The Fallout From a Sip of Water at a Bode NYC Hot Yoga Class

Following a rigorous hot yoga session lasting nearly 20 minutes in a sweltering 105-degree studio, a social media influencer experienced thirst.

Interrupting her pose, she reached for her Fiji water bottle to rehydrate.

She anticipated no issues. She certainly did not foresee that within days, a video documenting her brief hydration break would garner hundreds of thousands of views.

However, this seemingly insignificant action – taking a sip of water midway through a 90-minute hot yoga class at Bode NYC, a Manhattan-based yoga studio – ignited a chain of events, including a widely circulated TikTok video, culminating in the termination of an instructor’s employment.

As frequently occurs with instances of consumer discontent, amplified by vocal patrons or travelers (or yoga enthusiasts) to receptive audiences on social media platforms, this particular episode resonated with a sizable and often sympathetic viewership.

Why would consuming water be problematic? Especially during a yoga class?

The contentious video encompassed several factors known to fuel public indignation: physical exertion and vulnerability, the perceived injustice of restricted hydration in an era of heightened hydration awareness, and relatively minor stakes. (“Denying hydration in ANY workout class is a serious warning sign,” one TikTok user asserted in a comment.)

Observers commenting on the situation often overlooked certain details, as is common in such scenarios. Yet, this contemporary morality tale concludes with its apparent subject of criticism in an unexpected position: back on a yoga mat, within the very studio where the initial discord transpired.

The online uproar commenced on January 26th, when Roma Abdesselam settled in for a 6 p.m. yoga session on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The class was advertised as Bikram style, indicating that participants would follow a meticulously structured series of 26 yoga postures, guided by an instructor. This specific style of hot yoga is known for its rigorous sequence.

While practicing this sequence, developed by yoga figure Bikram Choudhury, who departed the United States amidst sexual assault allegations in the 2010s, participants are generally advised to avoid drinking water for approximately the first half-hour, typically until reaching eagle pose. (Instructors occasionally refer to this point as “party time.”)

Despite her class not yet progressing to eagle pose, Ms. Abdesselam, 29, chose to drink water. The instructor, Irena, a seasoned Bikram practitioner, noticed and reminded the class to refrain from drinking water until instructed. Ms. Abdesselam, who mentioned not recalling this guideline being communicated at the session’s outset, felt frustrated and departed early with her fiancé, who was also present. They did not verbally engage with Irena about the matter.

“I was somewhat surprised because, as I mentioned, I’ve previously attended this class and never encountered an instructor mentioning that rule to me,” Ms. Abdesselam recounted in a phone interview.

Shortly after, walking outdoors on a January evening, she recorded a video for TikTok. Clutching her black yoga mat, with the now-infamous water bottle visible, she walked along a Manhattan sidewalk, displaying the agitation of someone seeking relaxation through yoga but experiencing the contrary. In the 42-second TikTok post, Ms. Abdesselam voiced her dissatisfaction.

“And the instructor singles me out — confronts me in front of everyone — and says, ‘It’s not time for water, I will indicate when water is permitted, you drink water when I authorize it,’” she conveyed in the TikTok video, which has since accumulated nearly two million views, fueling the online yoga water debate.

Some commenters shared similar experiences at the same studio. Others criticized her for publicly airing her grievances. Still others expressed doubts regarding the veracity of the incident.

The instructor at the center of this situation also expresses skepticism, or at least, offers a differing account of the events.

Irena, 56, who preferred to be identified only by her first name, asserts that she did articulate the instructions at the class commencement, contradicting Ms. Abdesselam’s recollection. She further stated that she did not “command” her student against drinking water, but rather requested her to “please attempt to refrain” until the designated time – based on the principle that strategically postponing water intake can foster discipline and enhance flexibility, among other health benefits associated with traditional Bikram practices.

“I believed it was communicated innocently,” she said in an interview. “It was my suggestion — not a directive, not an authoritative command.”

