Yoga Teacher Training Forum

I've been hearing horror stories from acquaintances who have tried yoga for the first time and got negative experiences from it. I'm spending as much time as I can to convince them that these are isolated circumstances and that they were with the wrong teacher.

One guy told me that he was turned away because of his age and body type. He attempted to join in on an athletic, buffed group and they rejected him. Another individual was told she wasn't flexible enough and was used as an example IN CLASS.

I visited a yoga class twice recently from my local gym. It was the first time that I saw a teacher that never left her position on the stage in front of us. She never cued or assisted anyone and almost showed a sign of frustration when others were not keeping up with her. After two sessions, I couldn't visit any more, if just felt creepy to me.

Another thing that is funny to me is that every yoga class that I've been a student in the participants seem to quickly disperse after yoga class finishes. No conversation, no speaking to one another; almost like a disconnection. All the while I'm still lying there in this splendor and calm, hesitate to go into any sort of rush or chaos.

Aren't these terrible? From what I've learned thus far they are so not within the philosophy of Yoga. However, I'm glad that I'm seeing and hearing these things to learn the what is important as I progress.