Classes Move Back Indoors as Mask Mandate Lifts

Santa Barbara County did a great job stopping the spread of Covid-19 and getting active cases under control. Vaccination rates are up, and today Santa Barbara officials declared that life is mostly back to normal. Masks are no longer mandated!

Even with no more government restrictions on indoor fitness or martial arts classes, we're going to stay on the safe side. Here's what that looks like, how we're handling health and privacy, and how classes are moving back indoors.

What stays in place

We've made changes that we think are worth keeping:

• Classes stay reservation-only to avoid overcrowding.
• We encourage you to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when you come into the dojo.
• We installed a touchless water refill station, so there's no shared water fountain.
• We added a second garage door to increase airflow when the weather allows.
• We installed HEPA air filters.
• We'll continue offering Zoom classes for now.
• Our staff has been educated on CDC recommendations.
• Anyone who feels more comfortable wearing a mask is welcome to.

Some of these began as Covid measures, but they make the dojo a better place to train in any season. Fresh air, clean water and classes that aren't packed are good for everyone. We'd rather keep a good habit than drop it just because we're allowed to.

Your health and your privacy

We trust you to take care of your own health. That's why you exercise and live a healthy lifestyle in the first place. Listen to your doctor, and consult legitimate resources when you make medical decisions. You're welcome to keep training online, wear a mask or do whatever else you need to protect yourself, and we're here to support you.

We also believe your medical information is yours. We won't be asking about your medical history, requiring temperature checks or asking for proof of a vaccine. If you want to share that information, that's fine, but we won't track it or share it with anyone. We ask that you show the same respect for the privacy of other students.

Respect has always been at the center of martial arts. Over the past year, it's meant giving each other space, trusting each other's choices and assuming the best. We'd like to keep it that way.

Your symptoms and your comfort

Please pay attention to how you feel, and avoid coming to the dojo with any outward symptom or inward feeling of flu. If we notice flu-like symptoms such as a cough, runny nose or fever, we'll ask you to go home. Even if you've been vaccinated or you know it isn't Covid, please stay home in those situations for the comfort of others.

You're in charge of your health, and we support the decisions you make for yourself. We based our new rules on the surveys we sent out, and we tried to make them good for everyone. Still, it's impossible to please everyone. If our measures don't feel right for you, please reach out and give us a chance to address your concerns.

Classes moving indoors

Over the next few weeks, we'll be moving some classes back indoors. Check the Zen Planner app to see whether your reservation has moved inside. Each class now says "Indoor" or "Outdoor," so you'll always know where to go.

We're taking it step by step on purpose. Moving back indoors gradually gives everyone time to adjust, and it lets us keep classes comfortable while we learn what works best for our students.

We've missed training together under one roof, and we're excited to see the mat full of familiar faces again. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out. We'd much rather hear from you than have you wonder. Every change we've made has come from listening to our members, and we'll keep listening.

Thank you for your patience, your flexibility and the care you've shown each other this past year. We couldn't have done it without you.

Have questions or want to learn more? Contact us using the form below, and we'll be glad to help.