‘It Just Felt Personally Directed’

The day following Ms. Abdesselam’s self-recorded, visibly upset video, the studio posted a lighthearted rejoinder on their own TikTok account, stating that “drinking water is not only permitted but encouraged!!” In the caption, the studio elaborated, “while we aim to postpone hydration until after eagle pose in traditional hot yoga, please consume water whenever your body signals the need.”

Subsequently, Jen Lobo Plamondon, a co-founder of Bode NYC in 1999 with Donna Rubin, released a video statement affirming that the situation “does not align” with the studio’s established standards.

At Bode NYC, recognized as one of New York City’s pioneering Bikram yoga studios, instructors are instructed to “encourage clients to drink water between postures as needed” and to refrain from “micromanaging when or how much water individuals consume,” according to Ms. Lobo Plamondon.

“We operated as the sole dedicated hot yoga studio in the city for six or seven years,” Ms. Lobo Plamondon explained. “Historically, attending hot yoga inherently meant attending a Bikram yoga class. However, currently, most studios offer heated classes. Consequently, when new clients report prior hot yoga experience, they often enter a Bikram-style class with differing expectations.”

Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a history professor at The New School and author specializing in America’s fitness culture, suggests the issue arises from the “somewhat incongruous positioning” of Bikram-style yoga within the contemporary group fitness landscape, particularly when contrasted with trendy, social media-prominent studios such as CorePower or Y7.

Devotees of Bikram may appreciate the inherent discipline of the practice. Yet, in an era where yoga is predominantly perceived as a form of “self-care,” modern fitness enthusiasts might find its rigidity off-putting.

In a phone interview conducted shortly after the incident, Ms. Lobo Plamondon mentioned conducting a studio-wide video meeting to review company protocols and to underscore the seriousness with which external feedback is regarded. She also confirmed that the studio and Irena had ended their professional relationship.

“Isolated negative reviews will not jeopardize employment,” Ms. Lobo Plamondon stated. “However, when situations escalate as this did and we observe similar accounts from other clients, such patterns will not be overlooked.”

Despite Ms. Lobo Plamondon’s interventions, reconciling the principles of Bikram practice with contemporary student expectations has proven challenging. Monica Carbone, 28, another Bode student, recounted an experience mirroring Ms. Abdesselam’s during a 75-minute hot yoga session the previous month.

Approximately 25 minutes into the class, while sustaining a balancing pose, Ms. Carbone began to feel faint and took a sip of water. The instructor then requested that the class postpone water breaks until after the pose was concluded.

“It felt particularly directed at me,” Ms. Carbone recalled in a phone interview. “I was positioned in the front row, and regardless of intent, it definitely induced a degree of discomfort.”

Subsequently, when Ms. Carbone rose to leave the room due to recurring thirst, the instructor intervened and offered to refill her water bottle. She declined and proceeded to the front desk to explain the situation to a manager.

“His response further surprised me,” Ms. Carbone stated. “He commented, ‘Yes, I believe she is among our more traditional instructors. And traditionally, one only departs from Bikram classes due to one of the three P’s: puke, pee, or pass out.’”

Instructor Transitions to Student Role

Irena has dedicated 13 years to practicing this yoga style and completed teacher training with Bode in 2022. She acknowledged the necessity of adaptation for any thriving business, even those rooted in tradition. Nevertheless, she emphasized the significance of upholding Bikram-style yoga principles whenever feasible.

“In this contemporary era, it appears that younger individuals are encountering increased difficulty with accepting direction,” she observed.

Reflecting on the repercussions of her video, Ms. Abdesselam clarified that she never intended for Irena to lose her position, merely “for her to receive feedback.”

“Just because a practice has historical precedent doesn’t necessitate its perpetual continuation,” she added.

Her former instructor may hold a different perspective. During the same week as her job termination, Irena attended a class at Bode NYC’s Flatiron location, where she remains a student. She expressed fondness for the instructors and the community, and indicated no intention to leave the studio environment. This illustrates the complex relationship between tradition and evolving studio culture in the hot yoga world.

“Yoga transcends individual personalities or studio ownership,” she concluded. “Yoga embodies a culture, a lifestyle, a discipline. The practice of yoga serves as my remedy.”