‘Be mindful’: Yoga studios on guard but doing fine amid coronavirus cases in Sacramento

As the presence of coronavirus ramps up in California and the Sacramento region, gyms and yoga studios say they are feeling the burn.

Both state and local health officials recently declared emergencies in response to the viral outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus strain. As of Friday, patients have been identified in Sacramento, Placer and Yolo counties, and one man in Placer County died from COVID-19, officials said.

Chinese restaurants saw a drop-off in business as news of the virus began to circulate, and close-quarters, high-contact establishments are now taking measures to ensure safety for fitness enthusiasts.

The Washington Post reported Friday morning that fitness centers across the nation are taking precautionary measures in response to the coronavirus — and Sacramento businesses are no different.

But some local fitness studios said they weren’t seeing any dents in their customer base just yet.

Dave Ashby, owner of Rise Yoga Studio on Greenhaven Drive in the Pocket, said business hasn’t really been affected all that much by the coronavirus outbreak.

“We’ve actually had a little increase here,” Ashby said.

While he has heard patrons discussing the infectious disease before or after classes, Ashby said it hasn’t become a big topic in the studio.

Despite the relative calm amid the outbreak, Ashby said he was taking extra preventive measures.

“We’ve been trying to keep the common areas a little more wiped down,” he said, and the studio is encouraging people to wash their hands often.

“Just be cautious, be mindful,” he said.

Julie Havelock, the owner of Purely Hot Yoga on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento, echoed this sentiment, saying that business for her has largely remained normal — with a few extra precautions. Hot yoga, also known as Bikram yoga, employs heat and humidity as part of the exercise process.

“It’s business as usual for us, with some extra attention to common areas,” Havelock said.

Broadly speaking, Havelock said, memberships are still growing, with expected variances in daily attendance.

“We have always suggested to our clients and teachers to stay home if sick,” she said. “We are proactively communicating to our clients the extra steps we are taking to ensure the most sanitary space possible. We’ve always taken steps to clean all surfaces, props, mats and laundry after each class with a proven disinfectant designed to kill all viruses.”

Others, however, have seen a drop in business.

Joey Dediashvili, the owner of Looma Yoga on El Camino Avenue in Arden Arcade, said he’s seen a slight decrease in attendance over the past couple weeks — though he can’t say for sure if the virus is the cause.

But Dediashvili said he was recently notified by a Bay Area yoga studio he used to attend that they had their own concerns over coronavirus, urging safety and hygiene to prevent transmission.

Meanwhile, his own studio, which offers yoga, bar and boot camp classes, is down by about 20 percent of its normal patronage, he said.

Dediashvili said cleanliness is always a priority for his studio, and he’s suggested that people who are feeling sick should not attend — but he’s taking everything in stride.

“It’s not something I’m frankly too worried about,” he said.