A Story from the Field: The First Class After the Water Went Down

Khru Prae is thirty-nine and runs a small yoga and Pilates studio on the ground floor of a commercial building on Banthat Thong Road, close to Sam Yan in Pathum Wan district. One room is used for yoga and has a good-quality engineered wood floor. The other holds four reformers for Pilates classes. Most of her members are office workers from around Siam and university students who come in after work or lectures.

During the 2026 floods, the rain kept falling until water in the soi spilled into the building. The studio floor sat under ankle-deep water for a night and half a day. Prae managed to lift the mats onto shelves, but the foam blocks, straps, and knee pads in the low baskets were all submerged. The legs of the reformers stood in water, and the wooden floor along the walls began to cup and ripple.

After cleaning up and running fans for three days, she reopened with her first class. During the final relaxation, when everyone was lying in savasana, one member lifted her head and whispered, "Khru, can you smell something? It's like mold coming from the floor." Another said the studio mats felt sticky and smelled stale. After class, two members messaged to postpone their next sessions.

Prae realised immediately that this was not a problem she could see. A yoga room is where people walk barefoot, lie flat, press their faces close to the floor, and breathe deeply for a full hour. Even a faint smell or a little dampness is noticed far more quickly here than in almost any other kind of room.

What made it harder was timing. October is usually a busy month for the studio, with new members joining after the long holiday and regulars renewing their packages. Every day the room was closed, or open but smelling of mold, was a day when those renewals could slip away to another studio across the road. Prae needed the room to be genuinely fresh, not just clean to the eye, and she needed it quickly.

Her studio is one of many small wellness businesses tucked into shophouses and low-rise buildings around Banthat Thong, Sam Yan, Chula, and Siam. They are boutique spaces with loyal communities, and they rely on an atmosphere of calm and cleanliness that a flood can undo in a single night.

Why Yoga and Pilates Studios Are Especially Sensitive to Flooding

The floor is the heart of the room. Solid wood, engineered wood, and laminate floors all draw water in through the joints and along the walls. Once the boards swell, moisture stays trapped underneath where nobody can see it, creating a constant source of mold and musty odor that rises into the room.

Most props are porous. Yoga mats made from PVC, TPE, natural rubber, or cork, as well as foam blocks, knee pads, fabric straps, and blankets, all absorb moisture and odors easily.

Pilates equipment combines many materials. A reformer has a wooden or aluminium frame, faux-leather upholstery, metal springs, ropes and straps, wheels, and rails. Each part needs different care, and anything that stood in water should be checked by the manufacturer's agent or a qualified technician.

Closed rooms with constant air conditioning. Most studios keep the curtains drawn for atmosphere and the air conditioning running. When moisture builds up, the musty smell circulates and settles into the curtains and ceiling.

Heated classes. Studios that run hot yoga sessions accelerate the growth of mold and bacteria if the room is still damp.

Ground-floor locations. Many boutique studios choose ground-floor units for easy access and lower rent, which also makes them the first to take water when the soi floods.

The Risks for Members and for the Studio as a Business

Skin and feet. Members are barefoot and touch the floor with their hands, knees, and faces. Floors or mats that still carry germs from floodwater can lead to rashes, skin irritation, or fungal foot infections, especially for anyone with small cuts on their feet.

Breathing. Many yoga poses involve deep breathing close to the floor. Mold spores rising from the floor and mats can leave people with allergies or asthma congested, coughing, or tight in the chest, which is the opposite of what they came to class for.

Flood-related illness for staff. Staff who wade through water to move equipment and clean up are at risk of leptospirosis if they have cuts on their feet or legs. Anyone who develops a high fever or muscle pain, especially in the calves, after contact with floodwater should see a doctor and mention the exposure.

Trust and memberships. A studio sells an experience of calm and cleanliness. If a member smells mold even once, they may postpone classes, decide not to renew, or mention it to friends. The lost income can easily be many times the cost of doing the recovery properly.

Tackling It Piece by Piece: Floors, Mats, Props, and Pilates Equipment

• Wooden floors. If boards are cupped, swollen, or springy underfoot, there is water trapped beneath. Have a flooring contractor inspect the floor and lift damaged sections so the subfloor can dry. Sanding or laying a new floor over the top does not help while the layer underneath is still wet.
• Yoga mats. Mats that were submerged in floodwater, especially open-cell mats and cork mats, should be thrown away. Mats that were only damp but not soaked in dirty water can be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions and dried in the shade. Avoid strong sun, which makes rubber deteriorate faster.
• Blocks, pads, and textiles. Foam blocks and knee pads that were submerged should be replaced. Straps, blankets, and towels can be washed in hot water as the fabric label allows, then tumble-dried or air-dried completely.
• Reformers. Wipe off the mud, then have a technician or the manufacturer's agent check the springs, wheels, rails, and ropes. Clean the upholstery according to the manual. If the padding inside has absorbed water, the foam should be replaced.
• Electrics and air conditioning. Floor-level sockets that were underwater must be checked by an electrician. Air conditioners should be cleaned by a technician, with particular attention to the condensate trays, which often harbour mold.

