Dee Kay
I chose this studio intentionally while dealing with health issues and purchased an unlimited membership. At first, the staff were friendly, and I met some genuinely kind people. Unfortunately, one employee, Mason, repeatedly spoke to me in a way I found rude and unprofessional during class, publicly “correcting” me despite my using modifications that other instructors had explicitly approved due to health reasons. To avoid further issues, I stopped taking his classes. Outside of class, I asked Mason a simple question about baked goods he sells at the studio, and he ignored me entirely—looking away and not responding. After that interaction, the environment noticeably shifted. Staff who had previously been friendly stopped acknowledging basic greetings, avoided eye contact, and treated me differently than other clients. Sophie also participated in this behavior. I was only attempting basic politeness and engagement related to the practice. The behavior felt deliberate and exclusionary, not incidental. For example, when I reached 300 classes at this studio, no one asked me to sign the barre—despite that milestone being clearly tracked in the system. I had signed at 100 classes previously and went on to complete 50 more classes after reaching 300, yet it was never acknowledged. I was consistently polite and respectful. The change in treatment was noticeable and unexplained. I stayed longer than I should have because I needed consistency while ill, but the passive-aggressive exclusion continued. As an unambiguous Black woman in a predominantly white space, this experience felt like microaggressive ostracization rather than a misunderstanding. I contacted ownership when I left, but no meaningful action was taken. I’m sharing my experience so others don’t encounter this kind of treatment during a vulnerable time in their lives.
