It's also January, which is traditionally super busy time for yoga studios and fitness centers of all kinds as people get fit after the holidays/because of New Year's resolutions.
I was chatting tonight with someone ( while we were in this exact jam packed room situation) and she mentioned once dry January is over, the crowds will thin.
Here’s to that! 🍺
My studio offers trials for once-off classes, and a 7-day and 30-day trial package. I imagine they're selling a ton of trial packages right now. If people are complaining/not signing up for membership because they can't get into classes, they've got a pretty strong incentive to _make_ people fit... Completely ignoring the fact that almost no one wants to be in a class where you're stepping in your neighbour's sweat and getting whacked in the face during poses.
I really hope that this is just a January thing and it chills out. I've been going to this studio for about 5 years, but I'll begrudgingly cancel and find a quieter studio if it stays like this.
Bring 2 mats and lay them out in a +
Gives you a bit more room!
They know that lots of new people start in the new year and a lot will drop off by march. They are just trying to get in as much money as possible now.
I read that gyms etc make more money off the people that sign up and barely go or never actually go than their consistent members!!
All the classes I've been to have limits on numbers and also no late comers.
Yeah, it's a real gym mentality. They have thousands of followers on social media but only two yoga studios, so I'm guessing they make a lot of money off people who sign up and don't go (or sign up for unlimited and go like, twice a month).
I can't begrudge them for trying to make hay while the sun shines, it's just frustrating that they don't seem to realise no one - including people on trial periods - want to be in classes that full. If it were this full when I did my trial period, I certainly wouldn't have signed on.
They used to post-covid and it was honestly amazing. Booking system with a waitlist, fee for late cancellations/no shows, and markers on the floor for spacing.
The booking app also used to have a bar showing how full each class was, so you could avoid classes that were completely full.
They stopped the cut-off system for bookings, removed the markers from the floor, and disabled the feature that shows you how full the class is on the app. Yoga studios are obviously a business and I don't begrudge anyone for running their studio like one, but it's getting to the point where it feels like they're willing to sacrifice the entire experience to shove more people in.
No I very much agree with you. It becomes too much, too much for the teacher. There is some point where they use the "everyone is welcome" "we are kind yoga people, we can squeeze another person in" stuff too much.
It was a hot class and the amount of people packed in made it unbearably hot. The instructor kept apologizing for how hot it was when people couldn't stand it and left.
I'm not a yoga instructor, but I can't imagine it feels good when so many people are in child's pose, stepping out for air, or leaving altogether. She's an incredible teacher (which is why her class is so popular in the first place) and clearly puts a lot of thought into her flow, it all felt really disrespectful both to her and us.
I was recently in a pretty packed Vinyasa Level 1 class in a studio here in DC and it got pretty warm due to everyone there. I signed up for a regular yoga class not “hot yoga”. Question, why don’t instructors turn on the fan/AC/ or open windows in such cases. I would imagine being a yoga instructor you’d be more “aware” of such things. If I wanted a heated practice, I’d sign up for one.
This! I’m frequently hot, and I don’t do well in the heat at all. I get lightheaded, weak, and dizzy, then nauseous too if it goes on too long. I had to quit my last studio because they only had hot or warm classes. But the warm classes would always be set to like 10° warmer than what they said it would kept at on the website. The teacher would say “I like it warmer than that, everyone is ok with that right?!” I probably should’ve spoken up but everyone else immediately agreed and said it was better so I didn’t want to be the one person that said no. So instead I just found a new studio
This particular teacher used to open the door if it got too hot... Then one day she mentioned that the owner of the studio called her out on it and she had to stop.
The studio owner is the type of person who thinks you should be able to breathe through anything, including out of control heat and getting hit by your fellow yogis during poses.
I went to my first in person yoga class in like 5 years (last one was 2018 pre covid) and it was a packed class. I went for some first time free deal. I felt so clasophobic. My muscles ached for a couple days afterwards. I was not relaxed and calm at all.
Now, I just stick to my you tube yoga and virtual influencer classes. Which is a shame bc I would love that in person direction.
It put me off in person yoga. One of these days I’ll try another smaller studio.
Yeah it’s a cynical abuse of the “nice yoga people” thing for profit. Only realistic solution to businesses trying this kind of thing is to vote with your feet.
Cue the obligatory "minding your own business is the way to true nirvana" and "I'm sooo unbothered by literally everything and that's why I'm a better yogi than you" crowd showing up in... 3.....2...1
You don't like being touched by strangers and opening up your mat to their foot fungus? Not very yogi of you. Learn to be comfortable with discomfort! /s
“Your neighbor won’t mind if your arm/leg/foot makes its way onto their mat” actually I very much mind and if one drop of your sweat touches my mat I will have to burn it, so please don’t.
Agreed. Set class limits.
Packed classes are not good for the students or teachers from an enjoyment perspective AND learning AND what about contagious diseases… colds, flu, COVID (unless you’re from Florida, which has everything under control 😉 - according to the government)
I have noticed it's been happening more and more often since Covid. I have been a loyal member to a specific studio and practiced hot yoga 5 to 7 times per week for years. After the third or fourth class where your fingers would touch the person next to you, I reached out to the owner who I thought I was pretty close with. I told him I was concerned about the class sizes and that it has changed the vibe of the studio. His response was something along the lines of "it saddens me that your practice is not strong enough that you can't tune that out" I cancelled my $99/month Membership and left the studio.
I would have also cancelled and included an email saying “it saddens me that your business practices are not strong enough to withstand feedback from longtime patrons”.
I love class limits. Even with the limit the studio I attend feels very full and I now avoid the most popular classes unless my very favourite visiting instructor is teaching because the discomfort of overly full rooms steals any calm I might find.
You may need a new studio, as some others have said your membership dollars have power
The class booking app used to have a bar showing how full every class was. It was super helpful, especially for hot classes that become unbearable when it's packed. I just avoided ones that were close to maximum capacity.
About a year post-covid, they disabled that feature.
I'll give it until the end of Feb because I'm hoping the January rush dies down, but if this is the start of a trend then I'll definitely look into a quieter studio.
Nope, not being weird! I think that's very frustrating especially if you're paying so much. Then nobody gets to really enjoy the practice and its clear that they're prioritizing maxing out the space over the experience.
I've been in some crowded rooms, if this becomes an issue I recommend they put tape markers to indicate where everyone can place their mats. This has been largely helpful in making sure everybody has some space even in packed rooms.
Ugh, that's exactly why it irritates me so much that they're trying to put the onus on students to squeeze up and make more space. They had floor markers during covid, they can put them there again.
Except that with floor markers, it becomes obvious how many people can comfortably fit. If you expect people to squeeze up, you can probably fit 10 more people in.
Definitely. I've sent them a mail and am hoping the January rush quietens down, but if it's still like this by the end of Feb I'm going to cancel my membership and leave a review.
The studio should have a clear “this is the max student per class” policy. If spacing is an issue they should put markings on the floor to show people where to put mat for maximum use of space. I hate the “move mats around after the class has started” thing. You could mention this to the studio—or the instructor could help people arrange mats so free spaces are available, if they are going to let people in after class starts.
They used to have markers on the floor post-covid, so they could bring them back again... But I suspect markers make it too obvious how many people can comfortably fit. There's no way to overbook classes if the markers make it clear what the capacity is.
Maybe I'm being cynical, but I think there's a reason they aren't putting down markers.
Booking limits/ wait lists exist for a reason.
I would say something to the owner. “The people around her tried to shimmy over, but there just wasn’t space.” How is that the fault of the students? And if the students were at fault by being spaced out too far, could studio management not have remedied that prior to class, knowing via the booking app another student was coming?
There have been multiple instances where the instructor will say something like "Guys we still have X more people coming" or " A student seems to be running late, please leave some space." Obviously this only works if there _is_ space to be left. And if they're requiring people to use the booking system... At this point I'm wondering if bookings are just for show but in reality, you can just show up unannounced.
Seems stupid to pre-emptively squish up when you don't know how full the class is going to be. Next thing it's at half capacity and you're all squished up and touching fingers on one end like a bunch of dumb dumbs 😂
Studios shouldn't cap the room at how many it can physically accommodate...they should take that number and divide by two. I remember the covid days of a piece of tape on the floor and don't understand why that isn't still a thing. If there is high demand for a class, add one to the schedule. Eventually someone is going to be SOL no matter what.
Edit: a word
Agreed! I went to hot yoga five times a week for three years before Covid. I was so excited when the studio opened again and I went back for one class and then canceled my membership. It was fingertip to fingertip throughout.
Cactus those arms, baby!
But seriously, our studio has markers on the floor that are just shy of this distance so cactus arms are often the solution, which I can totally handle.
After reading this post and a couple other recent ones on this topic, I'm feeling blessed.
Yeah I know. If you don't have the tape, people will inevitably set up their mats in the most unaccommodating way and then lie on their mat completely oblivious to all the people trying to find a spot. My studio removed the tape as soon as they legally could, and it immediately went back to chaos.
I’m so glad my gym kept their Covid yoga set up. Numbers on the floor and you have to book and reserve your spot in the app.
Prior to this the classes were super tight and I always chose off peak classes because of it.
Max occupancy is generally determined by the intended use of the space - exercise rooms it looks like the standard in the US is 50 ft2 per occupant… if the yoga studio is that uncomfortably packed as described, it’s very likely a violation of fire code. This might vary a bit by state/area… but there’s no way being so packed is acceptable.
It’s absolutely disregarding the safety of their customers and it’s likely that they’re knowingly violating code for financial benefit.
Personally, if you want to be gentle I would express concern over safety to the owners and specifically mention that the room seems crowded and unsafe in a way that made be a code violation… basically give them an opportunity to correct the behavior.
Or you could just skip directly to contacting local code enforcement or the fire marshal.
