ComplaintsforThe Inner Space

• Initial Complaint

  06/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  I am an African ******** and **** Air Force Veteran . I came to the Inner Space for Therapeutic reasons only to be scammed and out of over $2,300.00. I joined the Yoga program here for therapeutic reasons and to receive my teacher certification. I was scammed , discriminated and treated poorly. ****** the yoga teacher scammed me and other students out of thousands of dollars. The recently positive reviews about her are from herself, friends and current coworkers. The truth is I was retaliated against because I turned down being on her podcast. She gossiped , lied and slandered my name and claimed I had a entity in me. She took advantage of my kindness and continues to not issue my refund that I have requested numerous times. The certification is not transferable. This business lack integrity, accountability and professionalism.

  Business response

  06/06/2023

  There are several situations at work here.

  The yoga program that is offered at our center is taught by an instructor who has been certified  with 500 hours of training as a yoga instructor trainer. Within ************ was continually rude to her instructor.Not only was she rude, but she engaged in bullying behavior in league with another student to intimidate a third student. The instructor had warned her on numerous occasions that we would not tolerate disrespectful behavior. When she threatened me with a legal action, I terminated her contract with my organization. She has credit for the **** hours that she took. She did not pay $2300 but rather $****. She did take other courses at the center, but the sum total did not reach the amount she claims. As one example of her attendance record, she registered for a 6 week  astrology class and only attended 2 classes. This is not our responsibility to force her to attend class. She had ample opportunity to attend the entire 200 hour yoga course, but cut classes and arrived late many times. She regularly refused to put away her cell phone and was frequently late for class. She aligned herself with another student who brought her dog to class and refused to leave the dog at home. When this student was told that she absolutely could not take yoga with her dog which was walking around class and licking the other students, she then left the dog home, but joined in league with *********** in a character assignation of her instructor and of another student. The bullying became so bad that sometimes their victim would leave class crying. Her instructor stepped in a number of times to alleviate the situation and diffuse the emotional trauma being caused to the third student. This duo has now unfriended yet another student on Face Book because she continues with her program and refuses to engage in gossip and character assignation.
  

  De ***** paid $**** total. She attended 140 hours and has this credit for class hours that she is more than welcome to transfer to another program.
  

  She had taken a position as an independent consultant at The Inner Space with a non compete clause stating that she is to process her clients through The Inner Space and to give the business contact information on opportunities that she gained through our business relationship. She was given the opportunity to be interviewed for a pod cast (featuring women in our genre) and accepted then at the last minute, she withdrew her permission to give The Inner Space as her contact information stating that she wished the video to air exclusively on her own site. Her withdrawal of permission to be aired on the site was not any problem at all, but it was recommended that she speak with me about her contract. This is completely separate from the yoga program. At this point she began threats ans insults directed at both the yoga instructor and at myself. I had scheduled a meeting with her to try to iron our any misunderstandings when I received a threat of litigation from her. At this point, I terminated our agency agreement. Her instructor stated that she felt that the entire class was in a position of feeling emotionally unsafe by ************ actions. The student who was in league with her dropped the program on her own.

  The Diversified Yoga program at The Inner Space has graduated dozens of successful yoga instructors. This class is the only one that we have ever experienced any problems with. I believe *********** and her classmate tried to undermine the class when they could not have everything their way and were asked to follow the rules when they were flagrantly being combative with the instructor.

   

  
  

  Customer response

  06/07/2023

   
  Complaint: 20150612
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  1.Does *********************** (Yoga Instructor)  have proof that she is certified to teach yoga? 
  Can Andrea  show proof that she completed 300 hours of continuing education every three years to continue teaching Yoga?
  
