This entry was posted on October 23, 2024 by Charlotte Bell.
Yesterday morning I woke up to an all too familiar feeling, a little scratchy feeling in the back of my throat. This is how a cold, flu or sinus infection always begins for me. I’ve implemented herbal defenses and it doesn’t seem to be getting worse, but it’s not getting better either. But I am very clear that it is not a good idea to teach yoga today.
By far the most stressful part of being sick—besides the misery of the illness itself—is making sure my yoga classes are covered, especially when they come on suddenly. I have always been a “soldier”: if I can stand, I can work. However, it’s different when your job is teaching yoga (or something else). Continuing the war may not be in everyone’s interest.
I am fortunate to have a pool of capable replacements, but they are not always available at the last minute. So what to do? I think it depends on the nature of the disease.
When is it okay to teach yoga when you’re not 100%?
For many illnesses, such as sore throats and sinus infections, the most contagious period is early, often before symptoms appear. In these cases, you can usually teach safely when you feel strong enough to do so.
Even so, sinus conditions are complicated and I avoid direct contact with students. I also avoid handling props in the space where I teach, especially eye pillows. I use my own personal mat and bring my own blanket to sit on.
Get informed
It is important to be informed about the nature of the illness you are dealing with. If you don’t see a doctor, call your local health department and describe your illness. They will probably know about the illness of the day in your area and can give you a good idea of when you are no longer contagious.
For example, there are common illnesses, like norovirus (the violent digestive illness that appears in waves every few years), that are highly contagious for several days after symptoms disappear. Most people think that once they feel better, they are no longer contagious. But that’s not true for norovirus. Too often, people end up with this nasty gombu because neither they nor their friends/family members realize that they are still contagious even when they feel pretty well.
Viruses like Covid and the flu are unpredictable. Viruses mutate, so the version of these diseases will be different each season. It’s important to know what the CDC says about the contagious period when you contracted a virus.
Remember ahimsa (do no harm) the foundation of yoga? It is much less harmful to students for a teacher to cancel a class than for them to be exposed to something like Covid, the flu, or norovirus.
In a word
Here are some guidelines for knowing when to teach, when not to teach, and how to keep students safe when you do:
About Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell discovered yoga in 1982 and began teaching in 1986. Charlotte is the author of Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life: A Guide for Everyday Practice, and Yoga for Meditators, both published by Rodmell Press. Her third book is Hip-Healthy Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Guide to Protecting the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Pain (Shambhala Publications). She writes a monthly column for CATALYST magazine and is the editor-in-chief of Yoga U Online. Charlotte is a founding board member of GreenTREE Yoga, a nonprofit organization that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte plays oboe and English horn in the Salt Lake Symphony and the folk sextet Red Rock Rondo, whose DVD won two Emmy Awards.