Kate Benedict
October 25, 2017 04:44
I took my first hot yoga class at this studio on September 27, 2014 with Lori. I have gained weight after quitting smoking and am not in good athletic shape. She was very encouraging and informative before class and it was under her guidance that I was even able to stay in the hot studio for the whole class. I was instantly addicted. I paid for the initial unlimited monthly deal and coordinated my schedule with my daughter's father and work in order to go as much as possible. After taking 5 classes, I decided to attend an "Intro" class with Charm to get more one on one attention with my awkwardly attempted beginner's poses. Charm was absent and in her place was an older, heavily made up, minimally clothed woman. I am a size 8/9, however, I was the biggest girl in the small beginners class. This woman asked me 3 times in front of everyone before starting class if "I was sure" I had done yoga before. Um, I'm an adult. Yes, I know where I spend my time and money, lady. She didn't improve on her attitude or communication from the minute she stepped in front of us to the end of class. She berated every single "beginner" in the class saying things like "Why can't you do this?" "Are you even trying?" She forced two other females deeper into their poses in class risking serious injury for a true beginner. It took all of my "yoga power" to stay in the class for the whole amount of time witnessing this type of treatment and after being publically embarrassed. The final straw was when this instructor went around and made sure we were all "not blinking" in Savasana pose (simply laying on your back a/k/a corpse pose). Whoever thinks this behavior embodies any of the principals of yoga is out of their mind. When I was finally able to leave the studio and look up the instructor, I was horrified it was "Betsy" - the owner. I gave up my remaining 2 weeks of unlimited classes and began attending classes at other studios - most of whom gave me a free class to try after hearing my horror story about Betsy. I do not recommend this studio for anyone other than a seasoned, advanced to expert level yogi unless you have a very thick skin and deaf ears.