This is the worst yoga experience and studio I have ever been to. From the moment I walked in and met Courtney, it was very clear that Courtney had a personal issue with me. As someone who is a hot vinyassa yogini of 15 years and has practiced in studios all over the world, including most recently Paris, and prior to that Sedona hot yoga for 3 years..I can honestly say that Courtney has absolutely zero knowledge of yoga, and should absolutely not be teaching let alone running a yoga studio. It is more then clear that she hates teaching her classes and uses her classes to express her aggression, anger and toxicity. She has no basis of yogic principals, integrity, nor the word "namaste".
It is more then clear if one has actually practiced yoga beyond her studio that she is just in it for the money.
I grew up in Old Lyme, and my family ran Klingerman Travel in Old Saybrook for years, my mother retired from the Old Saybrook Police Department and my Grandmother is a very loved hair stylist around the corner from the studio, and what is very sad to me..is knowing that this business exists in a town that has always been known for being friendly and welcoming. Since Old Saybrook is a very small town, the word has gotten out about her negative energy. And as I've recently learned, she was out of integrity when she built this buisness..in regards to stepping on the toes of the nearby studio where she got her training.
Amongst the shoreline yoga community Courtney is apparently known for having a very bad additude and a dog eat dog mentality. So, her karma will eventually catch up to her.
I was terminated by her, for breathing and moaning too loudly in class. God forbid I endanger someone..Yet, these are the same classes in which Omming is not considered dangerous, nor is a man, literally growling through the entire class, Nor her other teachers who invite one to exhale excess heat through the mouth now and then..as is normal in most yoga classes.
As I said before, Courtney Is miserable and projects that onto everyone outside of her..I was just her latest shiny target.
I have attached the emails so you can judge for yourself and read her first words to me about any of this..which were sent via email.
Also to clarify, as a new student to the studio I was never offered the trial rate..yet my friends were.
I was also never warned about any of this..So she is straight up lying when she says that the first two times were ignored..and my guess is that she will probably reply back on here and also lie, as integrity seems to mean nothing to her.
I was also told by another shoreline friend, that he would never go back to her classes, because they are actually mentally abusive and after taking her last class, I completely agree. This woman is emotionally poisenous and I very much pray that her ability to poison yoga, and the community comes to a swift end.
The cherry on top of all of this for me is that it led me to an amazing studio in East Lyme CT ..Zen and Now. The flow is a real vinyassa flow and moves quickly in the heated class with great music. The techers are awesome and the community feels like home. As they say in life..one door closes and 10 more open love. All this also in the midst of COVID...So Courtney's excuse for her nastyness as being related to COVID is just that, an excuse.
So I would say to all, skip this toxicity and instead try Zen and Now if you want a heated true vinyassa flow experience that welcomes breathing and "moaning". Or rather the ability to feel welcome and accepted for being your bright and beautiful self. Some places love that!
To put it into perspective, The entire community at Zen and Now was in shock when I told them what had happened at Saybrook Soul Sweat.. as the basis of yoga is first and foremost breath.
If a yoga teacher ever tells you that they should not hear you breathe in their class..run in the other direction as fast as possible..that is not yoga.
Also, never allow another person to discriminate against, bully, harass, or emotionally abuse you.
I personally do not consent to that behavior in my life from Courntey or from anyone, I am far too precious...yogic taught me that. read more