3 Reasons Why the Coronavirus Quarantine is Awesome

Yes, I know you’re stir crazy, scared, and so over it already. The novelty has worn off. I feel it too. But we have at least another month of this (in New York, at least), so it helps to find the things that are good about it.

If you’re resistant to this new way of life, you’ll be in suffering for the next month or longer. But if you embrace this time, it could lead to some spectacular experiences.

There are so many things I’m absolutely loving about this time. For today’s installment of Feel Good Friday, here are three reasons why this coronavirus quarantine is awesome:

(1) Stillness, Silence, and Spaciousness

New York City has a well-earned reputation as the city that never sleeps. The only exception to that rule is Christmas Day, when the city shuts down and a stillness takes over. I love Christmas day in New York. It’s not just “quiet;” the city gets quiet on many holidays. There’s a peacefulness to it.

A remembering of our humanity.

Under shut down, every day is like Christmas.

Every time I go outside to take a walk, I relish the opportunity to walk without cars honking in my face and filling up the streets. New Yorkers are even starting to appreciate the concept of personal space.

I had to leave New York for almost a full year to fully understand the toll that the noise has taken on my nervous system. I didn’t completely get it until I returned, and felt the surge in my sympathetic nervous system response as I walked around the city.

Thanks to the silence and stillness, I’m finally starting to sleep better and feel more like myself again after 6 months of being thrown out of my rhythms.

(2) Coast to Coast Classes Without Travel

When I was living on the west coast last year, Trilogy Sanctuary in La Jolla, California became a home to me, and I quickly immersed myself in the community there. With yoga studios going virtual, I’ve been able to take classes with my favorite teachers from Trilogy and once again find myself back in the warm embrace of the sanctuary.

One of my favorite things about traveling is the opportunity to meet and learn from new teachers. Thanks to virtual classes, I’ve started to explore new classes and teachers in areas I’ve never been to. And it’s been so cool to meet new people from around the world in classes I take regularly.

Being shut in has opened up so many opportunities for meeting and connecting with people I otherwise might not have met. Yoga means union, and it really does feel like we’re all joining together as one big community.

(3) The Opportunity to Take a Risk in Safety

Shortly after completing my yoga teacher training last year, I had an idea that I wanted to teach virtual classes. But it was an easy thing to put off as I focused at first on teaching live, in-person classes. When the quarantine started, I started offering virtual classes to friends and family.

There have been some kinks to work through, but it’s been comforting to have space to figure it out in the comfort of a private space. And seeing that even my friends who are experienced teachers are also still figuring it out has helped me feel supported — and like we’re all learning together.

One friend who signed up for a class had never done yoga before. He said it was out of his comfort zone. My response to him was that at least he’d be in the comfort of his own home.

That crystalized for me one of the rare opportunities of this time: we can take some risks while in the safety of our homes.

I’d love to hear what you’re appreciating about this quarantine time. What are the good parts of this for you? Please share in the comments.