Best Laid Plans... A Letter From Donna About Re-Opening the Studio.
Dear diary....errr....ummm....clients (honesty alert),
I have sat down to write this email a solid 8 times in the last week. Each time, I stared at the blank screen for about an hour and then gave up. This time I was determined to get something written, and as I started writing, I also started crying. And then, as I often do when I'm struggling, I texted Lexy (cuz, as you know, she's the BEST). She offered sound advice, knowing me incredibly well, and gave me permission to let go of my need to be in control, to maintain my outward positive outlook, my business-owner-brave-face, and to just be honest about how I'm feeling right now. It dawned on me that THAT was the reason I was having such a hard time writing this. Those of you who know me well, know that I wear my heart on my sleeve in my personal relationships. But I don't often share so personally en masse and in my business life. Alas, these are unusual times, and it feels right to share a bit of my personal experience as we navigate getting back to some sort of normalcy together.
So...I'm sad. I'm scared. I'm anxious. I'm overwhelmed. I miss my team. I miss my clients. I miss my daily routines, restaurants, cafes....all of it. Like we all do. And now, as our community starts to "open" back up around us, with not much more assurance than we had weeks ago, I feel a bit paralyzed. It's been two months since we closed the doors to the studio without knowing what was to come. And, we still don't have much more information than we did then about this crazy pandemic and what we have ahead of us in the coming months. What I do know, is that we want to see everyone's faces in person, we long for the energy of the studio on busy mornings, and on quiet afternoons, lattes after class (or [for me] during, as I teach), hearing about your lives, and helping you move your bodies on the equipment. So how do we get back to some version of this that feels SAFE and comfortable for myself, my team, and all of you? Well, honestly, I don't entirely know.
What I can tell you is what has happened at the studio thus far, and give you an idea of what I'm thinking about as far as a re-opening plan, with a more in depth protocol to follow soon.
Studio equipment (see pic) is rearranged the to create a socially distanced space.
I have ordered myriad touch-less products, like paper towel dispensers, gym wipes, and soap/sanitizer dispensers.
There is a plexiglass desk shield.
All surfaces and equipment have been deeply cleaned and sanitized.
Personal use reformer loops will be for sale at the studio, and vinyl coverings will be put on studio loops for easy cleaning in between clients.
Some protocol we know will be in place for staff and clients:
Masks will be required for the foreseeable future.
Appointment times will be shortened by 5 minutes to allow for proper sanitization in between clients. Don't worry, we've got you, and will be offering some bonuses to make up for the lost time.
Limited (2) instructors/clients in the studio at one time.
Separate entry and exit doors.
Hands-free cueing for the foreseeable future (I know, we're sad, too).
No in-studio scheduling. We can still email and text about appts along with utilizing the MindBody system.
We will have a grip-socks-required policy. We got in a huge shipment of cute ones right before closing, and you'll be able to pre-buy, and even have them delivered to you before coming if you live in Boulder proper.
Tentative timeline:
June 1st - open for private and semi-private (same household only) sessions.
June 15th - open for small group classes of no more than 3 people.
July 1st - open for small group classes of up to 4 people.
Zoom classes and privates will continue for the foreseeable future for those of you who wish to remain at home or are still enjoying them.
There will be much more defined in the coming weeks, and as we are all learning, this situation is truly day by day. Please know that we are working our butts off (then why don't my jeans fit???) to make sure that we can open up in a smooth and healthy way, and we appreciate your patience and support beyond measure.
In the meantime, keep Zooming with us, keep moving, and stay healthy. And, we love you.