By Sarah Pilla Hermosa Beach
PUBLISHED 12:21 PM ET Apr. 15, 2020 UPDATED 12:32 PM ET Apr. 15, 2020
HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. – When Spectrum News 1 first visited SoHo Yoga in Hermosa Beach last year a trio of business partners were interviewed about their studio's success over the past six years.
Pete Niva, who is the Director of Operations, says it's all about their clientele.
"We would like to take this opportunity to say, it really isn't about us, it's really about the community we found ourselves so fortunate to be a part of,” said Niva.
But on March 14 when they shut their doors indefinitely this small business had to pivot. They had to figure out how to keep their tight-knit tribe together by creating a digital sense of community as people are isolated in their homes. Starting on Wednesday SoHo Yoga is launching its entire regular schedule of classes online.
"We're trying to give them their favorite classes, with their favorite teachers, at their favorite times. So for us we're trying to adapt to this new environment and although we feel like we're home alone, we're not," said Niva.
Online is Soho Yoga's new normal until they're able to open their studio again, but even when they do it will mostly likely be different than it was before they closed with physical distancing. But as much as Niva wants to be back in their space, they won't open until it's safe to do so.
"The worst thing that I think that could ever happen is people rush back to try to get back to normal. And then all of a sudden it's another crisis and people have to go home for two months again," said Niva.
On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom outlined six key indicators that the state will use as a guide as it considers making any modifications to stay-at-home restrictions. For businesses it includes having the ability to support physical distancing and redesigning their protocols and procedures.
"Lincoln once said to think anew and to act anew and to find new approaches and new strategies to get things done, more teleworking," said Governor Newsom.
Newsom also says California is building a task force to help the economy when the state starts to reopen.
But when we think about businesses having to find new strategies and dive deeper into teleworking, Niva and Soho Yoga are doing thier best to be ahead of the curve innovating, adapting, and growing in this new market in the digital space.
"Once people start understanding how high quality the experience is from the safety of their homes, we hope it gives them an entirely new platform to grow their yoga practice," said Niva.
Helping their clients adapt to this new world of online classes as the studio awaits the day to safely open its doors.