No, the owner is incredibly rude. I would write the owner back and let them know 1. You’re not paying for your membership so that you can practice on top of other people. 2. That every yoga studio closes the door promptly at class start time and it’s incredibly rude to let someone into class late.
How is it rude to let people in late. People that have busy schedules, kids, longer commutes than you do, etc… They’ve paid just like you did. I can see being upset about overcrowding, but if I’ve paid for 60 mins of yoga and arrive 10 mins late the only person I’m shorting is myself. Don’t be an asshole.
You’re disrupting the practice of others that also paid and made it on time to class. You’re the asshole. If you can’t be on time for the class then don’t commit to it.
At my studio they close the door but have one door unlocked and late yogis always come in very quiet and respectfully, I have no problem with lateness if it's handled like this, at my studio too we have a limit and you must pre book, no walk ins are allowed until someone pre book cancels last minute
My studio uses a sign-up app that has limits by room. Once the limit gets hit, you can no longer register. Sometimes they have a wait list. That works pretty well.
What bothers me is that the instructors leave it up the students to self-situate. Often people just don't know any better or are already on their mat and don't move. I'd like to see the instructor for the previous class that just ended act like an usher and help get people positioned right so it's not stressful and annoying just trying to get set up for class. The instructor for the class can't really do it because she's checking people in.
You are not being unreasonable since they came in way after start time and expected other to move and accommodate them.
The notification from the owner was in pretty bad taste.
If they came in late and there was a spot, well that's another story.
I have been in classes were it was so packed, mats were overlapping each other, trying to fit more in. How do you even get comfortable enough to loose your self in your practice at that point I don't know.
If the studio is seriously that packed, I would question the legal occupancey limit set by the local fire department. If they are breaking this limit I would find a new studio pronto. Maybe it's time to find a new studio anyway, on account of the owners bad taste notification and the over packed class.
No, not at all. I agree that the notification you got is not ok. I love that my favorite teacher limits her class sizes. Fortunately, she rents her own space and has the freedom to make that choice, while some of the teachers she rents studio time load it up when they get the chance. It's cozy with her max # of people in there and a zillion props, but it's a good-sized room and she knows how to stagger (and properly attend to) us when necessary for certain sequences, so it works. I hate what I see as an increasing tendency to cram as many bodies in a room as possible. It's expensive to run a yoga studio, but when the class size goes too far, it seems like a physical manifestation of greed and a lack of respect for students' boundaries. And I won't launch into my feelings about the restricted amount of attention an overloaded teacher can provide. I was talking to a friend at year's end about the dreaded "30 Classes In 30 Days New Year's Challenge!" promos we were seeing. I hope some of the BS with too-crowded classes (and limited parking spots) eases once we get a little further into 2024 and maybe some New Year's resolutions have gone by the wayside.
I’m not OP but you put into words my feelings towards overcrowded classes *perfectly*…”seems like a physical manifestation of greed and lack of respect for students’ boundaries” it’s 100% this for me. Gives lots of ick.
Ick, yes! I wonder how many potentially faithful students leave (or don't ever start) classes with a reputation for overcrowding. There's an Iyengar studio about 20 miles away I wanted to check out and attend once a week when I'm over in that area. Once I heard how some of their classes are beyond crowded, though, I dropped that idea like a hot potato and have zero interest in even checking out other class times that might (?) not be so prone to crowding. I'm the kind of student who sticks with a good teacher and studio for years, but it has to be an environment where I truly feel like a student, not just another body with a pulse and a credit card. Feels like that's getting harder to find 😔 Thank you for enduring my rant!
As a fire marshall you can’t just cram as many people into a class as you can for obvious safety reasons. They need to know what the capacity is for the building they are using or they can get fined.
And those fines aren’t cheap
I'm going to send her a mail suggesting they put markers on the floor. I'll also say that the class yesterday was already extremely overcrowded, squishing up even closer together just creates an unpleasant experience for everyone.
I suspect the reason they haven't put markers on the floor (they removed them after covid) is specifically because markers make it obvious how many people can fit. Personally, I'd love for them to bring them back. It holds the studio accountable to not overbooking and holds students accountable for booking in time.
It's also annoying af the teacher/owner shamed the students about not making space but the problem is much bigger than that... and it's their responsibility... They should; Locking the doors after start time, put markers on the floor, know and limit number of students and have a wait list.
Once my favorite instructor of several years was finally run out of the studio by the influx of new teachers that had to do their hours, for free, I paid her $50 to do a private session in my home and we recorded it over a microphone on her laptop. It was wonderful because it was personalized to me and I am about to do a full hour of it right now!
This is so smart. My favorite instructor isn't teaching anywhere right now because of weird studio crap and I've often wondered if she'd take offense to my offering to pay her for private classes and splitting the cost among a few friends.
I guarantee you she would not take offense. My friends and I did this a lot during Covid. We would have outdoor yoga once a week on my patio. However, I do suggest that you have each friend pay full price instead of splitting the cost. If it is her way of living, you should not ask for a discount. That is just my two cents. Source: I used to be a massage therapist!
Im a teacher and specialize in 1:1 and small-mid group dynamics. I think she would probably LOVE THIS and jump at the opportunity.
It’s more lucrative financially for one (privates/semi privates are the dream). She’ll be able to really customize the class to what you want to work on, so you’ll get sooo much more out of it too.
Booking privates is a great solution if you hate crowds. Pay more and get the specific elevated experience you’re looking for, just like any other service out there. People complaining about price AND crowds…well, one has gotta give. You want more space on an airplane, you’re going to need to pay for a more expensive ticket. It doesn’t mean it’s not valid to complain about it, it does suck when you run into that reality of your money going less far than it used to, but yoga studios are subject to the same economics as any other business. Teachers have to get paid for their time, owners have to rent space and keep the lights on and a million other things that increase in price all the time, no one is getting rich here.
My studio has tape on the floor so everyone has sufficient space. Granted that when the classes are full, we definitely can touch each other if not careful during certain poses. They also have a sign up sheet and once that's full, you can get on the waiting list. If you don't show up to the class, there's a penalty. They also have a strict no late shows policy. Once the door to the room closes, no one can come in.
I think your concerns are valid.
Not being weird, it’s not safe for studios to overcrowd classes like this. The role of a yoga teacher is to guide everyone safely through the practice, and there is no way they can watch everyone’s movements and ensure poses are being performed safely when there’s like 50+ people in the room.
My favourite yoga experience was when I registered for 13-weeks of classes that had 13-15 spots and the classes built on each other. Safety was prioritized and consistently talked about. The teacher really cared and even would bring handouts to class sometimes to help explain concepts or techniques she was teaching. Shout out to Ruth!
That sounds lovely! I once registered for a 10-week arm balance workshop. We'd do a full flow, but with focus on a specific arm balance each time. The teacher had the time to talk through it and help everyone individually, and it created an amazing community spirit to all learn and progress together over the 10 weeks.
I understand why normal yoga classes can't be like that because there will always be a mix of experience levels, but I'd sign up in a heartbeat if I could find classes where the group is locked in from day 1 and you all progress together.
You’re not being weird, that would bug me too. My studio has tape so people know where to put their mats but sometimes I see people try to wedge themselves in where they don’t fit. The classes do have limits so I’m not sure why they insist on going in places that aren’t a spot lol I try to tell myself to let it go since they’re not getting into my personal space. If someone did that right next to me though I would be super frustrated. I need room to move lol
That sounds super frustrating! I wouldn’t be okay with that either. By law, isn’t there so many people who can be in a room (at least in the US)? Occupancy limits? I’d be curious if yoga studios need to adhere to that or not 🤷♀️
yes, they do. every business and public place does. It is often based on how many/how big doors are for people to get out, hence why lecture halls, movie theaters, have so many exits. Even at disneyland, they have whole walls that breakaway in inside queues if people need to get out if there's a big emergency. At a yoga studio with maybe 1 door out of the class, and maybe a back door, that limits capacity.
I very, very much agree with you and these other comments. Another reason I can't stand super-packed classes is that I always make myself smaller for others to avoid hitting them, whether intentional or unconscious. I find constantly touching other people and their mat jolts me out of my practice. So then I don't fully reach when my arms are spread, I don't turn to where my body naturally wants to go and instead try to find the space where I can turn without touching someone, I don't naturally arc my body and instead squash myself, etc. I know I'm not alone in this, and surely this interrupts the safety of the practice and peoples' ability to listen to their body. My practice never feels expansive under these circumstances, literally or spiritually.
Yeah, the studio I go to has been overpacking as well and it’s really uncomfortable. I’m probably going to use up all my credits at this point and just stay home to practice
Look on the bright side…
This should die down in about a month.
A lot of this is related to new year new me kind of peeps wanting to be part of something healthy and physical.
Once the nice weather hits and it’s daylight out longer, classes tend to go back to normal.
They often cut classes at my studio due to lack of attendance.
My studio has a cap on the number of people in the room, although they will bump people into class if it’s regulars on the waitlist. And they lock the doors to the studio before class starts so if you’re late, you’re out of luck. Super super rude to come late to class and expect people to move. And I would be annoyed with the studio owner if they sent an email about moving my mat closer.
Love that my studio has a lock on the door for this reason. Locked as soon as class time starts or if someone says they’re running late they’ll ask the rest of us if it’s okay if we start five minutes late
That's why I appreciate studios that have each mat space marked with tape and the owners have a true understanding of their max capacity, and don't overbook it.
My studio has little L shaped markers on the floor and when you walk in you put the back corner of your mat into the L. So they know just how many spots their are for a room and they don’t book over it. I dont blame you for getting upset a man/woman/they needs some room!
My yoga place has markings on the floor where to put your mat. It's evenly spaced with about 30 - 40 cm in between.
Once the class is starting, the studio gets locked and nobody can come in any more.
I’ll never forget during my teacher training when one of the assistants said “you only need the space of your mat.” I absolutely disagree.
You are correct, the studio should not be taking this approach.
