Last Sunday, I was invited for a free trial class at Pure Yoga Singapore (Takashimaya).
Over the phone, the sales representative assured me that all I had to do was to rock up for the 10:45am class, and experience Yin Yoga in all its glory. I thought that it was a brilliant idea, since I was interested in learning more about Yin Yoga, and also because I was on the lookout for a new Yoga place to go to – now that my previous teacher, Stanley Lim, from Ashtanga Yoga Singapore has moved to Shanghai.
I accepted the invitation excitedly, arranged to meet some other friends in the same class, and happily trooped off to Pure Yoga. Unfortunately for me, I was trapped in Takashimaya’s complicated car park system which didn’t offer direct access from its car parks to the 18th floor, where Pure Yoga was located. So after playing snakes & ladders with the lifts for awhile, I finally managed to arrive at Pure Yoga at exactly 10:45am. Phew! I thought… Just in time!
Unexpectedly, the sales representative whom I had spoken to over the phone, calmly came forward and firmly refused to let me in for class, telling me that I had to be at least 15minutes early for the class. I explained to him the I had faced some confusion with the car park lifts and still, he refused to let me in. I explained to him that I had friends also in the class waiting for me, and he still refused to let me in. I explained to him that I had arrived exactly in time for the class, and still he refused to let me in.
Instead, he smoothly offered to show me around Pure Yoga’s premises, offered me a seat in the lounge where I could sit down and find out more about the different price plans offered at Pure Yoga, and he assured me that I could go for another free yoga class… later.
At this point… I was very irritated and couldn’t stop feeling that I was being taken for a ride here… I mean what kind of Yoga Nazi establishment doesn’t allow students to come to class on time? Puts a sales representative in your way to refuse your entry? Wastes your time and energy to come down to class only to subject yourself to sales dribble?
Needless to say, I left Pure Yoga with a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn’t go for a free class, I didn’t want to listen to the sales pitch, and most of all, I didn’t want to learn Yoga from a place that doesn’t teach from the heart. A place that resorts to bad business practices just to get more students to sign up. 
9 comments
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October 27, 2008 at 12:44 pm
yogastuff
about pure yoga and the class you werent allowed into, dont you think you may have disrupted the other students who came early to class and were ready to begin their practice bang on 1045am? i firmly believe that if you cant go early enough its not anyones fault but your own, its not fair to thrash an establishment for having a fair set of rules…do you know how many times meditation classes were interupted because students show up just as the class begins people are all ready to begin and its so not fair for someone so selfish to drop in late no matter what reason they have. come on this is yoga from the heart not yoga specialized for you and your schedule. maybe you should try the yamas and niyamas and learn how to be peace before you rant and rave about a sales person pitching you their fee’s and showing you around the establishment, i think she was kind to do that to you…
October 27, 2008 at 2:17 pm
iamspidermonkey
hello yogastuff,
Thanks for your honest feedback.
Yes… you may have a point about how late comers may interrupt other students. But, please understand that I was not informed that 10:30am was the right time to turn up, not 10:45am.
In my experience, I have been to many other studios, both locally and abroad, where coming into class on-time (or perhaps you’d view it as late), have never been an issue.
I am not ranting or raving, like you put it. This is a personal/public blog where I journal my experiences, good or bad. Surely I’m entitled to my own bad experiences with Yoga studios?
And I’m amazed that a complete stranger has found my blog? Wow! I thought that only my friends and family read my articles here?
October 27, 2008 at 2:47 pm
angie
nazi! haha!
October 28, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Bruce Leeroy
I’ll beat ya both w a stick!
November 3, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Ovidia
I know I know I know!!!
That’s the sad thing about Pure Yoga, there are some really great teachers but the management is kind of $$$ eyed.
FYI it doesn’t stop after you sign up. I was a member there for a while & the sell-sell-sell business keeps on coming. ‘renew now for limited special offer’ & as for not interrupting yoga classes–there were calls to renew membership DURING mysore class.
As you practice Ashtanga you’ll know why this was so warped.
They do have nice showers there though… *sigh*
Such nice showers, such bad karma…
sincerely,
Complete Stranger
(since not friend/family)
November 18, 2008 at 12:01 am
jouste
Hmmm, I go to Pure Yoga and by right, you should be able to attend the class right on the dot. Of course, you might have difficulties finding a mat. It caters to a lot of working adults and trust me, there people rush to get to the yoga studio on time. Then again, I did encounter a few instructors who firmly refused to let students enter their studios once they started their lessons, mainly not to disrupt the practice. That’s the same reason why students are highly discouraged to leave the studios, short of an emergency.
In terms of service, I don’t know where to start. What service?! I have changed CS reps twice and the service level dips into obscurity. I heard from my current CS rep only when she wanted me to renew my membership. But since I am in one of those two-years unlimited memberships, nobody really bothers me after that and guess what, I like it.
Some really good instructors have left, but there are still some good ones around. Sometimes, you might find one who really inspires to pursue the happiness of yoga.
*feels obliged to sign off after seeing the previous comment*
Sincerely,
Definitely Stranger
(completeness still in question due to numbness after a yin yoga session)
November 18, 2008 at 11:59 am
iamspidermonkey
A big hello to these Complete Stranger and Definitely Stranger!
Thanks for your feedback. Hahha
I guess all Strangers (complete or otherwise) are welcome afterall…
December 5, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Nat
oh.my.god.
i just signed off a year to PURE YOGA on tuesday!!!!!!!
the sales rep did tell me to report for my free trial 15 minutes before though. yeah they do have nice showers, and the free class (this was actually my third or fourth free class in the past year), was quite good actually.
yes, i was actually really annoyed with their $$$-ness but then again, if you look at it, they ARE still much like a fitness centre, so i was expecting it.
i did bargain with them though, and managed to get my admin fee waived completely. hah!
next class is saturday. no choice lah, my work sched so screwy, must sign up to places like Pure where i can go whenever i like.
October 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm
thankgodiamnot
Ha Ha Ha..
Re: Stupid salesman in Pure Yoga with muscle body
Thank You guys.. In fact I was almost trapped in not-so pure situation at Pure Yoga Takashimaya.
In fact I was almost sign-up for one year and lucklily enough my japanese friend doesn’t want to sign up instantly since she need time to discuss with her family. These two lovely girls was kind enough to say they would waive the joining fee and etc..and etc…pheww…I was almost fell in love with their so-called sincerity and so and so…when all of a sudden the muscle-man in a tight-shirt, came and showers us with compliments (albeit fake ones)… and tried to convince us to sign-up that DAY!!! Wholly Gosh..what’s wrong with “thinking over” he’s so pushy that he kept pushing us and tried to say that we didn’t understand what we talking about… Geez… I don’t know where he’s from.. he’s a no-brainer Caucasian with maybe a bit good-looking but no-brain – Hellow.ww he’s so desperate for money…oh man…it’s only 159/month and they have to insult us about how we are almost 40 and still can make decision ourself… That bread-crumbs was so confident that we are so dumb – obviously not as dumb as somebody who scared away a potential customers. Dumber!!
I am now found someplace near Orchard and managed by 21club. It’s flexible and for sure the sales not so pushy..just only a few dollars more..But I am happier. at least not being underestimated by 20something not-so goodlooking-narcistic boy who teach an almost forty women how to decide. Well. hello Pure Yoga….we made up our mind “we’re not in to Pure!! Though they have a nice showers and all… well, I must say bye-bye… Stupid boy!! Lucky I don’t have his name..otherwise I would complain to CASE for harassing us!!