Local Fitness & Wellness

As we look at our tiny town on the brink of a measured re-opening, I can’t help to think of wellness in the time of quarantine.  As gyms and studios across the valley shut down in mid-March, a subtle blanket of panic fell on the overly-active locals in Jackson Hole. “How will I stay fit when the weather is uncertain?” was a question that resonated within the local population. Luckily, gyms and studios did not miss a beat in answering these concerns.

Local gyms and studios have been offering online virtual classes, most at a donation based payment. Studios like Inversion Yoga have seemingly operated business as usual – virtual style. The studio laid out a weekly schedule of classes, participants sign up online, submit a donation and follow the instructor via Zoom from the comfort of their own homes. The only difference – location.

Other studios around town have also offered online classes. Places like Pursue, Revolution Indoor Cycling and Wright Training all adapted to the stay at home orders. Missed a scheduled class? No worries. If you missed an online class you can follow PursueJH on their YouTube channel here and take one of their classes any time.

As the world slowly opens back up and Jackson starts to see glimpses of normalcy, these studios and gyms will also take a gradual approach to re-opening, and when they do things will certainly look different. Take a look at our Q&A with Kiersten Davis, an instructor at Inversion Yoga, to hear firsthand how things changed from the front lines of the studio.

Q: How has your schedule changed since Covid-19 shut down studios and gyms? Are you teaching just as many classes?

Prior to Covid-19 I was teaching 4 classes per week at Inversion Yoga. As soon as it become unsafe to teach group fitness classes, I took a two week break and then began teaching 2 Zoom classes per week.

Q: How is it teaching via Zoom?

Teaching via Zoom is certainly an adjustment! Once we fine-tuned the audio and making sure our clients could hear us AND our music clearly, everything ran much smoother – thank you to Jess Grim! Unlike being in the studio, we don’t get as much interaction with our clients, but it is so nice to be able to connect with them in a new way.

Q: What tips do you have in terms of overall wellness and fitness during this time of quarantine?

It is so easy to be hard on ourselves during this time of quarantine. Some days will be better than others and we need to remember to be gentle with ourselves. I believe our mental health should be a priority during this time – instill positive self-talk and compassion into daily life. Getting out for one walk a day for some fresh air! Fueling your body with nutritious food will help you feel healthy. Give yourself a break from social media and try to connect with a friend or family member.

Q: How will the studio look when they open back up? 

As Jackson starts opening back up, there will be many restrictions and precautions put in place, especially at group gyms and studios. We want to make sure that our clients and staff stay safe and healthy. I believe a few things that will be put in place will be:

• Washing hands upon entering and before leaving.
• Limited capacity with much more space between clients.
• Wiping down props before and after use.
• Limited contact, with no hands on adjustments.
• Thorough cleaning of rooms between classes.

Whether you are taking a morning stroll with the pups on the river or following a strenuous Barre class via Zoom there are plenty of ways to support your local studios and gyms while staying fit and healthy. And in the meantime continue dreaming about the coming summer days, good weather and Yoga on the Deck. Namaste.