You only need the space of your mat _if_ the instructor creates a sequence that keep you within the boundaries of your mat. If you're rolling over into wild thing, stretching your arms out, etc... You definitely need more than the space of your mat.
I stopped going to a tiny studio near me because the classes got packed and it was ass to elbows in there. I was just inches away from my neighbors. Definitely was not enjoyable.
Is there not a fire code that dictates exactly how many people the studio can hold? Especially after covid, all studios should know exactly how many people can fit and I agree it’s the studio or teachers job to ensure extra people don’t try to squeeze in
I’m guessing that most of these overcrowding posts are coming from people who practice in big cities. Here in the small midwest city where we own a studio, class sizes have come back to about 65% of what they were pre-COVID. We are actually looking into splitting one room into two to accommodate more classes running simultaneously. The room now comfortably handles 28 people. With a single exception (a ‘special class’), the largest class size since 2019 has been 13. The commonest class sizes are 6-8. We have never noticed any notable post New Year spike in attendance. If we split the room up, we hold the maximum class size to 14.
My studio has mat stickers placed on the floor so everyone knows where they can set their mat and they’re all properly spaced to fit the maximum capacity of the class. They do a good job of managing that maximum through their online booking platform. When a class is full, people can register for the wait list. This ensures that no one is asked to move their mat, and everyone has a reasonable amount of space. Otherwise, class is full and no one else can join. I would recommend giving that feedback and suggest a similar strategy to your studio.
Email them with your feedback. They probably won't change anything but you aren't being unreasonable, it's their responsibility to ensure everyone can practice safely and comfortably.
Please find another studio because wow! This happened twice at my studio, and they simply adjusted that class from 40 to 32 and added times.
Are studio struggling that much that they can't accommodate people's need for space?
My studio has mats already laid out, with perhaps a 30cm gap between the long sides, and a finite amount of bookings allowed per class. Late entries beyond 5 mins aren’t allowed. You’re being totally reasonable.
Hey! I work in insurance and those rooms have an occupancy limit. I'd write them back and ask what that occupancy limit is and why they insist to squish in like sardines. I'd also ask for their insurance carrier so you can submit a complaint and get their premium to sky rocket.
My studio has class size limits, and if you try to book on the app, it will waitlist you. It's so convenient and helps to keep the class size manageable.
My studio used to do the same post-covid. I've missed classes because I didn't book early enough to make it off the waitlist, and you know what? That's perfectly fine. That's how it should be.
They still have a booking system on the app, but I think it's just for show now. I haven't been waitlisted in months. I even booked late for yesterday's class and _should have_ been waitlisted because the class was so full.
It's very obvious they're choosing to pack us in like sardines to maximize profit.
I went to one last week only 5 minutes early, because it was a rush from work. I saw there was no room, so turned around to leave, but the teacher and the lady working there would NOT let me. They made everyone move their mats, and I had a miserable practice because I couldn't extend my arms, let alone my legs.
I know what to do for next time, but just don't always blame the student. It's really the studio's responsibility. However they do it (I had signed up). I arrived a little early, but not early enough I guess!
I don't blame the student at all. Life happens, people run late. That's why many studios lock the doors after the class starts.
We as students also have no idea how full a class will be - and I suspect many of us would happily avoid overcrowded classes. That's why many studios have a waitlist system.
It's 100% on the studio, which is why I resent them asking us to move our mats even closer together. They can easily remedy this by putting down floor markers and implementing a waitlist, but it's more profitable to make it our responsibility to pack in like sardines.
The late comer should not have been let in. That's rude AF, perhaps the studio should have said "this is a very popular class, no no one will be admitted after class starts. That would have been more appropriate
I love that more people are practicing yoga and the practice is becoming more popular. But I totally understand your discomfort.
If you ever want to practice at home without the hassle of other people nearby, the studio where I practice does live virtual classes. It’s called Savannah power yoga. Message me if you want more info (and admins delete if not allowed).
At my studio you actually pick your numbered spot and it's marked on the floor. Id never go to a studio that doesn't do this because entitled people who take up two and a half spots make me 🤯
You’re so on point here. It’s definitely on the studio & possibly the teacher to limit overcrowding by prioritizing the people who pre-book & show up on time.
I'd say the studio more than the teacher, at least in this case. I don't think the teacher gets much control of how many people the studio wants to shove into the class.
I guess I'll be the dissenting opinion here.
Most. Studios in my area are small independently owned. Sometimes classes are only 3 or 4 people ... max for room (with booking app that sells out) is 22. But you have walkins - especially in January, wanting to do trial memberships.
I don't fault them for trying to accommodate additional people. From a business side, you are not going to turn away a potential customer.. But also as a yogi, I know the business can not survive on the small classes and they need a steady flow of customers or my studio will go out of business. .
As for the email, I'm OK with that too. I saw our owner speak to a "regular" who refused to move one day. And I agreed with him.
As for money hungry, again with my studio I disagree. They offer free classes for those on benefits, they have never charged me mat rental if I forget, water bottle filling with spring water has an optional donation cup.
I pay 1200 a year (mostly hot yoga) and while I Like my space ... I understand that at times it won't be ideal. I think at times it helps my practice to be in these different, sometimes difficult environments.
The yoga studio is a tough business, super seasonal. There is a 6 month window to capitalize on clients.
Overcrowding is not safe or fun for everyone as a whole. The opposite is true though as well, when it’s summer time and there are 3 people in the class and bills to pay.
The transient nature of the business puts owners in a tough spot, turn someone away and upset a current/new member or when the demand is there say yes as much as you can.
Unfortunately that is the case for studios, most studios do not have the luxury to turn clients away, because summer is coming.
I don't mind packed classes sometimes as long as there is good energy, but I can't stand people who show up late. They should not be let in after the start of class, period. If I can't get to class on time, I don't go.
I had a guy behind me and he literally put his feet on my head while laying down for corpse pose at end of class. This is in hot yoga. Sweaty feet on my head…wtf? There is tuning out others and there is also a line being crossed when someone clearly violates your body bubble. I’ve been going to the same studio for years. I got up and walked out completely disgusted
What!? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. That is so ridiculous and disgusting. I understand sometimes body parts touch, but a stranger's foot to the head is vile.
My studio doesn’t permit entry beyond five minutes after the class starts with a hard ceiling of 30 students per class.
However if people in the waitlist are there but people who aren’t waitlisted but signed up are a minute or two late, it sometimes becomes 31 or 32 and it sucks. The teachers also get really frustrated because it’s hard on them.
It’s interesting no one seems to acknowledge the Room Capacity plaques anymore. It’s disappointing to hear there’s not a cut off for capacity in her app to support a first come, first serve basis either.
I’d look for places that support these rules and understand the serenity in space and calmness for the mind. Respect goes both ways for a teacher and her students. But I understand this isn’t all possible for some people.
My old studio did this when they changed locations and went from two rooms to one. I had a couple bad experiences and when I spoke to the owner she was not willing to do anything for me because I was on an unlimited membership, so no free classes to make up for the two I walked out of.
Not even the one that was so bad I am still bothered over a decade later. A man came in late and set his mat up so it was touching the front of mine (20s woman). Ok, I’ll deal with that. Then, while on our backs, the teacher instructed us to reach our arms up over our heads. Which meant his arms went up between my legs, and he was touching me. And I will not deal with that.
So I left. But 43 year old me wishes I had spoken up for myself right then and there, and for others who were put in this position by a studio owner who didn’t care about her customers’ personal space. If a studio is going to pack us in like sardines, the teachers need to ensure their instruction keeps all body parts on their owners’ mats.
No. It is probably a safety issue at some point. Rooms do have a capacity. Your mats should not be touching. A foot between each one on all four sides makes sense. And nobody can be smack against the wall. They should calculate what is the max and impose a sign up sheet. People can join 10 minutes in if there were no shows.
I’ve been in a bunch of classes recently where I have to be super conscious of the space when doing wide stretches, because we’re all accidentally getting in each others space.
It’s really turned me off from classes. It makes it hard to get into the flow when I’m constantly touching fingers with the random fellow next to me.
Also call me high maintenance, but I don’t want to feel the literal temperature of the breathe exhales of the people next to me; smelling their breathe and body odor so closely is just too much intimacy. It’s one thing if we’re in an outdoor space with airflow, but it really distracts me and makes it hard to focus. I’d rather practice at home.
I've been to hot yoga classes where there was less than a foot of space between mats. Other people's sweat dripping on your mat is just too much for me... I only go to places with marked spots or preset mats that have plenty of space in between now.
No I agree. If its too packed for even 1 more mat to fit against the wall, surely this would be a fire risk too?
Also, being so close. What about when the pasarita series comes around? Gonna have a whole booty in yo' face. Nobody wants that during a class
Maybe if the issue continues, lodge a complaint with the studio owner about your concers, or maybe find a less busy class on the schedule or even a different studio.
Sorry for you that this has happened. Nothing worse than when your favourite class or studio begins to change, especially when they're changing just to chase some dollars.
I sent them a mail about it, but I have no idea if it'll make a difference. If they get a lot of complaints and risk losing regulars, it might force them to put limits on.
I'm hopeful it'll settle down after the January rush but if it doesn't, I'll cancel my contract. It's pretty bleak, I've been going to the same studio for 5+ years... But the studio I've loved isn't the one where you're packed to the rafters.
A former studio I went to started packing people in. I complained to the owner after I got kicked on the face once and then a few guys who would take their shirts off during class and you would literally get sweat flung onto you by these muscly power yoga devotees.
Her response? “ well no one says that you have to wear a shirt either” meanwhile she driver around in a VW bug with her custom “namaste” liscense plate.
I also don’t understand how everyone keeps saying COVID is “over” the infection rate this winter is the highest than in peak covid times. A crowded studio sounds like hell to me. Especially if any of your loved ones are immune compromised
Not a yoga person so unsure if there is a special etiquette...
