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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Yoga restrictions

Summary

Deputy McGrath urged an easing of restrictions so yoga classes could reopen safely and protect jobs and mental health. The Taoiseach said he wanted society open but restrictions were needed to control Covid, though he agreed yoga was beneficial and promised to review the situation in January.

There are a lot of inconsistencies and anomalies in the Covid lockdown. I appeal to the Taoiseach to do something for yoga classes. I met with Lara Slattery of Sukha Wellness Centre in Cahir on Monday. She has a wonderful studio that would fit 14 people in pods safely, hygienically and everything else. The Irish Federation of Yoga Teachers held an online Yoga Supports Health day on 28 November to show the benefits of yoga. It not only helps with movement and so on but also helps people's mental health, which is under huge pressure, as we know. This lady employs four people in Cahir but there are thousands employed throughout the country. More important, there are tens of thousands of people who take part in yoga and they need this and it can be done safely in studios like that. I am appealing to the Taoiseach to look compassionately at this because it is for people's mental health and well-being. The studios are safe and are compliant. Where they can do so, they should be allowed. There should be some measurement of square footage so people, like those involved in dance, can operate safely. It is the same for pubs and for churches if they have space.

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I would love to open up the whole of society again. There is nothing I would love more dearly to do. However, we cannot because of the Covid-9 virus. We are holding it at bay. We have the lowest incidence of Covid-19 in Europe. There is a reason why we have the lowest incidence: it is because of the balance of restrictions we have introduced. Yoga is extremely important-----

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It can be done safely.

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In terms of yoga I agree with the Deputy that it is very good for mental and physical health. However, where does one draw the line in terms of opening up various disciplines and areas across society? It is very difficult to draw the line, sector by sector. As I said, I would love nothing more than to be in a position to open up all the various sectors. We want to get to Christmas and January. We will assess where we are in January. There will be more mixing at Christmas. That is inevitable because of the festive season. We will have to see where we will be in the aftermath of that.

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