Nicky Poulin was not certain what to do with her business when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
"We took a leap of faith and thought what was the best way to serve our community," she told CKAT.
Poulin is a teacher/trainer, yoga therapist as well as a life coach mentor at Ohana Yoga and Wellness located in Callander.
That leap of faith was taking her classes and putting them online.
"It has been a crazy two weeks," she said.
"The studio is 20 years old and this is my primary income so it has been a little bit of a shock but I realize that I am not alone in this."
And she isn't alone running her online classes, in fact, the new technology has allowed her to reconnect with some of her former clients who have moved away to places like Toronto, Calgary and Montreal. Now they are back with her for the online classes.
Her husband, who is currently in Iqaluit, will be running a class remotely from there as well.
“My feedback has been great. It’s working. It’s slow but it’s working. We’ve had some classes as large as 25 and some as little as two or three students,” she says.
Poulin is using Zoom meeting technology to run her online classes. Participants can purchase a class card, make a donation or those who can't afford it can access for free.
"We are trying to make it as easy and accessible to everybody and yet still be able to keep our doors open and things moving," said Poulin.
As for the COVID-19 situation, this is what she is telling her clients.
“Things will change and don’t get caught up in the fear of what if. Think about now, step back and breathe and we will get through this. We will,” Poulin says.
Check out www.ohanawellness.ca for the online classes.