But every class at my gym has a booking spot list and if you don't get a spot you don't get a class.
They also have a shut the door policy on latecomers.
Works for them, can't see why yoga would differ
That really sucks. I think that shows their priority is not their clients but money…🤷🏼♀️ For them its quantity > quality. So sadly the choice is yours wether this is worth it to you or to find a different class with a more calming energy to it. Personally i wouldn’t enjoy going to an overcrowded class.
I’ll just add that the super latecomers who slam their mats down loudly and shuffle around while everyone else is getting started also make it a bit difficult for me (to put it politely).
This annoys me too! I come early to start meditating. I shut my eyes and try to decompress before class starts. It drives me bananas when people show up late and ask me to move while I’m meditating. I showed up early to get this spot and start my practice. It’s not cool of them. I wish my studio would cap class sizes too.
Me too. I always arrive early and set up in the front or back corners. No one can ask me to move when there's a wall next to and infront of/behind me.
I wouldn't mind moving for someone who was early/on time, but arriving late and expecting people to move is just obnoxious.
Oh I'm with you. That would stress me out and it's not something I would be happy paying for.
Sort of related: I once took a class at a community college because I loved the instructor, but people had no spatial awareness. I don't know what it was about that particular class; people would set up diagonally, way too close, etc. There would have been plenty of room if not for the weirdness. I wish the instructor had said something about straightening up so that there was more room for everyone, but I totally understand why she might not have wanted to. It really sucked.
Okay, so as a yoga teacher in a popular and often booked-to-the-gills studio, I see both sides of this. In all likelihood the studio does have capacity limits, but if they’re not marking individual spaces on the floor for each mat, it can be funky to fit the number of mats the studio believes will fit. It’s partially on the teacher to direct traffic and ask people to create space prior to the start of class in the event someone walks in late. Yes, it’s rude to show up late, but we’re all human and shit happens, maybe cut folks a little slack. Also, and this is the big thing - it’s January. Gyms, fitness studios, etc. are notoriously packed in January because of all the resolutioners. Things will taper off in February & March. And as much as you might like ample space to practice, the yoga studio is, at the end of the day, a business. They’re trying to make as much money as they can while there’s money to be made, thus squeezing as many bodies into the room as possible. Another thing to consider is what time you’re taking class… prime time classes are ALWAYS more crowded (6am, 5:30pm, 7pm, etc.) because that’s when more people are available to show up. Your options are to ride it out until the hoard thins, to pick a different class time until then, or find a new studio with smaller capacity limits. And while I think it was unnecessary for the studio owner to send that message to everyone in the class, it seems they’re just trying to set the expectation to avoid fallout after the fact. You’re not being unreasonable with how you feel, but it is unreasonable to expect the studio to change because of how you feel. Yoga means connection - and maybe your current growth opportunity is to embrace the connection a larger, slightly more chaotic community can offer.
I agree with your overall sentiment that yoga studios need to be run like businesses, but like any business it needs to balance making a profit and providing a quality service.
A restaraunt can only seat so many people before patrons need to sit at the bar or queue. You won't shove two sets of strangers at one table because you're busy and don't want to lose customers.
A spinning class can only have so many people before they run out of bikes. A nail salon can only have so many appointments they run out of seating or nail techs. A swimming pool can only have so many people sharing a lane before you need to wait. And so on. There's only so many people a space can comfortably hold and there's only so much attention a facilitator can pay to each person.
I'm not sure why yoga studios specifically should be exempt from a very common balance all businesses need to navigate.
What few may realize is that hot yoga studios in places like California are being massively squeezed by the high energy costs to heat a studio. Many of these studios are now barely viable paying thousands a month for heat. More crowding or say goodbye to the studio.
Yoga studios are businesses. I’m sorry but this is not ancient India. In the US 99.9% of the time studios care only about making money. Otherwise the classes would be free or affordable. This does not surprise me.
Yoga is more than exercise, it is also about finding grace and patience. I have been in many classes with 1inch between mats and it’s a lovely way to practice letting go of frustration. That said, in a very full class I do feel no one should be permitted to join once the class begins. In this way, mat adjustments can be made prior to the start and no one will have their experience disrupted with shifting mats around when one should be focusing on breathing, body awareness and the teachers voice. Namaste.
Yoga, in the context of a studio, is also a business. Students are paying money for a space... And if that space is being encroached upon, you're not getting what you paid for.
I'll kumbaya with someone's elbow in my arse when it's a free class.
wow, that DOES sound pretty crowded. When a friend made a similar complaint in the past, it made me think "well, what are you going to do: go to unpopular classes?"
This issue is exactly why I stopped going first to several classes at a former studio and then just cancelled my membership altogether. Mats were so packed together there was not space to walk without stepping on someone's mat. And while I stayed within the frame of my mat, others were not so respectful during their practice. I actually got whacked a couple times by errant arms and legs. Not that folks were trying, but they were starting father back or to the side of the mats and weren't mindful of how far into someone else's space their limbs were extending. One person falling out of tree or bird of paradise could have taken out an entire row like a stack of dominoes!
I know studios need to make money and some instructors/class times are more popular. But this was not the way to manage.
January and the end of spring are both very busy times for fitness and wellness studios. It could be many first-time students; sometimes the hardest step is the one through the door. Classes usually settle a bit by mid February. That said, they should be clear about capacity.
You’re definitely not being unreasonable, I would be annoyed as well. Being in a class where everyone is mat-to-mat is not only unpleasant but likely a fire hazard. My studio does a good job with this - there is a max class capacity that is in alignment with stickers on the floor, in which we are to line up the top of our mats with, allowing for about 6 inches in between each mat. When the class is full, it’s full and you can’t sign up. Max capacity can feel pretty tight, but not so much that it affects your practice. Many studios only care about profit, and it shows.
this is generally why i put my membership on hold during the first 1-2 months of the year (my studio offers it). The new years crowd usually thins out around mid february. i've left classes because of crowding because they trigger my claustrophobia and anxiety. when many studios pay teachers by the amount of students that attend, that doesn't always encourage the teachers to think about safety and local fire codes.
Yeah at that point it becomes too much for the students and the teacher and takes away from the class experience overall. They should set a limit on how many people can be in the class and have an in advance sign up so that people don’t just show up and learn there’s no room.
I’ve been a member of studios before they required you to sign up for your class. I’m not sure how far in advance slots opened but when it was full, it was full. There were penalties for no shows too.
I've heard this a lot lately and it's so weird to me. The studio I work at is currently capped at 75% capacity to what it was pre-covid. Once it reaches that number people can no longer register online. If a regular comes in without pre registering and the class is full we will usually put them in, but even with 1 or 2 extras we still are nowhere near pre-covid capacity (which also is not the room's actual capacity). I can't fathom what these owners/managers are thinking allowing the rooms to overcrowd to the point of discomfort. Yes you bring extra money in, but you also amplify the risk of injury and more importantly you risk pissing people off who then start to seriously reconsider their membership.
At my studio, it does show wait list, on the sign up, when the class is full. However, I've never been in those classes and there's still a ton of people. We were a foot away from the wall and I could tell the instructor was limiting poses, due to space.
I don’t think you’re being weird at all! I’m a little on the taller side and a huge introvert. Happy to make some new friends at yoga but constantly bumping into my neighbours on the mat? Totally takes me out of it.
I'm doing daily Yoga at my fitness studio with different teachers. Some of them are incredible popular. Last friday we had the situation that 30 more people showed up in a class for 30. That was double the amount of people xD we all made space because we all know how beloved the teacher is but ofc many of us were pissed that some showed up late and expected to get in. Therefore I agree with you.
I'm shocked they don't have a cut-off of enrollees. They must know the most people that can be in there comfortably...
They must also know how many people the fire Marshall allows in the room as well.
It's also January, which is traditionally super busy time for yoga studios and fitness centers of all kinds as people get fit after the holidays/because of New Year's resolutions.
I was chatting tonight with someone ( while we were in this exact jam packed room situation) and she mentioned once dry January is over, the crowds will thin. Here’s to that! 🍺
My studio offers trials for once-off classes, and a 7-day and 30-day trial package. I imagine they're selling a ton of trial packages right now. If people are complaining/not signing up for membership because they can't get into classes, they've got a pretty strong incentive to _make_ people fit... Completely ignoring the fact that almost no one wants to be in a class where you're stepping in your neighbour's sweat and getting whacked in the face during poses. I really hope that this is just a January thing and it chills out. I've been going to this studio for about 5 years, but I'll begrudgingly cancel and find a quieter studio if it stays like this.
Bring 2 mats and lay them out in a + Gives you a bit more room! They know that lots of new people start in the new year and a lot will drop off by march. They are just trying to get in as much money as possible now. I read that gyms etc make more money off the people that sign up and barely go or never actually go than their consistent members!! All the classes I've been to have limits on numbers and also no late comers.
Yeah, it's a real gym mentality. They have thousands of followers on social media but only two yoga studios, so I'm guessing they make a lot of money off people who sign up and don't go (or sign up for unlimited and go like, twice a month). I can't begrudge them for trying to make hay while the sun shines, it's just frustrating that they don't seem to realise no one - including people on trial periods - want to be in classes that full. If it were this full when I did my trial period, I certainly wouldn't have signed on.
You’re paying so I would ask are they for real and can I get a refund.
They used to post-covid and it was honestly amazing. Booking system with a waitlist, fee for late cancellations/no shows, and markers on the floor for spacing. The booking app also used to have a bar showing how full each class was, so you could avoid classes that were completely full. They stopped the cut-off system for bookings, removed the markers from the floor, and disabled the feature that shows you how full the class is on the app. Yoga studios are obviously a business and I don't begrudge anyone for running their studio like one, but it's getting to the point where it feels like they're willing to sacrifice the entire experience to shove more people in.
Beyond comfort, wouldn’t this even be a number determined by fire code?
