At the time of this newsletter the COVID19 metrics are trending downwards in the areas surrounding ZenQuest. If this continues we would likely be able to train maskless...again...within a matter of weeks. Until then, though, we are required by the ‘Tri-Town’ board of health to mask while indoors. This means that anyone entering our indoor space is required to wear a face covering.
Recently we have had some instances where parents or relatives of younger students have resisted this requirement. Trust us, we understand the frustration of wearing the masks over an extended period of time. This is especially true when trying to train or do physical activity. However, throughout the pandemic we have done our best to keep everyone safe and prevent a situation that results in a shutdown, and further strain on the gym.
For people who do not want to wear face coverings we simply ask that you drop your child off at the door and we will be happy to sign them in and help them prepare for their class. In a case where making a payment is needed, payments can be submitted over the phone, via our website, by submitting information via email, or even by having the student bring it to the front desk.
We sincerely appreciate the students who’ve been willing to tolerate the masks when this was required. Although this can be annoying, training with a mask on actually improves the wearer’s cardio-pulmonary capacity. Many top athletes wear something called an ’altitude mask’ when they train for that very reason. This gives them incredible endurance which can make the difference between success and failure.
Over the long term ’Mask Fatigue’ is mostly a psychological challenge for us. This is especially challenging given the fact that we had a period during the summer of this year when we were able to go maskless in our classes. A martial artist should view all of this as ‘mental training’ or something that makes them tougher mentally in the long run. After wearing a mask for some time, our body adjusts to it and we can actually forget that we have it on.
Here are some tips that may help with ‘Mask Fatigue’:
Find a Mask that Fits - Finding a face covering that fits properly is essential. Not only will this insure that the mask functions the way that its supposed to, it will be less of a distraction when you aren’t constantly adjusting it.
Focus on Breathing - Doing physical activity while wearing a mask will go better if the wearer makes a habit of breathing more deeply. Many martial arts incorporate breathing exercises or patterns as part of the training. There are many benefits to mindful breathing, so being more aware because of the mask is another positive.
Take Breaks - Experts recommend frequent breaks when exercising with face coverings. Students who have been attending classes at ZenQuest with this situation will know that we do incorporate several breaks into our classes for ‘water and oxygen.’
Wear a Fun Design - We’ve seen some great face covering designs in recent months, especially from the kids. Let’s face it, if its something that we have to do for now, we might as well have fun with it.
Keep Masks Handy - We’ve all been in situations where we’ve forgotten a mask when going somewhere that requires one. It pays to keep extra face coverings handy (in the car, our pocket, our purse, etc.) to prevent these situations.
We are hoping that the extra safety requirements related to the pandemic are soon a thing of the past. Ironically, until then, THEY will actually help us get there!
Recently we have had some instances where parents or relatives of younger students have resisted this requirement. Trust us, we understand the frustration of wearing the masks over an extended period of time. This is especially true when trying to train or do physical activity. However, throughout the pandemic we have done our best to keep everyone safe and prevent a situation that results in a shutdown, and further strain on the gym.
For people who do not want to wear face coverings we simply ask that you drop your child off at the door and we will be happy to sign them in and help them prepare for their class. In a case where making a payment is needed, payments can be submitted over the phone, via our website, by submitting information via email, or even by having the student bring it to the front desk.
We sincerely appreciate the students who’ve been willing to tolerate the masks when this was required. Although this can be annoying, training with a mask on actually improves the wearer’s cardio-pulmonary capacity. Many top athletes wear something called an ’altitude mask’ when they train for that very reason. This gives them incredible endurance which can make the difference between success and failure.
Over the long term ’Mask Fatigue’ is mostly a psychological challenge for us. This is especially challenging given the fact that we had a period during the summer of this year when we were able to go maskless in our classes. A martial artist should view all of this as ‘mental training’ or something that makes them tougher mentally in the long run. After wearing a mask for some time, our body adjusts to it and we can actually forget that we have it on.
Here are some tips that may help with ‘Mask Fatigue’:
Find a Mask that Fits - Finding a face covering that fits properly is essential. Not only will this insure that the mask functions the way that its supposed to, it will be less of a distraction when you aren’t constantly adjusting it.
Focus on Breathing - Doing physical activity while wearing a mask will go better if the wearer makes a habit of breathing more deeply. Many martial arts incorporate breathing exercises or patterns as part of the training. There are many benefits to mindful breathing, so being more aware because of the mask is another positive.
Take Breaks - Experts recommend frequent breaks when exercising with face coverings. Students who have been attending classes at ZenQuest with this situation will know that we do incorporate several breaks into our classes for ‘water and oxygen.’
Wear a Fun Design - We’ve seen some great face covering designs in recent months, especially from the kids. Let’s face it, if its something that we have to do for now, we might as well have fun with it.
Keep Masks Handy - We’ve all been in situations where we’ve forgotten a mask when going somewhere that requires one. It pays to keep extra face coverings handy (in the car, our pocket, our purse, etc.) to prevent these situations.
We are hoping that the extra safety requirements related to the pandemic are soon a thing of the past. Ironically, until then, THEY will actually help us get there!
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