Bad Manners in Class

A few months ago I wrote a post about how the embedded rituals of pure barre are so comforting to me and make the experience so special.

But…

There is one person in my studio who just doesn’t get it. He happens to be male. He breaks every rule, every time, and he makes up his own rules to boot.

Phone always in class. Sometimes his sweatshirt. Today, also his bag. Returns his weights after the arms section while the instructor is guiding the first quick stretch without wiping them down. Skips the end of the class to wipe down his mat and return it before the instructor is finished.

It hasn’t happened once or twice, but literally dozens of times. I know that there are times when we have to get somewhere quickly and have to shorten the end of class to get out before the crowd, but this isn’t that. This is a “the rules don’t apply to me” situation.

Recently, he brought a friend to class, and the friend did what he did (causing even more disruption. And the class was packed. So the extra barreling down the middle of the room was really distracting.

My general approach to folks who don’t quite get it is to give them the benefit of the doubt. I have five special needs kids—each one with physical or psychological issues. I’m a very patient person in general. But this is really pushing the limit of my patience, and it’s not just me. A friend of mine spoke to the barre tender about the situation and she said that the barre tender admitted that it’s a well known issue and he has already been spoken to. But there has been no change in his behavior.

It has gotten to the point that when I see him almost want to just leave before class begins.

It takes one bad egg to ruin a good dozen. 🙁

Thanks for listening. 🙏