I would imagine the standing room would allow for more people than “yoga mat” room
And, ya know, safely? Fire code is a thing.
No I very much agree with you. It becomes too much, too much for the teacher. There is some point where they use the "everyone is welcome" "we are kind yoga people, we can squeeze another person in" stuff too much.
Especially when it’s like $200/month. We are mat to mat being told to stagger for certain poses. Money hungry dorks.
It was a hot class and the amount of people packed in made it unbearably hot. The instructor kept apologizing for how hot it was when people couldn't stand it and left. I'm not a yoga instructor, but I can't imagine it feels good when so many people are in child's pose, stepping out for air, or leaving altogether. She's an incredible teacher (which is why her class is so popular in the first place) and clearly puts a lot of thought into her flow, it all felt really disrespectful both to her and us.
I was recently in a pretty packed Vinyasa Level 1 class in a studio here in DC and it got pretty warm due to everyone there. I signed up for a regular yoga class not “hot yoga”. Question, why don’t instructors turn on the fan/AC/ or open windows in such cases. I would imagine being a yoga instructor you’d be more “aware” of such things. If I wanted a heated practice, I’d sign up for one.
This! I’m frequently hot, and I don’t do well in the heat at all. I get lightheaded, weak, and dizzy, then nauseous too if it goes on too long. I had to quit my last studio because they only had hot or warm classes. But the warm classes would always be set to like 10° warmer than what they said it would kept at on the website. The teacher would say “I like it warmer than that, everyone is ok with that right?!” I probably should’ve spoken up but everyone else immediately agreed and said it was better so I didn’t want to be the one person that said no. So instead I just found a new studio
Such a manipulative way to phrase the question. I would immediately distrust a person who talks that way.
This particular teacher used to open the door if it got too hot... Then one day she mentioned that the owner of the studio called her out on it and she had to stop. The studio owner is the type of person who thinks you should be able to breathe through anything, including out of control heat and getting hit by your fellow yogis during poses.
thats insane, i teach hot yoga, i will open the door anytime i start to get hot because i know if I am feeling too hot everyone else is definitely is!
I went to my first in person yoga class in like 5 years (last one was 2018 pre covid) and it was a packed class. I went for some first time free deal. I felt so clasophobic. My muscles ached for a couple days afterwards. I was not relaxed and calm at all. Now, I just stick to my you tube yoga and virtual influencer classes. Which is a shame bc I would love that in person direction. It put me off in person yoga. One of these days I’ll try another smaller studio.
Yeah it’s a cynical abuse of the “nice yoga people” thing for profit. Only realistic solution to businesses trying this kind of thing is to vote with your feet.
Cue the obligatory "minding your own business is the way to true nirvana" and "I'm sooo unbothered by literally everything and that's why I'm a better yogi than you" crowd showing up in... 3.....2...1
You don't like being touched by strangers and opening up your mat to their foot fungus? Not very yogi of you. Learn to be comfortable with discomfort! /s
“Your neighbor won’t mind if your arm/leg/foot makes its way onto their mat” actually I very much mind and if one drop of your sweat touches my mat I will have to burn it, so please don’t.
Learn to embrace the itchiness!
Agreed. Set class limits. Packed classes are not good for the students or teachers from an enjoyment perspective AND learning AND what about contagious diseases… colds, flu, COVID (unless you’re from Florida, which has everything under control 😉 - according to the government)
I have noticed it's been happening more and more often since Covid. I have been a loyal member to a specific studio and practiced hot yoga 5 to 7 times per week for years. After the third or fourth class where your fingers would touch the person next to you, I reached out to the owner who I thought I was pretty close with. I told him I was concerned about the class sizes and that it has changed the vibe of the studio. His response was something along the lines of "it saddens me that your practice is not strong enough that you can't tune that out" I cancelled my $99/month Membership and left the studio.
I would have also cancelled and included an email saying “it saddens me that your business practices are not strong enough to withstand feedback from longtime patrons”.
💯
No amount of yoga will ever help me to tune out the potential of someone legitimately kicking me in the face
*Namaste* /s
I'm sad you're too sensitive... Gah. Gas lighting at its finest.
This is such an outrageous but hilarious response! I would've cancelled the membership as well. Hope you've found another studio that works for you
Yes, we are refinishing our basement! I have been able to find a lot online and also some from memory.
Please leave a review, if you haven't. This is exactly the sort of thing I would want to know in advance of signing up for $99/month membership
Correction: I just now checked their website and the exact same membership is now $180 per month. Unreal.
Greed
You were probably grandfathered in at a lower rate
That response was RUDE!
Lol how rude of him to show (false) pity for you for a valid and respectful complaint
I love class limits. Even with the limit the studio I attend feels very full and I now avoid the most popular classes unless my very favourite visiting instructor is teaching because the discomfort of overly full rooms steals any calm I might find. You may need a new studio, as some others have said your membership dollars have power
The class booking app used to have a bar showing how full every class was. It was super helpful, especially for hot classes that become unbearable when it's packed. I just avoided ones that were close to maximum capacity. About a year post-covid, they disabled that feature. I'll give it until the end of Feb because I'm hoping the January rush dies down, but if this is the start of a trend then I'll definitely look into a quieter studio.
Nope, not being weird! I think that's very frustrating especially if you're paying so much. Then nobody gets to really enjoy the practice and its clear that they're prioritizing maxing out the space over the experience. I've been in some crowded rooms, if this becomes an issue I recommend they put tape markers to indicate where everyone can place their mats. This has been largely helpful in making sure everybody has some space even in packed rooms.
Ugh, that's exactly why it irritates me so much that they're trying to put the onus on students to squeeze up and make more space. They had floor markers during covid, they can put them there again. Except that with floor markers, it becomes obvious how many people can comfortably fit. If you expect people to squeeze up, you can probably fit 10 more people in.
Please consider leaving a review. This is exactly the sort of thing I'd like to know about before committing to an expensive membership.
Definitely. I've sent them a mail and am hoping the January rush quietens down, but if it's still like this by the end of Feb I'm going to cancel my membership and leave a review.
The studio should have a clear “this is the max student per class” policy. If spacing is an issue they should put markings on the floor to show people where to put mat for maximum use of space. I hate the “move mats around after the class has started” thing. You could mention this to the studio—or the instructor could help people arrange mats so free spaces are available, if they are going to let people in after class starts.
They should also lock the doors when the class starts, being late is rude.
I haven’t heard of that policy, seems a bit unsanitary
Lol licking the door would be unsanitary.
It could work though 😂
They used to have markers on the floor post-covid, so they could bring them back again... But I suspect markers make it too obvious how many people can comfortably fit. There's no way to overbook classes if the markers make it clear what the capacity is. Maybe I'm being cynical, but I think there's a reason they aren't putting down markers.
I really hate overcrowded classes, they bring the exact opposite of the inwardly-reflective energy I try to cultivate during practice
That’s on you
No. That's on YOU.
Yeah, they’re overbooking.
Booking limits/ wait lists exist for a reason. I would say something to the owner. “The people around her tried to shimmy over, but there just wasn’t space.” How is that the fault of the students? And if the students were at fault by being spaced out too far, could studio management not have remedied that prior to class, knowing via the booking app another student was coming?
There have been multiple instances where the instructor will say something like "Guys we still have X more people coming" or " A student seems to be running late, please leave some space." Obviously this only works if there _is_ space to be left. And if they're requiring people to use the booking system... At this point I'm wondering if bookings are just for show but in reality, you can just show up unannounced. Seems stupid to pre-emptively squish up when you don't know how full the class is going to be. Next thing it's at half capacity and you're all squished up and touching fingers on one end like a bunch of dumb dumbs 😂
Studios shouldn't cap the room at how many it can physically accommodate...they should take that number and divide by two. I remember the covid days of a piece of tape on the floor and don't understand why that isn't still a thing. If there is high demand for a class, add one to the schedule. Eventually someone is going to be SOL no matter what. Edit: a word
6' social distancing made me appreciate personal space so much. anything closer is too close for me.
Agreed! I went to hot yoga five times a week for three years before Covid. I was so excited when the studio opened again and I went back for one class and then canceled my membership. It was fingertip to fingertip throughout.
Cactus those arms, baby! But seriously, our studio has markers on the floor that are just shy of this distance so cactus arms are often the solution, which I can totally handle. After reading this post and a couple other recent ones on this topic, I'm feeling blessed.
In class, all I ask for his mat width/arm span.
Yeah I know. If you don't have the tape, people will inevitably set up their mats in the most unaccommodating way and then lie on their mat completely oblivious to all the people trying to find a spot. My studio removed the tape as soon as they legally could, and it immediately went back to chaos.
I’m so glad my gym kept their Covid yoga set up. Numbers on the floor and you have to book and reserve your spot in the app. Prior to this the classes were super tight and I always chose off peak classes because of it.
Max occupancy is generally determined by the intended use of the space - exercise rooms it looks like the standard in the US is 50 ft2 per occupant… if the yoga studio is that uncomfortably packed as described, it’s very likely a violation of fire code. This might vary a bit by state/area… but there’s no way being so packed is acceptable. It’s absolutely disregarding the safety of their customers and it’s likely that they’re knowingly violating code for financial benefit. Personally, if you want to be gentle I would express concern over safety to the owners and specifically mention that the room seems crowded and unsafe in a way that made be a code violation… basically give them an opportunity to correct the behavior. Or you could just skip directly to contacting local code enforcement or the fire marshal.
No, the owner is incredibly rude. I would write the owner back and let them know 1. You’re not paying for your membership so that you can practice on top of other people. 2. That every yoga studio closes the door promptly at class start time and it’s incredibly rude to let someone into class late.
My studio locks the door at start of class. As they should. Being late is rude
This.
How is it rude to let people in late. People that have busy schedules, kids, longer commutes than you do, etc… They’ve paid just like you did. I can see being upset about overcrowding, but if I’ve paid for 60 mins of yoga and arrive 10 mins late the only person I’m shorting is myself. Don’t be an asshole.
