Studio Hygiene
Your yoga studio is where people go to get healthy. They shouldn’t worry about your facility
making them sick. Follow the steps above to practice proper yoga studio hygiene. Your
business will flourish when your participants leave feeling fit and healthy.