IMPORTANT COVID-19 RE-OPENING INFORMATION
5 Things That Will Change After Quarantine, and 5 That Will Stay the Same
An update on new policies and procedures for when we return
My lovely Dimensional Divas,
Since the Shelter in Place has been lifted for gyms starting 5/26, we are planning to return to in-person classes on June 1. If quarantine has taught us anything, it’s that Dimension is a vibrant community of strong people who love and support each other through ANYthing. We’ve seen just how many of our bad ass selves are essential workers, working extra hours on the front lines and putting themselves at risk, which has given us a whole new group of amazingness to admire. We’ve seen our students stepping up to help others in need... sewing masks, donating food, helping neighbors, and reaching out with emotional support. We’ve also seen each other through periods of anger, and grief, and isolation... traveling through strong emotions and learning how to process this new situation. We truly are a tribe , and I’m so proud to have each of you as part of our family!
Our team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep you connected with fun social hours and games, and keep you challenged with different challenges. So I’d like to give a shout-out to my amazing staff of management and instructors, Jill, Bethany Birdsell, Rebecca(Puppy Socks), Krista, Danielle, Murray, Lauren, Dorcas, Amber, Pam, LaRica, Ling, Maggie, Bethany Wellman, Helen, Kelsey and Sabrina. Thank you for your great attitudes, your creativity, and your passion for our students. We are so blessed to have you on our team!
I also want to give a shout-out to those who have graciously kept their payments going during quarantine. This situation hit small businesses hard, and many studios have had to close. You guys have helped keep Dimension functioning so we could continue to bring you our epic classes when all of this was over. You are seen, you are appreciated, and you are loved. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Since COVID-19 became a concern, I have been planning and working with experts on our plan of action. There have been a lot of quick changes and government decisions that made planning difficult, so I appreciate your patience as we’ve implemented new programs, and have done our best to pivot quickly to keep our connection alive and well! Every challenge you take, every handstand you do, helps keep the Dimension spirit flourishing. Following expert advice, I had planned for easing back into some normalcy on June 1. It looks like that is when Ohio, and I, will feel it is safe to start opening non-essential businesses, so below is an outline of what our “new normal” will look like, with 5 things that will change, and 5 things that will stay the same when we return to our beloved studio.
5 things that will be changing when we return to in-person classes:
1.Social Distancing and Sanitation
For everyone’s safety, we will be temporarily limiting class capacity to help maintain social distancing. We will announce when we post the schedule. You may need to do a different class time during this session, due to the smaller class sizes, and we know that is frustrating. Know that it’s only temporary, and we are grateful for your flexibility as we do our best to keep everyone healthy and safe. We will also be putting several new sanitation and social distancing policies in place:
Please bring your own yoga mat yoga blocks, bands etc. Please wash them after each night of classes.
The front door will be locked until 10 minutes before class starts. Please keep in mind the “rules of social distance” from other students as you wait (we recommend waiting in your car until the door is opened). Classes will be dismissed first, so instructors can sanitize equipment, and then the next round of classes will be admitted. If you are staying for another class, please move quickly to your next class. Try to avoid spending unnecessary time in the hallway or lobby. We recommend coming dressed for class whenever possible, rather than changing in the locker room for now. THERE WILL BE NO LATE ARRIVALS PERMITTED. The front door will be locked when classes start. We are strictly enforcing our late cancel and no show policies. There will be ZERO freebies given during this transition. Morning classes need to be cancelled by 10 pm the night before and evening classes need to be cancelled by noon. Otherwise you will be charged the fee. There will also be no freebies given for any of the open studio times. If you sign up, show up.
Hand sanitizer will be provided at the front desk and in the classroom. Please use it before each class, and any time you touch your face. Instructors will remind you to periodically reapply sanitizer. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own if you have a preferred brand! Medical experts do NOT recommend wearing masks while exercising, and it is considered unsafe but we are strongly recommending that you wear one while warming up and anytime you are not on the equipment. Some of us may or may not be wearing them while instructing. However, you are required to wear a mask while working on a move that requires spotting from an instructor, since she will obviously be closer to you. If you do not feel comfortable having someone spot you for now, we understand, and will give you alternative moves to work on. You may not do new moves that require a spotter without someone spotting you, so understand you will be limiting your progression with this decision.
The student lounge area will be closed until it is safe to reopen it. Also we will be making the water fountain off limits for students. If you need a water refill ask staff to get it for you, but do not interrupt class to make your instructor go get you some water. Come prepared. We will not be offering the use of studio water bottles or coffee mugs, blankets and pillows will be removed from the lobby until we feel it is safe to return them.
