Before we requested our community to practice their Journey Into Power while wearing a mask, we felt it was appropriate to first test it out ourselves – and we were pleasantly surprised.
Full disclosure – it was not a discomfort-free practice. It took getting used to. It’s a real adjustment for any foreign object being placed on your face for an extended period of time, especially one that covers your mouth in an activity where I am used to – and in the past encouraged to – breath deeply and exhale fully. That said, it may have been uncomfortable at first – but it didn’t last and I still made it the entire 60-minutes with an accomplished sweat and safe oxygen levels.
So, three different masks: M2, 3-ply paper, and cotton. A pulse oximeter. A heart rate monitor reading BPM. And a full 60-minute Journey Into Power.
I took my vitals prior to class beginning: Baseline O2 = 99%, Baseline BPM = 101
Journey Into Power: Integration – Awakening
Mask: M2
O2 = 97%
BPM = 142
Sun Salutations done, Tapas lit!
Journey Into Power: Vitality
Mask: M2
O2 = 97%
BPM = 137
Journey Into Power: Equanimity
Mask: 3-Ply Paper
O2 = 97%
BPM = 115
Journey Into Power: Grounding
Mask: 3-Ply Paper
O2 = 97%
BPM = 125
Journey Into Power: Igniting
Mask: Cotton
O2 = 98%
BPM = 130
Journey Into Power: Stability – Opening
Mask: Cotton
O2 = 98%
BPM = 129
Journey Into Power: Release
No Mask
O2 = 97%
BPM = 126
Journey Into Power: Rejuvenation – Deep Rest
No Mask
O2 = 98%
BPM = 108
Here’s a recap of my 60-minute Journey Into Power vinyasa practice:
Baseline: O2: 99%, BPM: 101
Integration-Awakening: Mask: M2, O2: 97%, BPM: 142
Vitality: Mask: M2, O2: 97%, BPM: 137
Equanimity: Mask: 3-Ply Paper, O2: 97%, BPM: 115
Grounding: Mask: 3-Ply Paper, O2: 97%, BPM: 125
Igniting: Mask: Cotton, O2: 98%, BPM: 130
Stability-Opening: Mask: Cotton, O2: 98%, BPM: 129
Release: No Mask, O2: 97%, BPM: 126
Rejuvenation-Deep Rest: No Mask, O2: 98%, BPM: 108
So what did I find? I practiced a full 60-minute in-studio vinyasa yoga class with 3 different masks and my Oxygen Levels proved unaffected by the addition of a mask; M2, 3-Ply Paper, or Cotton.
We are in strange times right now and dealing with a virus we are continuing to learn about every day.
Everyone’s comfort level is different, and that’s totally ok!
This is why we are working everyday to offer you a practice in a format that fits for your level of comfort: in-studio at the Lancaster, York, or Harrisburg location live-virtual, and on-demand yoga, meditation, & wellness content via Evolution GO.
Do what you need to do to keep yourself and those you are with safe – but keep your practice in a space of priority; for your mental, physical, emotional, and social health. During times of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety; it is more important than ever to hold strong to what keeps you grounded, clear headed, and at ease; your practice.
We totally get it – we are used to the practice we had grown accustomed to: in a heated studio with bodies and mats surrounding you, synchronized ujjayi breath that fills you with this unexplainable energy and connection.
That isn’t lost – the connection is there. It’s just in a different form. We challenge you to take this as a time to take a step back and from your practice with an objective eye and adopt a global looking into what is really coming up for you as a roadblock to continuing your practice.
Is a the lack of packed community and hearing other’s breath really what is stopping you from trying virtual classes? Be honest with yourself – this year has proven to be a time of deep insight into many things; this may be one of them.
If the studio is what you feel you need in order to stay committed to your practice and showing up, yet you are not comfortable coming into that setting, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of the FitGrid community app.
Think of it as a social media platform for your yogi and fitness friends. This is a space that allows you to create digital connection with other Evolution Community members so that you can hold each other accountable, coordinate schedules for online or in-studio practice, share your thoughts and feelings in chats and private groups, and remain and active member in our community.
Because we don’t just need our practice. We need each other.
