To Our Beloved Community,
I found a way back into the Country last night after being away for some time. It was a frazzling experience but we are now safe at home. I have been diligently trying to come up with a plan on how to move forward ever since. I’m not going to lie, it isn’t easy making these decisions from my quarantined home. I do feel rather helpless within the whole situation. We don’t have enough information to know what will happen next. There is so much uncertainty looming in the air right now and I presume there will be for a while longer.
It’s with deep sadness that I announce that Buddha Belly will be closing immediately. My hope is that in a few weeks time we will have more information as to how we proceed. Things are changing rapidly day by day. Our decisions and actions will also need to be made day by day.
Since I am quarantined, Kat is currently freely offering her time, holding down the fort at Buddha Belly and finishing final details with bells on. She is grabbing me some groceries on the way home and bringing some yoga props to my doorstep. That girl is always in service and always the first person to freely offer her heart and her help. I am so grateful to my sister at this time. Thank you to Hope and the other team mates who held strong and supported the studio on standby while I was away and to the students who have offered their time and support to the studio at this point in time. I love you.
Today my father in law dropped off bread on our doorstep as we waved to him out the window. I cry just thinking about the weirdness of it all but I could also cry thinking of how much love there is in our life.
I’ve been sitting at the computer trying to find the right words and trying to keep my eyes open all day long.
It’s all just so overwhelming. SO many different emotions.
We know that Buddha Belly is a central source of health & well being for many of you and understand that this will disrupt your daily routines. We are working on a solution and hope that we can still maintain a connection with you by reaching you in your homes soon. We are currently researching ways to potentially live-stream video classes. There are several options we have in mind & we appreciate your patience while we navigate how this might be implemented to keep us connected. Please keep an eye on your email, our website and social media pages for the most up to date information.
Now is the time where your yoga practice off the mat is vital. The mindfulness techniques, ability to sit with discomfort, and willingness to do hard things are invaluable right now.
On behalf of our entire team at Buddha Belly, our hearts are with you during this difficult time and we send you so much love. We will miss your presence greatly. Know that we are all in this together and we love you! Regardless of what happens, there is a part of me that feels so grateful and so fulfilled for all that Buddha Belly did for our community over the years and for all of the heartfelt connections that were made. What a beautiful loving community of students and team members we have. I couldn’t have picked anyone better to share + serve with. My deepest gratitude goes out to you for all of the support over the years.
There are a lot of details we need to work out and I have very limited support at my fingertips. Please know that I am doing my very best and need some time to figure out all of the logistics of this so I ask for your patience and compassion right now.
All future membership payments will be suspended. All passes and memberships will be put on hold and given extensions when we can re-open. This arrangement may change if we need to be closed for longer than anticipated. I will reach out again closer to April 15 to inform you of any updates or changes.
Small-business owners & their families are directly impacted by the daily ups & downs of ownership, but the enormity of this pandemic will certainly continue to generate a challenging shift for your local entrepreneurs. I have been brought to tears many times today when I think about what this means for you as our students, us as small business owners, and our team who rely on us for income.
As of this month our current goal is to resume the studio, if and when the world goes back to normal again. The sad reality is that there is always the possibility that Buddha Belly may not make it through this difficult time. My husband and I are both self-employed and in times like this it is quite terrifying having no income and the potential of losing all that we have worked so incredibly hard to build over the years. I lost my entire life overnight, as all of you have as well. What a surreal time to be alive.
It is with great sadness that we have to be physically separated from our community in a time like this when we need each other and the studio the most. We will do our best to stay in touch and keep you up to date as we know more and make further decisions.
I know many of us are very close and I already miss you all. Any of you, please feel free to add me on Facebook or send me an email and I can send you my cell # if you want to stay in touch.
Thank you all for patience right now as we navigate these uncharted waters.
I wish you and your families all of the safety, love, support and health in the coming weeks and months.
I am here for you through this all in spirit.
Stay strong, positive and centered deeply in your light.
We are so lucky to have social media and access to information at our fingertips.
All my love,
Melanie Cosens XO
Heres a little link to my own personal blog if you are interested in how I made it home during all this: