Meditating During a Pandemic Meditation During a Pandemic

How One Pennsylvania Meditation Studio is Adapting during COVID-19

Lisa Wolk: I think it would be very difficult to do a yoga class with a mask on. It’s optional for you to do that. We have a lot of space here and yard space and deck space so I thought I would utilize the outdoor. It’s a beautiful time of year here in the northeast so we’re going to start that way cause you can put the mats at a distance from one another a circumfrence great than six foot really, and I spaced it all out so that people could see, get a picture of what this would look like for them when they come in. We’ll have plenty of hand sanitizer if they would like to use it. And we’re not going to exchange any money. Either there’s going to be a basket or they can pay online if they need to.

Maria Trivelpiece: Wolk says that meditation is incredibly important for people during this time so she wants to do everything she can to make them feel comfortable.

Lisa Wolk: We want to be mindful and respectful of how people feel, that they won’t want to be in that space. You don’t want to come to meditation and have anxiety over how it’s being handled.

Maria Trivelpiece: And for those who still don’t feel comfortable around people, Wolk says she is going to continue online meditations that she started when the pandemic hit.

Lisa Wolk: And the good thing about the online practice is you really can reach a lot of people that normally wouldn’t be able to come out and come to my place.

DRUMS, P.A. (NCC News) — When the coronavirus pandemic hit Pennsylvania in March, owner of the Center for Mind, Body, and Nutrition Lisa Wolk immediateley transferred her business online.

“I think that it’s (meditation) extremely important during a time like this,” she said. “People were filled with anxiety and stress and this can help them.”

But on Friday, Luzerene County, Pennsylvania transitioned into the Green Phase, allowing her to host in person classes again. She will be hosting all of her classes outside, rather than inside her studio; and, other precautions will be taken.

“There will be hand sanitizer and no money will be exchanged,” Wolk said.

The main concern for Wolk is to keep her customers safe while also giving them the experience they have been missing. She also said that she will continue to have online classes for her customers that are still worried about being around people.

Reported by

Maria Trivelpiece

Maria Trivelpiece graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Journalism and Psychology at Fordham University. She is now pursuing her master's degree at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She hopes to pursue a career in sports television upon graduation.

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