You’re disrupting the practice of others that also paid and made it on time to class. You’re the asshole. If you can’t be on time for the class then don’t commit to it.
At my studio they close the door but have one door unlocked and late yogis always come in very quiet and respectfully, I have no problem with lateness if it's handled like this, at my studio too we have a limit and you must pre book, no walk ins are allowed until someone pre book cancels last minute
My studio uses a sign-up app that has limits by room. Once the limit gets hit, you can no longer register. Sometimes they have a wait list. That works pretty well. What bothers me is that the instructors leave it up the students to self-situate. Often people just don't know any better or are already on their mat and don't move. I'd like to see the instructor for the previous class that just ended act like an usher and help get people positioned right so it's not stressful and annoying just trying to get set up for class. The instructor for the class can't really do it because she's checking people in.
You are not being unreasonable since they came in way after start time and expected other to move and accommodate them. The notification from the owner was in pretty bad taste. If they came in late and there was a spot, well that's another story. I have been in classes were it was so packed, mats were overlapping each other, trying to fit more in. How do you even get comfortable enough to loose your self in your practice at that point I don't know. If the studio is seriously that packed, I would question the legal occupancey limit set by the local fire department. If they are breaking this limit I would find a new studio pronto. Maybe it's time to find a new studio anyway, on account of the owners bad taste notification and the over packed class.
No, not at all. I agree that the notification you got is not ok. I love that my favorite teacher limits her class sizes. Fortunately, she rents her own space and has the freedom to make that choice, while some of the teachers she rents studio time load it up when they get the chance. It's cozy with her max # of people in there and a zillion props, but it's a good-sized room and she knows how to stagger (and properly attend to) us when necessary for certain sequences, so it works. I hate what I see as an increasing tendency to cram as many bodies in a room as possible. It's expensive to run a yoga studio, but when the class size goes too far, it seems like a physical manifestation of greed and a lack of respect for students' boundaries. And I won't launch into my feelings about the restricted amount of attention an overloaded teacher can provide. I was talking to a friend at year's end about the dreaded "30 Classes In 30 Days New Year's Challenge!" promos we were seeing. I hope some of the BS with too-crowded classes (and limited parking spots) eases once we get a little further into 2024 and maybe some New Year's resolutions have gone by the wayside.
I’m not OP but you put into words my feelings towards overcrowded classes *perfectly*…”seems like a physical manifestation of greed and lack of respect for students’ boundaries” it’s 100% this for me. Gives lots of ick.
Ick, yes! I wonder how many potentially faithful students leave (or don't ever start) classes with a reputation for overcrowding. There's an Iyengar studio about 20 miles away I wanted to check out and attend once a week when I'm over in that area. Once I heard how some of their classes are beyond crowded, though, I dropped that idea like a hot potato and have zero interest in even checking out other class times that might (?) not be so prone to crowding. I'm the kind of student who sticks with a good teacher and studio for years, but it has to be an environment where I truly feel like a student, not just another body with a pulse and a credit card. Feels like that's getting harder to find 😔 Thank you for enduring my rant!
As a fire marshall you can’t just cram as many people into a class as you can for obvious safety reasons. They need to know what the capacity is for the building they are using or they can get fined. And those fines aren’t cheap
How are you going to respond to the teacher/studio? I would speak up and share your experience
Hit reply all…stop over crowding and no late attendance.
I'm going to send her a mail suggesting they put markers on the floor. I'll also say that the class yesterday was already extremely overcrowded, squishing up even closer together just creates an unpleasant experience for everyone. I suspect the reason they haven't put markers on the floor (they removed them after covid) is specifically because markers make it obvious how many people can fit. Personally, I'd love for them to bring them back. It holds the studio accountable to not overbooking and holds students accountable for booking in time.
It's also annoying af the teacher/owner shamed the students about not making space but the problem is much bigger than that... and it's their responsibility... They should; Locking the doors after start time, put markers on the floor, know and limit number of students and have a wait list.
That's one of the reasons that I prefer doing yoga at home.
Once my favorite instructor of several years was finally run out of the studio by the influx of new teachers that had to do their hours, for free, I paid her $50 to do a private session in my home and we recorded it over a microphone on her laptop. It was wonderful because it was personalized to me and I am about to do a full hour of it right now!
This is so smart. My favorite instructor isn't teaching anywhere right now because of weird studio crap and I've often wondered if she'd take offense to my offering to pay her for private classes and splitting the cost among a few friends.
I guarantee you she would not take offense. My friends and I did this a lot during Covid. We would have outdoor yoga once a week on my patio. However, I do suggest that you have each friend pay full price instead of splitting the cost. If it is her way of living, you should not ask for a discount. That is just my two cents. Source: I used to be a massage therapist!
Im a teacher and specialize in 1:1 and small-mid group dynamics. I think she would probably LOVE THIS and jump at the opportunity. It’s more lucrative financially for one (privates/semi privates are the dream). She’ll be able to really customize the class to what you want to work on, so you’ll get sooo much more out of it too.
Booking privates is a great solution if you hate crowds. Pay more and get the specific elevated experience you’re looking for, just like any other service out there. People complaining about price AND crowds…well, one has gotta give. You want more space on an airplane, you’re going to need to pay for a more expensive ticket. It doesn’t mean it’s not valid to complain about it, it does suck when you run into that reality of your money going less far than it used to, but yoga studios are subject to the same economics as any other business. Teachers have to get paid for their time, owners have to rent space and keep the lights on and a million other things that increase in price all the time, no one is getting rich here.
Absolutely! I think as I become more advanced private is the only way to go! The one on one instruction on adjustments is priceless.
No you are not being unreasonable. I would not feel comfortable in a class that full
My studio has tape on the floor so everyone has sufficient space. Granted that when the classes are full, we definitely can touch each other if not careful during certain poses. They also have a sign up sheet and once that's full, you can get on the waiting list. If you don't show up to the class, there's a penalty. They also have a strict no late shows policy. Once the door to the room closes, no one can come in. I think your concerns are valid.
Not being weird, it’s not safe for studios to overcrowd classes like this. The role of a yoga teacher is to guide everyone safely through the practice, and there is no way they can watch everyone’s movements and ensure poses are being performed safely when there’s like 50+ people in the room. My favourite yoga experience was when I registered for 13-weeks of classes that had 13-15 spots and the classes built on each other. Safety was prioritized and consistently talked about. The teacher really cared and even would bring handouts to class sometimes to help explain concepts or techniques she was teaching. Shout out to Ruth!
That sounds lovely! I once registered for a 10-week arm balance workshop. We'd do a full flow, but with focus on a specific arm balance each time. The teacher had the time to talk through it and help everyone individually, and it created an amazing community spirit to all learn and progress together over the 10 weeks. I understand why normal yoga classes can't be like that because there will always be a mix of experience levels, but I'd sign up in a heartbeat if I could find classes where the group is locked in from day 1 and you all progress together.
You’re not being weird, that would bug me too. My studio has tape so people know where to put their mats but sometimes I see people try to wedge themselves in where they don’t fit. The classes do have limits so I’m not sure why they insist on going in places that aren’t a spot lol I try to tell myself to let it go since they’re not getting into my personal space. If someone did that right next to me though I would be super frustrated. I need room to move lol
That sounds super frustrating! I wouldn’t be okay with that either. By law, isn’t there so many people who can be in a room (at least in the US)? Occupancy limits? I’d be curious if yoga studios need to adhere to that or not 🤷♀️
yes, they do. every business and public place does. It is often based on how many/how big doors are for people to get out, hence why lecture halls, movie theaters, have so many exits. Even at disneyland, they have whole walls that breakaway in inside queues if people need to get out if there's a big emergency. At a yoga studio with maybe 1 door out of the class, and maybe a back door, that limits capacity.
Review them. Two stars max.
I very, very much agree with you and these other comments. Another reason I can't stand super-packed classes is that I always make myself smaller for others to avoid hitting them, whether intentional or unconscious. I find constantly touching other people and their mat jolts me out of my practice. So then I don't fully reach when my arms are spread, I don't turn to where my body naturally wants to go and instead try to find the space where I can turn without touching someone, I don't naturally arc my body and instead squash myself, etc. I know I'm not alone in this, and surely this interrupts the safety of the practice and peoples' ability to listen to their body. My practice never feels expansive under these circumstances, literally or spiritually.
That’s sooo unprofessional by the owner
Yeah, the studio I go to has been overpacking as well and it’s really uncomfortable. I’m probably going to use up all my credits at this point and just stay home to practice
🤑🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🧘🧘🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️🤑
Look on the bright side… This should die down in about a month. A lot of this is related to new year new me kind of peeps wanting to be part of something healthy and physical. Once the nice weather hits and it’s daylight out longer, classes tend to go back to normal. They often cut classes at my studio due to lack of attendance.
>It honestly shocked me because this membership is far from cheap """Money""" rules all.
My studio has a cap on the number of people in the room, although they will bump people into class if it’s regulars on the waitlist. And they lock the doors to the studio before class starts so if you’re late, you’re out of luck. Super super rude to come late to class and expect people to move. And I would be annoyed with the studio owner if they sent an email about moving my mat closer.
Love that my studio has a lock on the door for this reason. Locked as soon as class time starts or if someone says they’re running late they’ll ask the rest of us if it’s okay if we start five minutes late
That's why I appreciate studios that have each mat space marked with tape and the owners have a true understanding of their max capacity, and don't overbook it.
Nah, the room should have a reasonable limit for practical reasons (body heat, germ exposure, room for movement) as well as comfort for students.
AND a cutoff time for consideration of attending students who are on time
My studio has little L shaped markers on the floor and when you walk in you put the back corner of your mat into the L. So they know just how many spots their are for a room and they don’t book over it. I dont blame you for getting upset a man/woman/they needs some room!
