On Monday 23 November 2020, changes were announced to the Tier System (formally Local Alert Levels) for when the November 2020 Lockdown ends on 2 December 2020.
There has been a lot of confusion about what is and isn’t possible for Yoga Businesses in each Tier. The confusion partly stems from quite confusing and unhelpful wording from HM Government, and terminology changing both between different updates of the rules, and in different places.
This article looks at the post 2 December 2020 position in England. The principles should hold good for other parts of the UK, but check local guidance.
Context
Its useful to refer to some of our previous posts for context:
The Six People Rule and Yoga Classes – published 9 September 2020
Latest Government Coronavirus Guidance – Are Class Numbers Restricted? – published 22 September 2020
Coronavirus Local Alert Levels and Yoga Classes (England) – published 12 October 2020
Rule of Six
When the Rule of Six came in during September there was confusion about whether this restricted class numbers to six; this confusion resurfaced in October when the Tier system came in, and again this week with the revised tiers.
Its important to note that the Rule of Six is a restriction on Social Interaction not meeting per se. Once this is understood it makes interpreting the current guidance much easier to navigate.
The Rule of Six does not by itself restrict all gatherings to six people. Larger socially distanced meetings for non social purposes are allowed.
The Rule of Six applies to indoor classes in Tier 1 areas, and at the time of writing, it has been confirmed there will only be three regions in Tier 1.
Tiers from 2 December 2020
The latest update of the Tier rules applies from 00:01 on 2 December 2020
- Full list of local restriction tiers by area – this link tells you the Tier for each area
- Government Covid-19 Winter Plan – this link sets out the Governments plan for managing Covid over the winter and includes details of restrictions in each Tier. More details on this are in the link at (3)
- Local restriction tiers: what you need to know – this link sets out more details of restrictions in each Tier. It gives more detail than the link at (2) and should be used in preference
This post relies on details in Local restriction tiers: what you need to know
To understand how the Tiers work, its worth looking at some summary points:
| Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | |
| Socialising | Restricted to 6 people indoors or outdoors | Household / bubble only indoors. Restricted to six people outdoors | Generally only meeting with household/bubble indoors and outdoors. Groups of up to six in Public Places |
| Hospitality | Open – but table service only if alcohol involved | Restaurants open, pubs closed unless a food service provided. Table service only. Alcohol only with meals | Take away and delivery only |
| Gyms and similar including fitness and dance studios | Open | Open | Open |
| Large events | Up to 4,000 people outdoors, 1,000 indoors or 50% capacity if lower | Up to 2,000 people outdoors, 1,000 indoors or 50% capacity if lower | Prohibited unless drive though |
You can see
- Progressively increasing restrictions as the Tiers ascend
- Only in Tier 3 are large gatherings prohibited
So how does the Rule of Six feed into this at a high level?
In Tier 1 you could go to a Restaurant with five friends, as a group of six. The restaurant can host multiple groups of six – it is not restricted to six customers only. You cannot socialise with other groups. Likewise you could attend a large event, eg a concert, with five friends.
In Tier 2 you could go to a Restaurant with your family/bubble. The restaurant can host multiple groups – it is not restricted to one household only. You cannot socialise with other groups. Likewise you could attend a large event, eg a concert, with five friends if outdoors, or family/bubble if indoors.
In both cases, although you cannot socialise with other groups, you could talk to some other friends socially distanced. Paradoxically, you also need to retain social distancing within your own group other than family / bubble members (per Government “Across all tiers, everyone… …should follow the rules on meeting others safely” – these rules include Social Distancing). So in Tier 1 a group of six would be seated on a table, socially distanced unless same family. In Tier 2 each family/bubble will be seated together at one table.
You may be thinking, what have restaurants and concerts got to do with Yoga classes? Well, its the same rules in essence and demonstrates that the social interaction rules need to be contextualised and are not an outright bar on larger groups.
What do the Tier rules say about classes?
| Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | |
| Government says – Outdoors | “Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue” | “Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue” | “Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place” |
| Government says – Indoors | “Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes can continue to take place, if the rule of 6 is followed” | “Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with)” | “Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors” |
As we’ve seen in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 large groups can be under the same roof, but there are restrictions around socialising and contact within the groups.
We won’t touch on outdoor matters any further here – it would be a brave person teaching outdoors at present!
In terms of Indoor classes, bear in mind the Government guidance covers “sport, physical activity and exercise classes”. In practical terms you would need to distinguish between an exercise class and indoor sport – In a Yoga or Pilates class with everyone on 2m spaced mats the interaction between participants is very different to an indoor team sport, say tennis or indoor football.
Taken in the round, the restrictions around interaction – Tier 1, Rule of 6; Tier 2, avoiding mixing with people they don’t live with – are of more relevance for team or contact activities. In practical terms they have no effect on a class where everyone is on a mat, as the group will by Socially Distanced and not mixing anyway.
To this end it is my view that the restrictions in the Tier guidance for Tier 1 and 2 are of little practical relevance so long as classes are socially distanced.
Of course, for Tier 3 the prohibition is absolute and unequivocal on indoor classes.
