Melt yoga classes: avoid at all costs!
I've purchased one the city deals voucher for 8 yoga classes at Melt. On the face of it, it looked like good value.
I was a bit put off by the reception of the salesgirl who took my name down for the class. First, she never stopped eating her snack while talking to me (mid-afternoon, not quite a lunch break) then when I mentionned I'd be on holidays for a couple of the classes that were part of the 8-week course, and asked if it would it be possible to attend another couple of classes the odd week to make up for it she emphatically said no, this would mess things up.
Highlight #1: Rude AND unaccommodating staff
Now, as to messing things up, I don't see how it could get worse: the website stated the wrong start date for the course, so I turned up on the last class of the previous course. That wasn't spotted at the reception where a different staff member from my first encounter was only interested in getting my voucher Then on enquiring about changing facilities, that same person curtly directed me behind a curtain where various big objects such as spare massaging chairs where kept, with no light. In the dark, I had barely room to lift my arms to change my clothes . The only aternative was one loo that of course was quite busy. On the the second visit I was asked again for the voucher I had already given. There is no system in place to check in for your class: you have to queue behind shop customers doing their transactions, wasting your time until you give your name (which is then scribbled on a piece of paper - or not - the whole thing looks totally shambolic).
Highlight #2: Uncourteous staff, lack of organisation specific to the yoga course, wrong information on the website, no changing facilities to speak of
The studio is L-shaped, which means that if you are unfortunate enough to sit at the top of the L, there's no visibility. The class is overcrowded, which leaves about 10cms between mats. Because it's overcrowded it gets stuffy, so the windows need to be opened at the front and the back, creating a draft and letting the noise from busy temple bar in, making the instructor hard to hear in turn.
Highlight #3: Facilities from hell
Why, I hear you ask, did I not just ask for a refund and left it at that? The yoga instructor, Roxanna, is good. She takes the time to correct every students' alignment and that's not something I've seen in many places.
I think the main problem with this place is that Melt is primarily a shop that happens to accommodate yoga classes in whatever broom cupboard they can cram as many punters as possible, and make them pay heftily (when you get that service, even a 60% off deal doesn't seem like good value anymore) for the priviledge. The second big issue is of course the rudeness and cluelessness of their salestaff. read more