During the day, studios can use CHEMGENE HLD4H disinfectant spray on shared touch points such as barres, reformer handles, and prop shelves, following the label. For mats, test on a small corner first and follow the mat manufacturer's guidance.

A Quick Guide to Mat Types After a Flood

Studio owners often ask which mats are worth saving. There is no single answer, because it depends on how long the mat was in the water and how dirty that water was, but the material makes a big difference:

• Closed-cell PVC and TPE mats. The surface does not absorb much water, so mats that were only splashed or briefly damp can often be cleaned and dried. If they sat in floodwater, the edges and any textured surface can still trap dirt, so many studios replace them anyway.
• Open-cell and natural rubber mats. These grip well precisely because they are porous. That same porosity means they soak up floodwater and odors. Mats in this category that were submerged are usually not worth keeping.
• Cork mats and cork blocks. Cork has some natural resistance, but once it has absorbed dirty water and started to smell, it is very hard to restore.
• Cotton and jute mats or rugs. These can sometimes be washed, but heavy fabrics take a long time to dry fully in Bangkok humidity. If they still smell after washing and drying, replace them.
• Members' own mats. If members store mats in studio cubbies, let them know what happened and encourage them to inspect, clean, or replace their own mats rather than assuming the studio has handled them.

When in doubt, ask yourself whether you would be comfortable lying with your face on that mat for an hour. If the answer is no, your members will feel the same.

What Many Studios Try That Does Not Remove the Smell

• Burning incense or diffusing essential oils to mask the smell. Fragrance mixed with mustiness makes the room feel heavy, some members are sensitive to strong scents, and it does nothing about the mold under the floor.
• Mopping wooden floors with bleach. Bleach damages the wood surface and finish, leaves a chlorine smell, and every extra wet mop adds more moisture to boards that are already struggling to dry.
• Running the air conditioning very cold all day. It feels drier for a while, but if the condensate tray and coil already have mold, the unit simply blows spores around the room.
• Keeping the old mats because they were new. A mat soaked in dirty water is the item members touch most closely. It is not worth the risk.
• Laying a new floor over the old one. Moisture trapped under the original floor will make the new one swell and smell as well.

The Solution: Ozone Treatment and Disinfection Fogging for Studios by WHD

World Health Disinfection (WHD) provides ozone treatment and disinfection fogging for yoga studios, Pilates studios, dance rooms, and small fitness spaces in Pathum Wan, Banthat Thong, Sam Yan, Siam, and nearby areas, once the flooring contractor and air conditioning technician have completed their part of the work.

Disinfection fogging with CHEMGENE HLD4H. Our team applies CHEMGENE HLD4H with an ultra-low-volume (ULV) fogger. The fine mist reaches the edges of the walls, skirting boards, under prop shelves, changing rooms, showers, and the floor beneath the reformers, helping to reduce bacteria, viruses, and mold on surfaces.

Ozone treatment. After fogging, the team runs an ozone generator in the closed room. Ozone helps reduce airborne mold spores and breaks down the odor molecules soaked into curtains, ceilings, walls, and floors, so the room is once again pleasant to breathe in.

Safety and materials. No people, pets, or plants may be in the room while ozone is running, so the decorative plants many studios keep must be moved out first. The team controls the dose and duration to suit the room, because high concentrations of ozone over long periods can make natural rubber and some other rubber materials age faster. Natural rubber mats, speakers, sound systems, and other electronics are moved out or covered. After treatment, doors are opened and the room is ventilated for the time the team recommends before anyone goes back in.

How the Work Is Done in a Studio

1. Survey. We look at how high the water rose, the condition of the floor, mold on walls and skirting boards, the showers, and the position of the Pilates equipment, and plan a closure day that disrupts your class schedule as little as possible.
2. Preparation advice. You receive a list of props to discard, items to wash, plants and audio equipment to move out, and the flooring, electrical, and air conditioning work that should be completed first.
3. Disinfection fogging. CHEMGENE HLD4H is fogged throughout the yoga room, Pilates room, changing rooms, and showers.
4. Ozone treatment. The room is closed and the generator runs for the set time with nobody inside.
5. Ventilation. Doors and windows are opened so the ozone can break down before equipment is returned to the room.
6. Re-check. We check the smell at floor level, which is where members breathe in many poses, and advise on a mat-cleaning schedule and humidity control for the room.