For Tier 1 and 2 I would conclude:
- Classes must be Socially Distanced at 2m+ and Covid Secure
- In Tier 1 groups of more than six should not socialise before or after the class, eg in reception or refreshment area, or arrive together (how do you police that though?)
- In Tier 2 non family / bubble groups should not socialise before or after the class, eg in reception or refreshment area, or arrive together
Other Yoga Activities
What about Private Classes. home visits and Teacher Training?
This is my interpretation of the rules as they apply in these circumstances. There are no definitive answers on these points, so its a reasoned interpretation:
| Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | |
| Yoga Studios | Can open | Can open | Can open (but no group classes) |
| Group Classes | As above – Covid Secure, Socially Distanced. No limits on numbers other than Social Distancing. Caution around social interaction between group members. | As above – Covid Secure, Socially Distanced. No limits on numbers other than Social Distancing. Caution around social interaction outside of family groups. | Prohibited |
| Private Classes – general | There is no specific mention of these. If you assume a class is intended to mean group, then a one on one class or private class for a family / bubble would be within the rules and allowed as there is no breach of the social interaction rules. | There is no specific mention of these. If you assume a class is intended to mean group, then a one on one class or private class for a family / bubble would be within the rules and allowed as there is no breach of the social interaction rules – the contact between teacher and family/bubble is covered as a work relationship. | There is no specific mention of these. If you assume a class is intended to mean group, then a one on one class or private class for a family / bubble would be within the rules and allowed as there is no breach of the social interaction rules – the contact between teacher and family/bubble is covered as a work relationship. |
| – Private Classes in a studio | Studios are able to open, so these should be allowed, following general rule above. | Studios are able to open, so these should be allowed, following general rule above. | Studios are able to open, so these should be allowed, following general rule above. |
| – Private Classes in clients home | There are no prohibitions on visiting someone else’s home for work (distinguished from a social visit), so following general rules above these should be allowed. | There are no prohibitions on visiting someone else’s home for work (distinguished from a social visit), so following general rules above these should be allowed. | There are no prohibitions on visiting someone else’s home for work (distinguished from a social visit), so following general rules above these should be allowed. However as Government is trying to reduce contact, consider if the class can be delivered online. |
| – Private Classes in your home | As this would be a work visit rather than a social visit, should be allowed. Note the home becomes a workplace, so you would need to make sure it is Covid Secure. | As this would be a work visit rather than a social visit, should be allowed. Note the home becomes a workplace, so you would need to make sure it is Covid Secure. However as Government is trying to reduce contact, consider if the class can be delivered online. | As this would be a work visit rather than a social visit, should be allowed. Note the home becomes a workplace, so you would need to make sure it is Covid Secure. However as Government is trying to reduce contact, consider if the class can be delivered online. |
| Teacher Training | These are not exercise classes. They could be considered as “education” or “business” both of which remain open. However provision should be Covid Secure, and as the instruction from Government is to work at home as much as possible, it would be sensible to deliver content online where possible – maybe split modules between in person and online? | These are not exercise classes. They could be considered as “education” or “business” both of which remain open. However provision should be Covid Secure, and as the instruction from Government is to work at home as much as possible, it would be sensible to deliver content online where possible – maybe split modules between in person and online? | These are not exercise classes. They could be considered as “education” or “business” both of which remain open. However provision should be Covid Secure, and as the instruction from Government is to work at home as much as possible, it would be sensible to deliver content online where possible – maybe split modules between in person and online?
Travel into Tier 3 areas is permitted for work, but again, consider minimising this to remain within the spirit of the rules. |
| Non Asana Classes | Follow same rules as Group Classes | Follow same rules as Group Classes | Although these would not fall into “exercise and fitness”, the clear intention in Tier 3 is to reduce group contact. Therefore I would suggest the spirit of the rules is these should not run in person.
You could argue they are work or education, but this would seem to be against the intention of the restrictions. |
| Yoga Therapy | Personal Care Services and Medical Services are allowed in all Tiers, so the Yoga Therapy can continue. Guidance from CNHC places Yoga Therapy by a qualified Yoga Therapist in a medical category. | Personal Care Services and Medical Services are allowed in all Tiers, so the Yoga Therapy can continue. Guidance from CNHC places Yoga Therapy by a qualified Yoga Therapist in a medical category. | Personal Care Services and Medical Services are allowed in all Tiers, so the Yoga Therapy can continue. Guidance from CNHC places Yoga Therapy by a qualified Yoga Therapist in a medical category. |
Conclusions
I’ve tried to interpret the restrictions as they apply at present on a reasoned and justified basis.
in all cases, Covid Secure and Social Distancing needs to apply, and principles of Ahimsa and Satya are relevant. Just because you can run a class or have a certain number of people within classes, it doesn’t mean you should, and you will need to consider the wider safety and health of clients, trade offs between covid risks of meeting versus mental health risks in not meeting, and your personal boundaries.
Please note that direct quotes from Government are “as is” – everything else is my reasoned interpretation, and seems to be consistent with messages from Sport England, UKActive, Yoga Alliance Professionals, etc.
Jessica Garbett
26 November 2020
