I've taken many yoga classes over the years, and I have never left one feeling as hurt and…read moreembarrassed as I did after attending the Hot 60 class with instructor Niru Gupta.
I have a very tight back and limited mobility, so there are certain back-strengthening poses such as Cobra, Locust etc I'm simply unable to perform at this point. Toward the end of class, with less than 10 minutes remaining, the class transitioned into a back series. Rather than attempting poses I knew my body couldn't safely do, I quietly moved into Child's Pose and Pigeon Pose to continue stretching and listening to my body, which is something I believed yoga encouraged.
Instead of checking in with me privately or asking if I was okay, I was asked to get up and leave the in front of everyone. I was told my poses were inappropriate, that this was not an "flow" series and it was insulting to the rest of the class. It was humiliating and completely contrary to everything I believe yoga represents. Yoga should be a place of acceptance, mindfulness, and meeting your body where it is not a place where you're publicly singled out because you're modifying poses to accommodate your physical limitations.
I left the studio almost in tears. Afterward, I spoke with the assistant manager, who was incredibly kind, compassionate, and professional. She listened to my concerns and assured me she would escalate the situation to the head manager, and I truly appreciated the way she handled our conversation.
Unfortunately, the experience itself has left such a negative impression that I will not be returning. I also cannot recommend this studio to anyone who views yoga as a safe and welcoming environment for all levels and abilities.
My hope in sharing this review is not to attack anyone personally, but to encourage growth. I sincerely hope Niru Gupta reflects on this experience and approaches situations like this differently in the future. Not every student has the same level of flexibility, strength, or experience, and many people attend yoga specifically to improve those limitations. A brief private conversation or simple check-in would have been far more appropriate than publicly asking a student to leave.
Every student deserves to feel respected, supported, and safe in a yoga class, regardless of their physical abilities. Sadly, that was not my experience here.