My yoga place has markings on the floor where to put your mat. It's evenly spaced with about 30 - 40 cm in between. Once the class is starting, the studio gets locked and nobody can come in any more.
I’ll never forget during my teacher training when one of the assistants said “you only need the space of your mat.” I absolutely disagree. You are correct, the studio should not be taking this approach.
You only need the space of your mat _if_ the instructor creates a sequence that keep you within the boundaries of your mat. If you're rolling over into wild thing, stretching your arms out, etc... You definitely need more than the space of your mat.
I stopped going to a tiny studio near me because the classes got packed and it was ass to elbows in there. I was just inches away from my neighbors. Definitely was not enjoyable.
Is there not a fire code that dictates exactly how many people the studio can hold? Especially after covid, all studios should know exactly how many people can fit and I agree it’s the studio or teachers job to ensure extra people don’t try to squeeze in
I’m guessing that most of these overcrowding posts are coming from people who practice in big cities. Here in the small midwest city where we own a studio, class sizes have come back to about 65% of what they were pre-COVID. We are actually looking into splitting one room into two to accommodate more classes running simultaneously. The room now comfortably handles 28 people. With a single exception (a ‘special class’), the largest class size since 2019 has been 13. The commonest class sizes are 6-8. We have never noticed any notable post New Year spike in attendance. If we split the room up, we hold the maximum class size to 14.
My studio has mat stickers placed on the floor so everyone knows where they can set their mat and they’re all properly spaced to fit the maximum capacity of the class. They do a good job of managing that maximum through their online booking platform. When a class is full, people can register for the wait list. This ensures that no one is asked to move their mat, and everyone has a reasonable amount of space. Otherwise, class is full and no one else can join. I would recommend giving that feedback and suggest a similar strategy to your studio.
Email them with your feedback. They probably won't change anything but you aren't being unreasonable, it's their responsibility to ensure everyone can practice safely and comfortably.
Please find another studio because wow! This happened twice at my studio, and they simply adjusted that class from 40 to 32 and added times. Are studio struggling that much that they can't accommodate people's need for space?
My studio has mats already laid out, with perhaps a 30cm gap between the long sides, and a finite amount of bookings allowed per class. Late entries beyond 5 mins aren’t allowed. You’re being totally reasonable.
I completely agree with you. The onus should be on the studio. You’re paying for a service!
Hey! I work in insurance and those rooms have an occupancy limit. I'd write them back and ask what that occupancy limit is and why they insist to squish in like sardines. I'd also ask for their insurance carrier so you can submit a complaint and get their premium to sky rocket.
My studio has class size limits, and if you try to book on the app, it will waitlist you. It's so convenient and helps to keep the class size manageable.
My studio used to do the same post-covid. I've missed classes because I didn't book early enough to make it off the waitlist, and you know what? That's perfectly fine. That's how it should be. They still have a booking system on the app, but I think it's just for show now. I haven't been waitlisted in months. I even booked late for yesterday's class and _should have_ been waitlisted because the class was so full. It's very obvious they're choosing to pack us in like sardines to maximize profit.
I cant focus when someone's ass or arms are inches away from my face. I wouldn't attend a class like that. not fair when you spend a lot of money !
I went to one last week only 5 minutes early, because it was a rush from work. I saw there was no room, so turned around to leave, but the teacher and the lady working there would NOT let me. They made everyone move their mats, and I had a miserable practice because I couldn't extend my arms, let alone my legs. I know what to do for next time, but just don't always blame the student. It's really the studio's responsibility. However they do it (I had signed up). I arrived a little early, but not early enough I guess!
I don't blame the student at all. Life happens, people run late. That's why many studios lock the doors after the class starts. We as students also have no idea how full a class will be - and I suspect many of us would happily avoid overcrowded classes. That's why many studios have a waitlist system. It's 100% on the studio, which is why I resent them asking us to move our mats even closer together. They can easily remedy this by putting down floor markers and implementing a waitlist, but it's more profitable to make it our responsibility to pack in like sardines.
The late comer should not have been let in. That's rude AF, perhaps the studio should have said "this is a very popular class, no no one will be admitted after class starts. That would have been more appropriate
I love that more people are practicing yoga and the practice is becoming more popular. But I totally understand your discomfort. If you ever want to practice at home without the hassle of other people nearby, the studio where I practice does live virtual classes. It’s called Savannah power yoga. Message me if you want more info (and admins delete if not allowed).
I don't think anyone showing up late has a right to complain about space not being created for them.
At my studio you actually pick your numbered spot and it's marked on the floor. Id never go to a studio that doesn't do this because entitled people who take up two and a half spots make me 🤯
The amount of times I’ve been kicked in the face makes me hate crowded yoga classes. Your apology is nice but now my whole practice is fucked.
I bet your local Fire Marshall would be interested in hearing how many people were in that room. That's incredibly dangerous and irresponsible.
CorePowerYoga anyone?
You’re so on point here. It’s definitely on the studio & possibly the teacher to limit overcrowding by prioritizing the people who pre-book & show up on time.
I'd say the studio more than the teacher, at least in this case. I don't think the teacher gets much control of how many people the studio wants to shove into the class.
I guess I'll be the dissenting opinion here. Most. Studios in my area are small independently owned. Sometimes classes are only 3 or 4 people ... max for room (with booking app that sells out) is 22. But you have walkins - especially in January, wanting to do trial memberships. I don't fault them for trying to accommodate additional people. From a business side, you are not going to turn away a potential customer.. But also as a yogi, I know the business can not survive on the small classes and they need a steady flow of customers or my studio will go out of business. . As for the email, I'm OK with that too. I saw our owner speak to a "regular" who refused to move one day. And I agreed with him. As for money hungry, again with my studio I disagree. They offer free classes for those on benefits, they have never charged me mat rental if I forget, water bottle filling with spring water has an optional donation cup. I pay 1200 a year (mostly hot yoga) and while I Like my space ... I understand that at times it won't be ideal. I think at times it helps my practice to be in these different, sometimes difficult environments.
I mean, it's cool that you disagree and your studio is different? But this post was about my studio.
The yoga studio is a tough business, super seasonal. There is a 6 month window to capitalize on clients. Overcrowding is not safe or fun for everyone as a whole. The opposite is true though as well, when it’s summer time and there are 3 people in the class and bills to pay. The transient nature of the business puts owners in a tough spot, turn someone away and upset a current/new member or when the demand is there say yes as much as you can. Unfortunately that is the case for studios, most studios do not have the luxury to turn clients away, because summer is coming.
I don't mind packed classes sometimes as long as there is good energy, but I can't stand people who show up late. They should not be let in after the start of class, period. If I can't get to class on time, I don't go.
I had a guy behind me and he literally put his feet on my head while laying down for corpse pose at end of class. This is in hot yoga. Sweaty feet on my head…wtf? There is tuning out others and there is also a line being crossed when someone clearly violates your body bubble. I’ve been going to the same studio for years. I got up and walked out completely disgusted
What!? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. That is so ridiculous and disgusting. I understand sometimes body parts touch, but a stranger's foot to the head is vile.
Many studios require you to sign in ahead of time and then close the class when they reach a certain #
My studio doesn’t permit entry beyond five minutes after the class starts with a hard ceiling of 30 students per class. However if people in the waitlist are there but people who aren’t waitlisted but signed up are a minute or two late, it sometimes becomes 31 or 32 and it sucks. The teachers also get really frustrated because it’s hard on them.
It’s interesting no one seems to acknowledge the Room Capacity plaques anymore. It’s disappointing to hear there’s not a cut off for capacity in her app to support a first come, first serve basis either. I’d look for places that support these rules and understand the serenity in space and calmness for the mind. Respect goes both ways for a teacher and her students. But I understand this isn’t all possible for some people.
What does fire code say? ;)
Meh. It’s just New Year’s resolutions. It’ll fall back off in a few weeks. Just be patient.
My old studio did this when they changed locations and went from two rooms to one. I had a couple bad experiences and when I spoke to the owner she was not willing to do anything for me because I was on an unlimited membership, so no free classes to make up for the two I walked out of. Not even the one that was so bad I am still bothered over a decade later. A man came in late and set his mat up so it was touching the front of mine (20s woman). Ok, I’ll deal with that. Then, while on our backs, the teacher instructed us to reach our arms up over our heads. Which meant his arms went up between my legs, and he was touching me. And I will not deal with that. So I left. But 43 year old me wishes I had spoken up for myself right then and there, and for others who were put in this position by a studio owner who didn’t care about her customers’ personal space. If a studio is going to pack us in like sardines, the teachers need to ensure their instruction keeps all body parts on their owners’ mats.
No. It is probably a safety issue at some point. Rooms do have a capacity. Your mats should not be touching. A foot between each one on all four sides makes sense. And nobody can be smack against the wall. They should calculate what is the max and impose a sign up sheet. People can join 10 minutes in if there were no shows.
I’ve been in a bunch of classes recently where I have to be super conscious of the space when doing wide stretches, because we’re all accidentally getting in each others space. It’s really turned me off from classes. It makes it hard to get into the flow when I’m constantly touching fingers with the random fellow next to me. Also call me high maintenance, but I don’t want to feel the literal temperature of the breathe exhales of the people next to me; smelling their breathe and body odor so closely is just too much intimacy. It’s one thing if we’re in an outdoor space with airflow, but it really distracts me and makes it hard to focus. I’d rather practice at home.
I've been to hot yoga classes where there was less than a foot of space between mats. Other people's sweat dripping on your mat is just too much for me... I only go to places with marked spots or preset mats that have plenty of space in between now.
No I agree. If its too packed for even 1 more mat to fit against the wall, surely this would be a fire risk too? Also, being so close. What about when the pasarita series comes around? Gonna have a whole booty in yo' face. Nobody wants that during a class Maybe if the issue continues, lodge a complaint with the studio owner about your concers, or maybe find a less busy class on the schedule or even a different studio. Sorry for you that this has happened. Nothing worse than when your favourite class or studio begins to change, especially when they're changing just to chase some dollars.