  2.Do you have documentation of the alleged bullying that you are claiming that I did?
  3.Can you get a written statement with phone numbers and addresses from the students that I allegedly bullied? What are the dates and times that I bullied students and what days was I actually rude to the teacher. 
  4. According to the  text messages, from *******************. She has always been so proud of my progression and that I have always done the right thing. 
  5.You claimed that I only paid **** but my bank statements show a total of 2300. 
  6. I stopped attending astrology due to the racial slurs that ******************************* would say in class regarding Asian and African ******** people. She stated that Asians are Orientals and that African ********* are *******. *********************** stated that members of the **** are hoes and that she loves calling the police on African *********. 
  7. Is there an attendance policy for yoga class? Are there any rules regarding cell phone usage? *********************** was almost always on her phone. My last text message that I received from ****** stated that I will graduate in June and that she was proud of me. 
  8. You mentioned another student and a dog. I was never in the same class with a dog. Your false accusation is harassment as well as assassination to this student and myself  professional character causing potential harm to our reputation and businesses.
  9.Do you have proof that I caused a classmate to cry? What ************* did this happen? Why wasnt this reported?  Is there a yoga policy stating that  I have to remain friends on ******** with classmates?
  10.I withdrew from the podcast due to the unprofessionalism of *********************** and her producer. (Please see attached evidence).  The producer asked for my website, and it was not ready at the time and I needed more time.  *********************** retaliated against me  when I denied consent to be on her  podcast and kicked me out of Yoga. This is the only time I considered a lawyer. When ******************************* asked me to meet to iron out any issues I happily agreed hoping we could put all of this behind us. Instead I was denied the opportunity. I have been harassed, bullied and my name slandered. 
  12. The credits are not transferable because your school is not accredited and *********************** will not provide her credentials.
  13. Do you have dates and proof of graduating students? If the classmates were fearful of me, why are they reaching out asking me to come back to yoga? If I were trying to undermine the instructor, why did she tell me she was proud of me? Why did she say I was amazing? Why did she have me send donations and why did I have to make social media templates for her business in order to complete the yoga program? 
  A polygraph test needs to be done to end any further confusion and false accusations, as well as a proper refund. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

  Business response

  06/08/2023

  1 *********************** has proof of her credentials. We reject the entire answer from this complaint. The person who was bullied is vulnerable and I certainly will not reveal the identity for fear of retaliation.

  2. I, ******************************* reject any claim that I have ever made a racist remark, especially in an Astrology class. *********** attended the second and the fifth class. If she was offended, why would she come back for the 5th class. I have 5 student witnesses who are able to refute this claim.

  3. ************ may have $2300 of charges to my organization, but she availed herself of many of our classes and services, including private spiritual coaching services, and she admitted to taking the astrology class at a cost of $210.

  4. ************ She regularly missed her yoga classes and was late on numerous occasions. She frequently played with her cell phone during class when students are asked to not use their devices. She was given ample opportunity to complete the program but chose not to attend regularly.
  

  4. ************** did all that she knew to do to encourage ************, bu ************ own admission, but the threat of litigation when she was asked to speak with me, the Director of the center was the break off point. When someone says that they intend to litigate, then there is no other alternative than to terminate the relationship.

  I am also requesting a copy of all of this correspondence in writing. I cannot read the response from ************ while answering it. This is a flaw of the program that the BBB is using. Please direct all further correspondence  and any previous and current correspendence in writing so that, should I chose to, I may send it to my attorney.

  I believe that ************ has laid herself open to a slander and impediment of business law suit.
  

   

  Customer response

  06/08/2023

   
  Complaint: 20150612
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  1. *********************** still did not show proof of credentials. Where is the proof ? There is still no proof of a victim. . When did this occur? What time and what day? 

  
  2. I also have witnesses  that ******************************* said racial slurs that can be provided in court. Classes was continued due to advance payments.  

  
  3. Each time my account was charged  for yoga I texted *********************** and informed her. I have proof of every single payment.  

  
  4. What is the attendance policy? What are the rules of cell phone usage? I have documentation of *********************** stating I will graduate in June and that I was on track. I requested a lawyer representation after I was kicked out of yoga unlawfully.
  
  I was offered a service , and was unlawfully kicked out the program before receiving  a Yoga certification, therefore I requested a refund. Instead of providing refund I am being bullied and my name is being slandered. 
  
  
  You can view the BBB from different computers. BBB is a public platform that your attorney can view at any time. I have already sent a certified letter to your business outlining what has been done to me as well as a request for a refund. 
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

  Customer response

  06/08/2023

  Better Business Bureau:

  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID .********, , and find that Mediation is necessary.

  Regards,

  ***********************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