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August 7, 2020 VIRAL BUSINESS

Virus prompts yoga business to go virtual 

PHOTO | File image Amanda Audibert at True Blue Studio in Wolcott.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

When the coronavirus pandemic began to surge in Connecticut, Wolcott yoga and wellness studio owner Amanda Audibert started teaching classes virtually instead. 

Now, the virus is making her revamp her business strategy for True Blue Studio on a more permanent basis. Audibert announced she has decided to close her brick and mortar location at 421 Wolcott Rd. and focus on teaching classes remotely. 

“We will be entirely virtual to change with the changing world,” Audibert said via email this week. “Meditation, barre and all forms of yoga will be taught online.”

Going forward, she plans to continue with all of the above and also have yoga teacher training sessions. She plans to run yoga retreats, implement spiritual and Ayurvedic coaching, and work with companies to add daily meditation and yoga classes to their employees’ new work from home lifestyles. 

“It is bittersweet,” Audibert said. “But this has given me an opportunity to expand my reach to a much larger group of people. Now more than ever we need our yoga practice and these tools in our own homes.” 

When needed, she will rent out space for private yoga lessons and reiki sessions, and the business will give lessons in individuals’ homes.

For the past five months, the studio has been having virtual classes, with students and teachers connecting, exercising and meditating together from their homes, she said.

The move to online classes only begins on Sept. 1, when the brick and mortar studio will close. The business will be providing an updated class schedule. 

The studio reopened for classes in June following the shutdown of non-essential businesses. However, since then, most participants have still preferred to attend classes virtually, likely due to virus-related safety concerns, according to Audibert. 

Anyone with class passes who prefers to use them in the studio may do so until the end of August. Those with remaining credit can use the money toward virtual classes.

In an interview last year with New Haven Biz, Audibert discussed how she turned her love for yoga into a business, including renovating a former office into a studio designed to give students a serene experience.

In a joint statement on Facebook, Amanda and fellow teacher Emily Audibert said, “We are so excited for what the future has in store and we believe it is time to change with the changing world.”

“Our Wolcott studio has been so good to us,” the statement said. “It has provided us memories, a community, endless love, and healing for the past three years. Stay tuned for our new vision, new website, schedule, and future plans. We are ready to expand our reach and grow outside of our comfort zone.”

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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