An experienced yoga expert is pinning her hopes on a ’shining light’ for the future after being forced to close her studio because of financial pressures caused by Covid-19.

Ms Walker, aged 55, said that despite the best efforts and support from members, the doors of the Karma Yoga Studio in Douglas had to close.

But studio owner Ms Walker has worked quickly to adapt to changing times to offer live online classes.

She told Business News she believes yoga online is the way ahead.

She has taught hundreds of people over the last 15 years.

She said: ’It is with a heavy heart that I’ve taken the decision to close Karma’s studio space in the Peter Luis building in Douglas after 15 years.

’I began teaching yoga at a time on the island when yoga was largely unheard of and it has been one of my greatest pleasures to help drive the growth of the yoga community on the island through training other teachers and opening the first yoga studio, to now having over 3,500 members in the Karma community.

’Yoga has been a saviour time and time again in my personal life, providing me with stability and strength in times of uncertainty and that rings true now more than ever.

’I am forever thankful to those who have continued to support Karma, over the years, to the Karma teachers and to those who have continued to practice with us online.

’We may be closing our physical space, but we will continue to offer yoga online and our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community remains strong.’

Ms Walker told Business News that as the community slowly transitions to the ’new normal’ she feels that providing an ’online community of health and wellbeing is more important than ever’.

She described her online classes as ’one shining light’ and added: ’With every dark cloud there is a silver living.’ Ms Walker stressed the ’positive’ aspects of online classes which she said includes being able to practice in private in your home ’to cultivate your confidence and remove competitiveness’.

www.karma-iom.co.uk