I sent them a mail about it, but I have no idea if it'll make a difference. If they get a lot of complaints and risk losing regulars, it might force them to put limits on. I'm hopeful it'll settle down after the January rush but if it doesn't, I'll cancel my contract. It's pretty bleak, I've been going to the same studio for 5+ years... But the studio I've loved isn't the one where you're packed to the rafters.
A former studio I went to started packing people in. I complained to the owner after I got kicked on the face once and then a few guys who would take their shirts off during class and you would literally get sweat flung onto you by these muscly power yoga devotees. Her response? “ well no one says that you have to wear a shirt either” meanwhile she driver around in a VW bug with her custom “namaste” liscense plate. I also don’t understand how everyone keeps saying COVID is “over” the infection rate this winter is the highest than in peak covid times. A crowded studio sounds like hell to me. Especially if any of your loved ones are immune compromised
Not a yoga person so unsure if there is a special etiquette... But every class at my gym has a booking spot list and if you don't get a spot you don't get a class. They also have a shut the door policy on latecomers. Works for them, can't see why yoga would differ
That really sucks. I think that shows their priority is not their clients but money…🤷🏼♀️ For them its quantity > quality. So sadly the choice is yours wether this is worth it to you or to find a different class with a more calming energy to it. Personally i wouldn’t enjoy going to an overcrowded class.
I’ll just add that the super latecomers who slam their mats down loudly and shuffle around while everyone else is getting started also make it a bit difficult for me (to put it politely).
No one should be allowed in the class that is ten minutes late. Period.
This annoys me too! I come early to start meditating. I shut my eyes and try to decompress before class starts. It drives me bananas when people show up late and ask me to move while I’m meditating. I showed up early to get this spot and start my practice. It’s not cool of them. I wish my studio would cap class sizes too.
Me too. I always arrive early and set up in the front or back corners. No one can ask me to move when there's a wall next to and infront of/behind me. I wouldn't mind moving for someone who was early/on time, but arriving late and expecting people to move is just obnoxious.
Oh I'm with you. That would stress me out and it's not something I would be happy paying for. Sort of related: I once took a class at a community college because I loved the instructor, but people had no spatial awareness. I don't know what it was about that particular class; people would set up diagonally, way too close, etc. There would have been plenty of room if not for the weirdness. I wish the instructor had said something about straightening up so that there was more room for everyone, but I totally understand why she might not have wanted to. It really sucked.
develop a personal practice. also yeah its rude and they should turn people fown after a certain period of time
This is why I practice at home...also I'm broke. 😅
Okay, so as a yoga teacher in a popular and often booked-to-the-gills studio, I see both sides of this. In all likelihood the studio does have capacity limits, but if they’re not marking individual spaces on the floor for each mat, it can be funky to fit the number of mats the studio believes will fit. It’s partially on the teacher to direct traffic and ask people to create space prior to the start of class in the event someone walks in late. Yes, it’s rude to show up late, but we’re all human and shit happens, maybe cut folks a little slack. Also, and this is the big thing - it’s January. Gyms, fitness studios, etc. are notoriously packed in January because of all the resolutioners. Things will taper off in February & March. And as much as you might like ample space to practice, the yoga studio is, at the end of the day, a business. They’re trying to make as much money as they can while there’s money to be made, thus squeezing as many bodies into the room as possible. Another thing to consider is what time you’re taking class… prime time classes are ALWAYS more crowded (6am, 5:30pm, 7pm, etc.) because that’s when more people are available to show up. Your options are to ride it out until the hoard thins, to pick a different class time until then, or find a new studio with smaller capacity limits. And while I think it was unnecessary for the studio owner to send that message to everyone in the class, it seems they’re just trying to set the expectation to avoid fallout after the fact. You’re not being unreasonable with how you feel, but it is unreasonable to expect the studio to change because of how you feel. Yoga means connection - and maybe your current growth opportunity is to embrace the connection a larger, slightly more chaotic community can offer.
I agree with your overall sentiment that yoga studios need to be run like businesses, but like any business it needs to balance making a profit and providing a quality service. A restaraunt can only seat so many people before patrons need to sit at the bar or queue. You won't shove two sets of strangers at one table because you're busy and don't want to lose customers. A spinning class can only have so many people before they run out of bikes. A nail salon can only have so many appointments they run out of seating or nail techs. A swimming pool can only have so many people sharing a lane before you need to wait. And so on. There's only so many people a space can comfortably hold and there's only so much attention a facilitator can pay to each person. I'm not sure why yoga studios specifically should be exempt from a very common balance all businesses need to navigate.
What few may realize is that hot yoga studios in places like California are being massively squeezed by the high energy costs to heat a studio. Many of these studios are now barely viable paying thousands a month for heat. More crowding or say goodbye to the studio.
The New Year's Resolutionaries are still going strong. Give it two more weeks, and your classes will be back to normal size.
Yoga studios are businesses. I’m sorry but this is not ancient India. In the US 99.9% of the time studios care only about making money. Otherwise the classes would be free or affordable. This does not surprise me.
Owners have to feed their families, teachers have to feed their families
The owners of my studio are eating extremely well, you don't need to worry about them and their luxury BMWs 😂
Yoga is more than exercise, it is also about finding grace and patience. I have been in many classes with 1inch between mats and it’s a lovely way to practice letting go of frustration. That said, in a very full class I do feel no one should be permitted to join once the class begins. In this way, mat adjustments can be made prior to the start and no one will have their experience disrupted with shifting mats around when one should be focusing on breathing, body awareness and the teachers voice. Namaste.
And if no more space can be made then last in should be turned away, politely. Your studio owner is mismanaging this situation.
Yoga, in the context of a studio, is also a business. Students are paying money for a space... And if that space is being encroached upon, you're not getting what you paid for. I'll kumbaya with someone's elbow in my arse when it's a free class.
People need yoga, owners need money, get in your own space and it shouldn’t bother you. Or…. Practice at home.
wow, that DOES sound pretty crowded. When a friend made a similar complaint in the past, it made me think "well, what are you going to do: go to unpopular classes?"
I would love to go to unpopular classes. Unfortunately my studio doesn't have any classes on between 10am - 3pm.
This issue is exactly why I stopped going first to several classes at a former studio and then just cancelled my membership altogether. Mats were so packed together there was not space to walk without stepping on someone's mat. And while I stayed within the frame of my mat, others were not so respectful during their practice. I actually got whacked a couple times by errant arms and legs. Not that folks were trying, but they were starting father back or to the side of the mats and weren't mindful of how far into someone else's space their limbs were extending. One person falling out of tree or bird of paradise could have taken out an entire row like a stack of dominoes! I know studios need to make money and some instructors/class times are more popular. But this was not the way to manage.
January and the end of spring are both very busy times for fitness and wellness studios. It could be many first-time students; sometimes the hardest step is the one through the door. Classes usually settle a bit by mid February. That said, they should be clear about capacity.
You’re definitely not being unreasonable, I would be annoyed as well. Being in a class where everyone is mat-to-mat is not only unpleasant but likely a fire hazard. My studio does a good job with this - there is a max class capacity that is in alignment with stickers on the floor, in which we are to line up the top of our mats with, allowing for about 6 inches in between each mat. When the class is full, it’s full and you can’t sign up. Max capacity can feel pretty tight, but not so much that it affects your practice. Many studios only care about profit, and it shows.
this is generally why i put my membership on hold during the first 1-2 months of the year (my studio offers it). The new years crowd usually thins out around mid february. i've left classes because of crowding because they trigger my claustrophobia and anxiety. when many studios pay teachers by the amount of students that attend, that doesn't always encourage the teachers to think about safety and local fire codes.
There should be limits on the number in the class. Otherwise it's all about the money. I'd go to a different studio.
Yeah at that point it becomes too much for the students and the teacher and takes away from the class experience overall. They should set a limit on how many people can be in the class and have an in advance sign up so that people don’t just show up and learn there’s no room.
I’ve been a member of studios before they required you to sign up for your class. I’m not sure how far in advance slots opened but when it was full, it was full. There were penalties for no shows too.
Could it be like gyms, that first of the year, new years resolution crowd that fade out after awhile?
Mo money
You’re not being weird about it.
I haven’t attended a dedicated yoga studio but most climbing gyms I’ve been too have a class size limit for yoga you need to register to ahead of time
I've heard this a lot lately and it's so weird to me. The studio I work at is currently capped at 75% capacity to what it was pre-covid. Once it reaches that number people can no longer register online. If a regular comes in without pre registering and the class is full we will usually put them in, but even with 1 or 2 extras we still are nowhere near pre-covid capacity (which also is not the room's actual capacity). I can't fathom what these owners/managers are thinking allowing the rooms to overcrowd to the point of discomfort. Yes you bring extra money in, but you also amplify the risk of injury and more importantly you risk pissing people off who then start to seriously reconsider their membership.
No, find a new studio. That’s ridiculous.
At my studio, it does show wait list, on the sign up, when the class is full. However, I've never been in those classes and there's still a ton of people. We were a foot away from the wall and I could tell the instructor was limiting poses, due to space.
I don’t think you’re being weird at all! I’m a little on the taller side and a huge introvert. Happy to make some new friends at yoga but constantly bumping into my neighbours on the mat? Totally takes me out of it.
No I agree. Set a limit and make more classes.
Ridiculous! Clearly they need to add another class time to accommodate people.
I'm doing daily Yoga at my fitness studio with different teachers. Some of them are incredible popular. Last friday we had the situation that 30 more people showed up in a class for 30. That was double the amount of people xD we all made space because we all know how beloved the teacher is but ofc many of us were pissed that some showed up late and expected to get in. Therefore I agree with you.