Drill Sergeants
Tabloids Take On New York's Meanest Yoga Teacher
- Otto! Via The Post.
If you like to be manhandled in your yoga, please consider Otto Cedeno at Bikram Yoga Union Square, whom The Post has dubbed New York's "meanest yoga teacher," and who unfortunately confesses that his own friends call him the "Yoga Nazi." (Move over Soup Nazi!) He barks, he kicks, and he has a lot of rules....
Among his many pet peeves: No water for about the first third of the 90-minute class; wash off all makeup (it leaves streaks on rented towels); no loose-hanging clothes; and hair must be pulled back.
Who's the target audience? "Football players, basketball players, hockey players," he says. "A lot of Broadway performers. People who strive." Also, people with extra cash: A drop in at Bikram Union Square is a cool $30. Now, before we get all high and mighty, a few things to note....
First, keep in mind that some of the most revered gurus past and present (think Mr. Iyengar or even Pattabhi Jois) are or were some of the gruffest and most disciplinarian. Also, just FYI, Otto is not German, but in fact emigrated to New York from Ecuador at the age of four; (and has a colorful background as a ski racer, horseback rider, and asthmatic Broadway dancer). Further, please recall that we mentioned Cedeno back in November as he is the creator of the MAX short, which some people feel is the ultimate yoga short for men. So, this guy is interesting, and perhaps worth a visit — at least for Type-A, New York Bikram lovers....
- Oliver's blog
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Comments
Get yelled at and kicked for $30 when you could do the same style of yoga elsewhere for $7 without the abuse? I'll pass.
Submitted by erikka on 05.03.10 at 04:24.
i commented this on erikka's post about this article...but here goes again:
i LOVED bikram yoga union square (owned by otto cedeno, mentioned in the article), and most of the instructors were amazing. too bad i absolutely HATED otto's own classes. then, an issue came up that he never addressed with me (the studio threw away my mat that was in storage there) and so i quit. on top of that, whenever my mom took class, and she has horrible back issues, she felt very judged there and at times pushed harder than she should to avoid negative commentary. she left and after my experience, i left too. it's really too bad, because the space is gorgeous and i think it's the cleanest bikram yoga studio around...he's just not a capable owner / manager of the place.
Submitted by msh258 on 05.03.10 at 04:31.
Sounds pretty terrifying. But, just to point out: I've taken Bikram at several different studios, and "no water for the first half hour" is a consistent rule. The point is that they want to increase your internal body temperature, and if you drink during the first part of class, it messes it up.
My personal fav bikram studio is Bikram Yoga Harlem. No judgment, amazing instructors, great sense of community.
Submitted by Julia N. on 05.03.10 at 04:58.
Funny I posted this too.....
Submitted by michlny on 05.03.10 at 05:13.
Doh! Sorry to be redundant, I got excited when I saw it and missed everyone else's posts....
Submitted by Oliver on 05.03.10 at 05:35.
I don't know if I'll ever do Bikram yoga again, but I loved my teacher at Bikram Yago East Harlem. I appreciate teachers who let you take ownership of your practice. It means a lot to me. i take vinyasa at LIC's Yoga Room now, and after a day of being told what to do at work, I am so happy to only have to do what works for me and only me.
Submitted by mariposa_3676 on 05.03.10 at 05:43.
This guy is totally making up for being beat up as a child. "Colorful background" does not make you popular in school. Nor does an affinity for tiny shorts.
Submitted by bexcellent on 05.03.10 at 11:33.
Julia, is it crowded at Bikram Yoga Harlem? I have been meaning to take a Bikram yoga class again, but I want to do the $23 for a week deal for new students, but I don't have time to take 3 classes this week or next week or the following week. I called most of the Bikram studios this past weekend, and wanted to know if I can just go to one class and then in June, go for a week, and they said no.... so I am going to have to wait until this summer...
I also want to check out Bikram Yoga East Harlem.
Submitted by sandella on 05.04.10 at 01:33.
Another love shout out for Bikram Yoga Harlem. They just celebrated their second anniversary and it is such a friendly studio. I've tried a couple other studios but even when I went regularly, it was like they didn't know who I was. I'm treated like a regular here even if I haven't been to class in a couple of weeks, and ditto on the great sense of community here. I rarely buy class cards anywhere - I have one here. That's saying something.
@sandella, how crowded the class is really depends on when you go. A 6pm class on a weekday is going to be pretty full, but chances are you'll still get a spot on the floor.
I have not yet tried Bikram East Harlem but I hope to get over there soon.
Submitted by zuzupetals on 05.04.10 at 09:44.
thanks, zuzupetals!
Submitted by sandella on 05.04.10 at 04:32.
When I teach pilates to dancers and performers I am always more strict. But I think its important to change your teachin style based on what the class or client needs. You can't bark at everyone, not everyone learns that way.
Submitted by jessica@reseact... on 05.05.10 at 04:04.