Reopening Well: Communicating with Your Members

How you reopen matters almost as much as how you clean. Members who have already noticed a smell will be watching closely. Studios that recover their communities quickly tend to do a few simple things:

• Be open about what happened. A short message explaining that the studio flooded, what has been replaced, and what professional treatment was done builds more trust than silence.
• Test the room yourself first. Lie on the floor in savasana for ten minutes before the first class. If you can smell anything at floor level, members will too.
• Offer fresh props. Put new mats and blocks out where members can see them, and keep a supply of clean towels.
• Start with a smaller timetable. A few classes in the first days gives you a chance to check the room after it has been closed overnight and used by a group.
• Keep humidity under control. A hygrometer on the wall and a dehumidifier for the first weeks help you catch dampness early, before it turns into a smell.

A personal invitation to return, once you are genuinely confident in the room, often brings back members who had quietly paused their packages.

Keeping the Studio Dry After Recovery and Preparing for Next Time

Once the studio smells fresh again, the goal is to keep it that way through the rest of the rainy season. Bangkok humidity is high even without a flood, and a studio full of warm, breathing bodies adds more moisture every day. A few habits make a real difference over the months that follow.

• Watch the numbers. Keep a simple hygrometer on the wall. If relative humidity stays high for days at a time, run a dehumidifier between classes and check the corners and skirting boards for early signs of mold.
• Let the floor breathe. Avoid leaving rubber mats, rugs, or storage boxes lying on the wooden floor overnight. Moisture gets trapped underneath them, and that is often where the smell starts again.
• Clean mats on a schedule. Studio mats should be wiped after every class and given a deeper clean on a fixed day each week, then stored rolled loosely or hung so air can reach both sides.
• Service the air conditioning. Ask your technician to check condensate trays and drain lines more often during the rainy season. A blocked drain line can leak water behind a wall without anyone noticing.
• Have a flood plan. Keep a short list on the wall: which props go up onto high shelves first, who switches off the power at the board, which contractor to call for the floor, and when to call WHD. In the next heavy storm, ten minutes of preparation can save the whole room.

Some studio owners also choose to schedule a follow-up ozone treatment a few weeks after reopening, particularly if the building had deep water or the walls took a long time to dry. It is a simple way to make sure any odor that was still hiding in the structure does not come back as the weather stays wet.

10 Reasons Pathum Wan Yoga Studios Choose Ozone Treatment Before Reopening

1. Ozone treatment breaks down the musty odor members notice most when lying flat.
2. It reduces airborne mold spores in rooms kept closed with constant air conditioning.
3. Disinfection fogging reaches skirting boards and the floor under reformers that are hard to wipe.
4. It uses CHEMGENE HLD4H, suitable for the wide range of surfaces in a studio.
5. Showers and changing rooms are restored at the same time.
6. Members with allergies can breathe more comfortably during class.
7. It helps protect member trust and package renewals.
8. The team controls the ozone dose and moves natural rubber mats and audio equipment out before starting.
9. Closure can be planned around your quietest class days.
10. We work regularly in Pathum Wan, Banthat Thong, Sam Yan, and Siam, and you can reach us easily on LINE @whd268.

Before and After

A Studio Owner's Perspective

"We thought three days of fans would be enough. But when you actually lie down on the floor, the smell is very obvious. The team advised us to lift the swollen boards first, replace the mats that had been underwater, and only then do the fogging and ozone. Afterwards I lay in savasana myself before reopening, and there was no smell at all. That is when I felt confident enough to message our members and invite them back."

Khru Prae, yoga and Pilates studio owner, Banthat Thong, Pathum Wan (a representative scenario based on typical field situations)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can yoga mats be ozone-treated directly?
A: Mats should mainly be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. Natural rubber mats should not be exposed to high concentrations of ozone for long periods. The team will advise which mats should be moved out and will control the dose to suit the room.

Q: Will ozone fix a wooden floor that has already swollen?
A: Ozone helps with odor and airborne spores, but it cannot return swollen wood to its original shape. If water is trapped under the floor, a flooring contractor should lift and dry it first.

Q: How long will the studio need to close?
A: It depends on the size of the rooms and the strength of the odor. The team will give you clear fogging, ozone, and ventilation times at the survey.

Q: Do the reformers need to be moved out?
A: Usually not. The team covers rubber parts and materials that could degrade, and recommends that the manufacturer's technician checks springs and wheels if the equipment stood in water.

Q: When can members with asthma come back to class?
A: After the full recommended ventilation time, once the room no longer smells. Anyone with unusual symptoms should consult a doctor. This article is not medical advice.

Q: Which areas do you cover?
A: Pathum Wan, Banthat Thong, Sam Yan, Siam, Ratchathewi, Bang Rak, and nearby areas. Call 065-556-6294.

Make Every Breath in Class Feel Fresh Again

Book a survey for your yoga studio, Pilates studio, or fitness room in Pathum Wan after the floods.

Book Ozone Treatment – Click Here

See Our Disinfection Service – Click Here

Call 065-556-6294 · LINE @whd268 · worldhealthdisinfection@gmail.com

Related Links

• Dust mite removal service
• Ozone odor and chemical residue removal
• Master Ozone Generator
• All articles
• External sources: WHO: Floods and health and Department of Disease Control, Thailand