Update: In Dubai, gyms and yoga studios have been temporarily closed, until the end of March.
Yoga studios across the UAE are taking a number of precautions to ensure classes remain safe and sanitary during the coronavirus outbreak.
From limiting numbers to asking all participants to bring their own mats, studios are adding in a number of extra measures to fight the spread of Covid-19.
A new yoga studio opening in Abu Dhabi on Sunday will ensure all participants are kept at least a metre apart.
Breathe Yoga Studio, located on Saadiyat Island, is hosting a soft launch on Sunday, March 15, with seven classes on offer including Zumba Flo, Yoga in French, Yoga HIIT and Pilates Core Blast.
However, in light of the coronavirus outbreak, Breathe owner Amanda Newmark is taking a number of precautions to ensure the space remains safe.
“We are limiting all classes to eight people to ensure that there is one metre between mats,” she said. “We are also asking people to bring their own mats, and if they can’t, we will ensure a towel is placed on a mat at all times.”
The studio will also be cleaned between each session, with all surfaces and floors disinfected. Announcing the soft opening on its social media channels, a post read, “In times like these we need to come to our mats more than ever before. Sensibly of course. All precautionary measures are being taken to ensure you practice in a safe environment.”
The studio will operate on a soft launch schedule until Sunday, March 22, when it is set to introduce more classes.
In Dubai, Yoga House studio has implemented a strict BYOM (bring your own mat) policy at all its studios, located in The Greens, the Marina and Business Bay.
In an email sent to all members, a spokesperson for the studio said, "we are limiting our classes in The Greens to a maximum of 15 people in our large room and nine people in our small room in order to give people enough space to feel comfortable."
The email added that extra sanitising of equipment was taking place daily, and hand sanitiser was being placed around all studios.
Dubai-based yoga teacher, Dina Ghandour, who teaches a number of classes said, “Studios are limiting the number of students that can attend each class so people can feel like they have enough space to move and not be too close to each other. Also, classes are not using microphones any more, and we are being encouraged not to do hands on assists. Some studios are giving people the option to choose by handing out consent cards.
"People are still coming to the studios and I think appreciating it more than ever right now, it’s a nice little hour of community and connection and sanity, to be honest.”
It comes as large scale events in Abu Dhabi are postponed until the end of April, and tourist attractions including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World, and Clymb Abu Dhabi close their doors in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. In Dubai, all events have been cancelled until the end of March and nightclubs have closed their doors.
