Kristen Andersen stood on a mat in her living room and told her class things would be a little different that day.
The pilates instructor's students weren't standing in front of her. They were scattered around the city, safely tucked behind the walls of their apartments.
For the last week, Andersen has had to adjust her routine. Instead of leading classes in person from her Chelsea studio, Andersen has been conducting them alone via the video conferencing program Zoom from her Queens apartment.
- LIVE UPDATES: Coronavirus in New York City
- What We Know About the Coronavirus
- CDC Coronavirus Page
- WHO Coronavirus Page
"I had never done any virtual teaching before," Andersen, the owner of Creative Core, said. "So this has been a completely new experience for me."
Andersen told us she threw the new routine together overnight.
It's a way for her to continue making a living.
Before the coronavirus outbreak changed everything, Andersen's pilates studio was just starting to catch on after just ten months in business.
"I was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel," Andersen said. "Because when you start a business it's just work, work, work and not a lot of return yet.
Andersen isn't the only trainer adjusting to the new reality.
Across the city, fitness instructors are trying to keep working and give their clients the workouts they want after gyms closed for the foreseeable future.
Just a short drive from Andersen's apartment, instructor Jenn Schulte told us she just started leading online classes while doing another full-time job: homeschooling her children.
"I set up the iPad; I'm technologically like a dinosaur," Schulte told us. "I have no idea how to work devices, and I have been live streaming on Facebook workouts."
Trainer Sean Aqareva had been doing in-person, one-on-one training sessions until late last week. But now, he's moving his business to online only.
"The government and the health officials are preaching to stay inside so we can protect people who are really sick," said Aqareva. "And I'm going to start following orders."
Aqareva said he's doing what he can to stay healthy and pay his bills.
The same goes for Andersen.
Just a couple of weeks ago, she was charging $39 for an in-person lesson at her studio. Now, her classes cost just $7. The one bright spot, she told us, is that demand has been high.
"Hopefully we'll be able to cover all the bills and at least break even this month," Andersen said. "Next month, though, I don't know.