Funny experience at yoga today

[mcc]

I went to my usual vinyasa flow class today (the instructor is an animal and it's a really hard class) and there was a dude there who looked like a frat boy. Basketball shorts, polo shirt with the big pony, baseball hat--you know, typical yoga gear ;)He had no idea what he was doing but also didn't fess up to being a newbie.

Halfway through the class he just sat there looking around. I was so happy when the teacher went up to him to ask if he was injured and to try to give him variations to make it easier. As she called out the next pose she said to the class, "If you don't want to do it, please take a pose laying down. No one like the 'staring at other people' pose"

I was silently cracking up and mentally high fiving her for not letting a potentially creepy newbie spoil the class.

[clseale]

Why do you think he was creepy? I'm so confused here. Did it seem like he wasn't interested in yoga, and just went there to gawk at people?

Idk, he probably didn't fess up to being new, because he didn't want to single himself out. He also, obviously, probably didn't know about child's pose, or know how difficult yoga would be, which is probably the reason he just stopped & looked around. That's nice that she went to talk to him & all (that is her job), but calling him out (let's be real here, that's what she was doing), is kind of a dick move. That's one way to make sure that someone trying something new, will never return.

Maybe I'm reading/imagining this incorrectly. I (obviously) wasn't there. Lol

[runaways]

Yeahhh...I'm with clseale on this one. It's hard to admit you're new in front of the whole class, especially if you are already clueless and insecure about it. Now he probably won't come back, which I think is unfortunate because I've always found yoga to be so welcoming.

[hannahb]

Yeah gotta say I'm with PP on this one. New classes can be intimidating and unless he was obviously gawking or talking I find calling out a newbie unnecessary. How else are you supposed to know what the poses look like? The studio I go to encourages newbies to sit down to take breaks and look at everyone else

[mcc]

clseale it was pretty creepy and not just a looking around to see how to do things type of thing. I guess it was one of those need to be there type of things but it was pretty obvious that he was not there for the experience and had no intention of trying to participate in the class other than to stare. I felt uncomfortable during the class so I'm sure others did too. While I agree that what she said could be construed as a dick move, I was happy that she did say something. Meh, maybe I'm alone in this, but I don't go to class to be stared at during straddle splits by an onlooker standing there.

[clseale]

May 12, 2014 6:05:14 GMT -5 mcc said:

clseale it was pretty creepy and not just a looking around to see how to do things type of thing. I guess it was one of those need to be there type of things but it was pretty obvious that he was not there for the experience and had no intention of trying to participate in the class other than to stare. I felt uncomfortable during the class so I'm sure others did too. While I agree that what she said could be construed as a dick move, I was happy that she did say something. Meh, maybe I'm alone in this, but I don't go to class to be stared at during straddle splits by an onlooker standing there.

Fair enough. Like I said, without us being there, it's hard to really judge. While I still think she was unprofessional by saying it in front of the entire class, she was obviously getting a weird vibe as well. Plus, who knows, maybe he wasn't taken back/offended at all, and it just taught him the etiquette of yoga.

[mcc]

May 12, 2014 6:19:35 GMT -5 clseale said:

May 12, 2014 6:05:14 GMT -5 mcc said:

clseale it was pretty creepy and not just a looking around to see how to do things type of thing. I guess it was one of those need to be there type of things but it was pretty obvious that he was not there for the experience and had no intention of trying to participate in the class other than to stare. I felt uncomfortable during the class so I'm sure others did too. While I agree that what she said could be construed as a dick move, I was happy that she did say something. Meh, maybe I'm alone in this, but I don't go to class to be stared at during straddle splits by an onlooker standing there.

Fair enough. Like I said, without us being there, it's hard to really judge. While I still think she was unprofessional by saying it in front of the entire class, she was obviously getting a weird vibe as well. Plus, who knows, maybe he wasn't taken back/offended at all, and it just taught him the etiquette of yoga.

Yeah a but tough to articulate but something was way off. Maybe part of it was lack of experience in knowing what to do but it was weird. The teacher is hilarious though so it wasn't too off-putting in the scheme of her humor and, to those in front of him, likely went unnoticed. Ironically I had a tough workout yesterday and found myself taking a ton of breaks which is when I noticed him.

[hannahb]

May 12, 2014 6:05:14 GMT -5 mcc said:

clseale it was pretty creepy and not just a looking around to see how to do things type of thing. I guess it was one of those need to be there type of things but it was pretty obvious that he was not there for the experience and had no intention of trying to participate in the class other than to stare. I felt uncomfortable during the class so I'm sure others did too. While I agree that what she said could be construed as a dick move, I was happy that she did say something. Meh, maybe I'm alone in this, but I don't go to class to be stared at during straddle splits by an onlooker standing there.

Gotcha. And I'd rather not be stated at either! Especially with all these reports of yoga pants being see through!