Herndon Yoga Center Turns To Online Video During Coronavirus

HERNDON, VA — It's been exactly one month since The Health Advantage Yoga Center closed its doors due to the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

"Our business is people coming in the door and on March 15 that all ended," said Susan Van Nuys, who has owned and operated the yoga studio at 1041 Sterling Road in Herndon since 2001. "If there's nobody coming in the door, there is no income."

Like other Herndon businesses the yoga center has adjusted how it functions under Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's stay-at-home order and update on Wednesday that extends the closure of non-essential businesses to May 8.

Fortunately, one of the yoga center's teachers knew a little bit about online video and now the center is offering a wide range of classes, including meditation and relaxation, from beginner all the way up to advanced levels.

"We're doing live classes through Zoom and also recording them," Van Nuys said. "So, anybody who wants to come to a class but has to work or has something else to do at that time can then see it once I get up on Vimeo."

The center is charging $10 for each one-hour class to help offset the money it has lost due to the temporary closure. It's also offering six short classes on subjects like stretching for free. A full list of classes can be found on the center's website.

"I was really kind of hesitant, because I wasn't sure that people would like this and they really have," Van Nuys said. "They have really enjoyed it. They've really embraced it."

For some of Van Nuys' customers, the online yoga classes have become a little bit of normalcy during unusual times.

"Some people have been with us for 15 or 20 years," she said. "And so, at least we're a familiar voice, a familiar set of movements, at least once a week."

Another unexpected benefit is that many former customers who have moved out of the area have reconnected with the yoga center through the online classes. A recent class included people from the Washington state, Chicago, and Florida.

Before the coronavirus crisis, Van Nuys never imagined she would be offering yoga classes online.

"People had mentioned over the years it would be nice if we'd offer a few online classes, but I never had the time," she said. "I really never expect this. I'd been watching and had an inkling that we might be shut down for a little while. I never had an inkling that we'd be shut down for this long."

While the Zoom classes may provide income to help the yoga center operate for a short time, it's only a temporary solution.

"It's been a quite a learning experience, learning how to connect with people through technology rather than face-to-face," Van Nuys said. "It's also been very humbling because so many people have been so glad to see us and been so supportive. I really didn't think this many people would be interested in taking classes through video. I've been very honored and very grateful that they have."

Also see ...

• Tea And Sympathy In The Time Of Coronavirus
• Reston Clothing Shop Donating Dresses To Coronavirus Responders
• Herndon's Weird Brothers Coffee Adapts To Coronavirus

This is one in a series of articles Patch is writing about small businesses in the area are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Small business owners can also add their the name of their business to our list of open businesses in Herndon and Reston.