You will be required to take your shoes off at the front door. As well as coming in clean. For the safety and well being of everyone in our studio and their families. Also we ask that you do not bring personal items into the studio with you. We understand that this may be an inconvenience, but it is for the safety of everyone. If you absolutely have to change at the studio we ask that you change and then take your things back out to your car. Exceptions will be made for purses. But they will need to be left in the lobby.
For obvious reasons, DO NOT bring your children to the studio. As well as boyfriends, husbands, sisters, baby mommas and daddys, boytoys or sugar daddies. There will be absolutely no extra people allowed inside. If your child is taking a private lesson we ask that you wait in the car or drop off. And don't worry, we will always keep your child safe!
DO NOT COME TO THE STUDIO IF YOU ARE SICK. Fever, cough, respiratory issues, have been exposed to Covid 19 etc. We understand allergies, and know what they look like.
2.Changes in class structure
We are limiting class sizes. Lyra and silks will be dropped down to only 5 people per class and pole will be dropped down to only 6 people per class. We have added extra classes to the schedule to make sure everyone gets a chance to get into their preferred class. We ask that you not sign up for classes that are not your level. For example, do not sign up for lyra 2 if you are a level 3, you will get taken out of that class. ALSO, try not to sign up for more than 1 of each apparatus per week to start with. Since class sizes are limited we need to make sure everyone gets into a class. You may join the waitlist for extra classes. You may sign up for every apparatus that you do though. So if you take pole, lyra and silks, feel free to sign up for one of each class.The silks classes are all the same class each day and are mixed level. That means Monday will have its own curriculum, Thursday will and Sunday will. DO NOT sign up for both classes in one day. We will also still be having flexibility, hand balancing and Liquid Motion classes along with an added chair class and extra open aerial time. When signing up for open aerial it will be different, there will be an open “aerial” and an open “pole” on the schedule. They will only be for an hour and it is not going to be a come when you please situation anymore. You will need to sign up for what you plan on practicing on. Aerial is silks or lyra and pole is obviously pole. Only sign up for one open aerial per week PLEASE. Remember, I am trying to make it fair for every single one of you. So be patient. This is all new for everyone. I will be monitoring who is signed up for what class and if you over sign up you will be pushed to the waitlist for the sake of fairness. We are still offering private lessons and studio rental time.
3.Aerial Hammocks
Due to the difficulty of thoroughly sanitizing fabric quickly, and the fact that we have only 5, we will be pausing aerial hammock classes until we feel we can safely bring them back without fear of cross-contamination.
4.Competition Team
Because most competitions are being cancelled we are only offering practice time to the people that signed up for actual competitions before we were placed on quarantine. DO NOT WORRY, your team fees will go into next year if you do not get a chance to compete this year. And we are still, hopefully, having a showcase this fall. So in order to practice for competition I will need proof that you signed up for the competition before March 16th.
5.Special Curriculum
If you have a punch card that you know expired during shutdown or will expire very soon, please send us an email or a facebook message so that we can fix it for you. If it expired before lockdown we will not add onto it. Since most of us have not been conditioning at our usual pace, a significant amount of muscle and flexibility loss has occurred. Aerial is a journey, so be encouraged that you will get that strength back! To help everyone adjust to returning to a more rigorous exercise schedule, we have dropped class time to 45 minutes, remember you are not sharing an apparatus during classes. We will be focusing on conditioning to help our strength return, as well as reviewing milestone moves from previous levels to ensure you are confident and able to return to your level in a safe way.
5 things that will stay the same:
Our fabulous instructors will still be guiding you and working with you to safely increase your strength and flexibility. We know you missed their motivating workouts, supportive encouragement, and a ton of YASSSSSSSSS BITCHES
You’ll get to see your family in person again! Clapping, cheering, whistling will be louder than ever. While fist bumps and hell yesses may temporarily replace hugs and humps, the community is still just as strong as ever.
Our commitment to quality, expertise, and badassery
Our openness to feedback on what we are rocking, and what needs some work. We love being the place you love to come for an escape. Thank you for helping us be our best.
The Dimension spirit. We are where you come to dance and be free. Where you come to shed the weight of the world and let your freak flag fly. Where you come to laugh, and cry, and become a damn savage. Dimension will continue to be where you find your confidence, your fun, your family.
We love you. Can’t wait to dance with you again!
Xoxo,
Heather
HBIC