The first time I heard about this studio and that they offered free classes to yoga instructors, it felt like a breath of fresh air considering that the studio was located very near my office and seemed to be modeling more traditional principles of Yoga I.e., offering free classes to serious students (serious enough to get trained as instructors).
So when I was about to go to my first class and after talking with the owner about my situation I was unable to find parking and so was running late. I called the owner (Jeff), and asked if I could still attend even I I was late and he said that he would call the instructor Jeanne and tell her that I was running late and to admit me. When I arrived at the door it was locked and when I knocked Jeanne came to the door and hissed at me that I could not attend. I was rather shocked considering Jeff was nice enough and had told me he was contacting Jeanne.
It was a mess and didn't feel good to the heart to be treated with such aggression from a 'yoga instructor'.
So being a faithful Buddhist practitioner I decided that Jeanne must have been having a bad day and after Jeff consoled me I decided to give it another try. Now the second time I entered the room with 15 minutes to spare and Jeanne was writing down my info and asked what name to put down. Now being that I have two names because of my career name as a Tulku requires it so I hesitated and began to ask her which name should I use, and again she 'snapped' at me with an aggressive attitude. I was again shocked to see this person who has practiced 'yoga asana' for years and was acting really aggressive.
Again I brushed it aside and took the class anyway.
The third time I attended class at the Yoga Lab I was not late but I had to run back to my car to get something and Jeanne again attacked me even though I was not even late making me wonder if she was just either jealous of me or that I triggered her ego.
After the third class I waited until afterwards and asked Jeanne is we could talk, and of course she said she didn't have the time. I said, "Jeanne it hurts my heart that you have been aggressively attacking me when I've done nothing to you". She again almost yelled at me, "You are just soooo much! Do you have need such accommodation? You expect too much!!"
This was so cruel of her to say but it was really the uncaring tone of her voice and the obvious heartless attitude towards a totally NEW person her life, it amazed me that she was still there. But then I knew she had been triggered by me and in whatever capacity she had, she just could not handle having me around. That was very sad and being empathic I felt her pain and cried fro her because she had not been able to cry for herself in that moment.
But it did not soften her heart and instead she stormed off. After she had left I spoke briefly with Jeff the owner and he was impotent to do anything or make any adjustments in his agenda. I asked that he ask Jeanne to apologize for attacking me and he ignored my question and said that he was just trying to run his business.
I found that rather cowardly. He did not want to tell Jeanne to at least apologize because he was afraid he would be losing business because she may quit.
Again putting profits before care or consideration of others.
Another issue:
He had originally invited me to attend class and then offer him a class and possibly have me offer a class there as well. Since my moivation has always been and will always be about Service and Kindness as well as to spread the Dharma and benefit others, I did not want to even get paid. I only wanted to benefit others. But I think because Jeff is from New York and I lived there before and it is a hard, cruel, money making place (at least it has been for the last century at least) & he still has much of that energy which brigs a competitive edge and a businessy vibe to his studio.
But after he had said this he rescinded saying that they didnt need anyone right then. But during the second class I attended he announced there would be two new teachers and two new classes. Then after class I asked about this and he again denied it and tried to make up a quick story for why which just didn't add up.
Why I'm writhing this review is because I 'see' that even though Jeanne has shown me aggressive demeaning and condescending behavior and Jeff has shown me a kind of apathy and passivity that I find dangerous, and that even though the external image is to make them seem a classic, compassionate, sacred studio, in fact they have shown me a different face than they have shown those who have written these reviews, or they've paid people to write them or had their friends do it. I therefore can not call them a friend and instead felt it important to warn those of you who would be pushing their buttons (& that Jeanne has a lot of them let me warn you) not to attend this studio. For those who want a serious practice among enlightened people, you are best to go to Yoga Mountain. read more
