Unfortunately, I had a very disappointing experience here on October 26th, around 8:00-8:10 PM…read more
I had visited once before for a yoga class and had a positive experience, so I returned simply to purchase a yoga mat. I brought my boyfriend, who is newly discovering yoga, and a friend visiting from the West Coast.
Before walking in, I had actually been speaking so highly of yoga, how calming it is, and how much it can help with mindfulness and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, what happened next was the complete opposite of what I had just been describing.
As I was looking at the yoga mats, I glanced toward the woman at the front desk. Without my even asking for assistance, she began waving her hands and repeatedly saying things like, "No, I can't, not right now," in a visibly rattled and dismissive manner. She eventually said she would get someone else to help us.
The interaction was so uncomfortable and unnecessarily rude that I looked at my boyfriend in disbelief. He immediately suggested we leave, and we did.
I later returned to express how uncomfortable the interaction had been, hoping there might be some acknowledgment or understanding. Instead, the second woman responded defensively, saying something along the lines of, "Well, that's why I'm here." There was no apology, no effort to understand what had happened, and unfortunately, both interactions left me feeling even more disappointed.
What makes this especially unfortunate is that I'm relatively new to Houston, having moved here from Los Angeles, and I've been excited to introduce others to the yoga community. My boyfriend and our guest were getting their first impressions of this space, and this experience was incredibly discouraging.
If you look at my review history, you'll see that I rarely leave negative reviews. I genuinely prefer to highlight positive experiences and support businesses. However, this interaction was so unnecessarily unpleasant that I felt it was worth sharing.
I understand that people have stressful moments, especially when managing a busy studio. But how we communicate during those moments matters, particularly in a space centered around mindfulness, compassion, and self-awareness.
I sincerely hope the staff can reflect on how they welcome and communicate with guests, especially those who may be experiencing yoga for the very first time. A little kindness, acknowledgment, or even a simple apology would have made all the difference.
Unfortunately, this experience left such a bad impression on all three of us that I don't plan on returning.