So, I don't normally do this, but I am going to vent a little bit about something that has been bothering me for awhile.

I've been hearing rumors that other studios that have run Groupons or other 'special deals' then dock the pay of the instructors that are teaching to these deal-buying students. For example, some studios pay instructors a per-head fee - let's say $5.00. If an instructor has a class of 10 people, then they earn $50 for that class. Sounds fair, right? Well, if the studio decides to run a Groupon or other promotion, they then tell the instructors that anyone that comes into their class to redeem a Groupon will only earn them $1.00. Does the instructor then teach to this student less? Does the instructor skip on teaching more advanced poses because this particular student is only worth a dollar? No, they are expected to (and should) give them the same level of service as the person that is worth $5.00.

What I think the studio is failing to understand is that the value that the instructors give to the students does not change with what the student is paying the studio. The instructor most likely has gone through extensive (and expensive) training. To cut the instructors' pay because the studio decided to charge their students less, in my opinion, is just plain disrespectful to what they do and it undervalues their expertise as yoga instructors.

This frustrates me to no end. Please, yoga instructors, don't put up with this.

What's your opinion on this? Am I the only one that thinks this should not be tolerated?

(p.s. Just so you know, Tula pays their instructors a fair and agreed upon wage ALWAYS, even when no one attends their class, even when there are studio specials or promotional deals, even on students who enter the class for free. I value the service that my instructors give to my students and I compensate them accordingly.)