“I’ll Leave at 25 Past” – A Reflection on yoga space etiquette

This morning, as I prepared to teach my regular Sunday yoga class—an hour-long session from 11:00 to 12:00—a woman I had never seen before approached me just after I introduced myself. I had shared, as I usually do, a bit about my teaching approach and my belief in discipline, not as rigidity, but as presence, consistency, and mutual respect.

“I’m going to leave at 25 past. Is that ok?” she asked.
“How early?” I replied, needing to be sure I had heard correctly.
“At 25 past,” she repeated, with a certain casualness.
“No,” I said. “It’s not ok.”
She looked surprised, even slightly taken aback. But I stood by my answer.

The Unseen Disruption of Early Exits

On the surface, it may seem like a small thing. A student stepping out 35 minutes into a 60-minute class. What harm could it do?
But in the context of a yoga class—a space carefully held for reflection, movement, stillness, and shared energy—leaving early is not a neutral act. It breaks the flow. It distracts others. It sends a silent message that what’s happening in the room is somehow optional, negotiable, or unworthy of full presence.

More importantly, it reflects a mindset that’s increasingly common in fitness and wellness spaces: a transactional, consumer-like attitude where yoga becomes “just another class”—something to sample, taste, or squeeze in between errands.

Yoga Isn’t a Drop-In Smoothie Bar

There’s a growing disconnect in how yoga is offered in many gyms, fitness clubs, and multi-class studios. Often driven by well-meaning marketing campaigns—like “Try Everything for a Week!” or “Unlimited Classes for £1!”—these promotions invite people to explore. Exploration, in itself, isn’t the issue. But these initiatives rarely come with any guidance on what yoga actually is, or the etiquette that supports a meaningful experience for all.

Management teams, often removed from the actual practice space, may not even be aware that yoga isn’t meant to be treated like a spin class or HIIT session. You don’t just show up late, answer a quick message mid-class, or leave when the final savasana begins. And yet, without education, how would new students know this?

They’re told to “jump in,” “get a feel,” “see what you like.” But no one tells them that a yoga teacher prepares not just a sequence of movements, but a holding space; that the energy of the group, the transitions between poses, and the quiet of the closing minutes are integral to the whole experience. When someone walks out early, they don’t just leave the room—they puncture that space.

Why It Matters

Discipline is not authoritarian. It’s devotional. When I say I care about discipline, I mean I care about everyone in the room feeling held, safe, and respected. I mean I expect you to respect the container we all step into—especially when others around you are showing up fully.

When a student walks out early, especially without any genuine reason beyond “I just want to,” it signals a lack of respons-ability, the ability to respond to a shared environment with awareness and respect. And that’s not a small oversight. It ripples. It teaches others that disengagement is fine, that boundaries are soft, and that presence is optional.
But yoga is not just a workout. It’s a practice of showing up fully. Of being with what is. Of respecting the moment—and everyone else sharing it with you.

Where Do We Go From Here?

This isn’t about gatekeeping yoga or demanding perfection from newcomers. Far from it. What we need is more orientation, more education, and more respect built into how yoga is offered—especially in fitness environments.

Management teams need to know that yoga is different; that it needs more than mats and mirrors. It needs teachers empowered to speak about etiquette. It needs signage or onboarding language that gently explains why arriving late or leaving early matters. It needs a studio culture that reminds students: you are part of a whole here. This is not a drive-thru experience.

As teachers, we can’t control every behavior. But we can speak up. Kindly, clearly, and with conviction. Because every time we do, we reinforce the integrity of the space—and the dignity of the practice.

Your Takeaway

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever wondered why your teacher gave you a certain look when you unrolled your mat ten minutes in, or why you were asked not to leave early: it’s not about ego or control.
It’s about respect. For the class. For the teacher. For yourself.
Yoga teaches us to stay. Even when we want to flee. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it’s just 25 past.
Let’s honor that.