Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

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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