Over my 18 years of regular Hot26 practice, I have never experienced a studio owner that I didn't like, & certainly never met one so disgustingly rude as Nicole. I felt unwelcome from the moment I walked in, & then there were big COVID concerns, outright rudeness & more.
I arrived a few minutes before my 1st class there in a decade (I'd been there once or twice but was loyal to another studio in town all these years), & was greeted by an older woman who seemed anxious about where I'd parked. There were no signs saying not to park in the pretty empty lot & she def. could've had better energy, but I said thanks for letting me know for next time & I got changed. As I headed into the yoga room I checked in with her & the studio owner, Nicole, who were talking about me. I asked if I'd be towed, they said no, & I said OK great, I'll just know not to park there next time.
There were 35-45 people in the very crowded, very hot room, & we were all just 2-3 feet from each other tops & not in masks. I would've been surprised by how many people were shoved into the classroom even if it weren't COVID times. I had to walk over other people's sweat puddles to exit the room at the end (there's usually still a clear path between people).
Nicole taught, and talked way too much during class (but ironically *not enough* about the postures/what to tweak, etc), & brought up a story of a homeless man masturbating in the parking lot not only in the locker room before class, but told the story again during class. That's an image NO ONE wants in their brain during their yoga practice.
Nicole seems to have been reported to the Health Dept. because she brought it up defensively a few times, & kept defending her right to hold classes with lots of people during the class. She clearly just wants to make as much money as possible.
When I left the room after almost everyone else did post-class, Nicole was waiting for me outside the room & I said Thanks for class, & I mentioned how hot & crowded the room was compared to what I was used to. I asked if she'd have accepted even more students had they shown up & she said "Oh yes. Well this just isn't the right studio for you," to which I said "Wow, I'm surprised to hear you just jump to that" & she then told me "I know who you are, & we've met before" (Eww, no idea) & "You've had strong energy since you walked in here, this place isn't for you." So I just walked into the locker room, going "WOW." This woman had it OUT for me from the get-go for whatever reason, whether it was parking, or she's butthurt I've practiced at the other hot yoga studio in town for 15 years, or she's threatened by confident, strong women...who knows. It also seems clear she's been recently reported, & I can see why, so I'm sure that's why she was SUPER overly defensive with me.
The showers are still in use there during COVID (isn't that illegal??). I changed, prepared myself to leave & say as little to her as possible, & asked her "How would you like to refund my 5-pack?" & she supposedly did it (but I later saw she refunded less than she said she would). When she said it had been done, I said "Great" & turned around to leave & she said loudly to my back in a sarcastic voice "You're WELCOME."
What an unprofessional beast. She strikes me as the kind of woman who cares more about her Botox & Lululemon than people, but she talks herself up during class & on her website bio like she's Mother Freaking Theresa. Who writes about themselves "Nicole Duke is widely recognized as one of the most inspirational teachers you can find?" Barf.
Yoga studios & teachers should make *everyone* feel welcome, safe, & comfortable. I felt none of these things in Nicole's studio. This woman had it out for me for whatever reason, but luckily, this is her stuff, not mine, & I'll happily return to the other Santa Cruz hot yoga studio I've stuck almost exclusively to for 15 years. read more
