What California's Re-opening Means for Yoga

Last Updated: June 25, 2020

Dear Member,

In recent weeks, most California counties have been following Governor Newsom’s Resilience Roadmap, a four stage county-by-county plan to re-open businesses and public spaces previously closed to slow the spread of COVID-19. As of June 12, many counties began permitting fitness facilities, which Yoga Alliance interprets to include yoga studios, to re-open, provided that certain health and safety measures are in place.

Our California members should understand how your county is handling re-opening, including the health and safety rules for businesses. To support our members navigating this dynamic situation, we have summarized the state’s re-opening plan and guidelines and will provide updates for members as the landscape continues to change.

As you know, on March 15, Yoga Alliance issued a recommendation that in-person yoga instruction cease in locations where social distancing had become the requirement or the norm. In issuing this recommendation, we called upon yoga professionals to consider the roles they play in their communities as civic leaders, trusted advisors, and holders of wisdom, and to prioritize the health and safety of their communities. We still stand by the spirit of this recommendation.

Further, as states began lifting restrictions, on April 30, Yoga Alliance issued Best Practice Recommendations to guide our community’s re-opening and recovery. These best practices recommendations for yoga schools, businesses, and professionals are designed to support individual planning and decision-making to prioritize the health and safety of yoga teachers, students, practitioners, and our communities.

Understanding California’s Re-Opening Stages & Health and Safety Guidelines for Businesses

How does California’s re-opening plan work?

California’s re-opening plan, known as the Resilience Roadmap, identifies four stages, with the first being the most restrictive and the last representing an easing of all restrictions and lifting of the statewide stay at home order. Under each progressive stage, additional sectors, businesses, and activities, are permitted to re-open with health and safety adaptations. Currently, the entire state of California is in Stage 2, during which “lower risk workplaces,” including retail, manufacturing, and some offices, may resume in-person operations.

The re-opening plan, however, allows for county-by-county variations. California counties that meet certain public health criteria may receive a “variance” and move more quickly through the Roadmap stages or even open businesses in a different order. Counties are also permitted to move more slowly through the stages and continue or implement more restrictive public health measures as necessary based on county conditions.

Because counties are moving at different speeds—and many are issuing their own re-opening rules—members are encouraged to check with their own county resources for up-to-date re-opening information. The Los Angeles Times is also tracking the status of public health restrictions across counties.

Which businesses are permitted to re-open and when?

Effective May 8, all California counties were permitted to re-open the following businesses and sectors with health and safety modifications:

1. Curb-side retail
2. Manufacturers
3. Logistics
4. Childcare for those outside of the essential workforce
5. Office-based businesses (with telework remaining strongly encouraged)
6. Select services: carwashes, pet grooming, and landscape gardening
7. Outdoor museums

Effective June 12, “variance counties” (i.e. those moving through the stages more quickly) were permitted to open the following businesses and sectors with health and safety modifications:

1. Destination retail (retail stores), including shopping malls and swap meets
2. Dine-in restaurants (other amenities, like bars or gaming areas, are not permitted in Stage 2)
3. Schools with modifications
4. Limited-capacity religious services and cultural ceremonies
5. Day camps
6. Campgrounds, RV parks, and outdoor recreation
7. Hotels
8. Cardrooms, satellite wagering facilities and racetracks
9. Family entertainment centers and movie theaters
10. Restaurants, bars, and wineries
11. Fitness facilities (including yoga studios)
12. Museums, galleries, zoos, and aquariums
13. Music, TV, and film production
14. Professional sports without live audiences

As of June 25, most California counties—54 of 58—are “variance counties,” meaning that they have met the readiness criteria to open additional businesses and sectors. However, not all counties permitted to open additional businesses have opted to do so. As such, it is important for members to check projected schedule for business re-opening. Gyms (which should include yoga studios) are not currently permitted to re-open and the county has not yet issued a projected re-opening date.

Are businesses required to open?

No. In counties where re-opening is permitted, businesses may begin operations with health and safety measures in place but are not required to re-open.

Yoga Alliance strongly encourages all yoga businesses to carefully consider health and safety guidelines and make operations plans that prioritize the health and safety of yoga teachers, students, practitioners, and our communities, even if that means delaying opening for in-person yoga practice. Please refer to Yoga Alliance’s Best Practice Recommendations for re-opening and recovery detailed guidance.

For businesses that re-open, what health and safety requirements and guidelines are in effect?

Prior to re-opening, all re-opening businesses and venues must adhere to five re-opening requirements:

1. Perform a detailed risk assessment and create a site-specific protection plan.
2. Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19. This includes how to screen themselves for symptoms and when to stay home.
3. Set up individual control measures and screenings.
4. Put disinfection protocols in place.
5. Establish physical distancing guidelines.