I received an email that reminded me I had yet to review this place. I needed to take some time to shake off my experience to ensure I felt the same after a few weeks passed, and I do feel the same. I had a very unloving experience with owner, Larise Kia. It was my first time trying this center and I had an incredibly rough day prior to going (I'm a psychotherapist...I had a client pass away...). I was hoping some meditation would help me re-center before I had to go back into seeing my other clients, and was even early so that I could wash up and get adjusted before we began. When I arrived, I was ignored for the first few minutes by the owner at the front until I finally asked how to check in. Again, I was the only one there. No warm greeting or even eye-contact and smile. It felt almost as if they were annoyed that I showed up, which took me aback because obviously business was not booming. I figured they'd be glad I was there. Then, I decided to use my extra 10 minutes meditate in the shrine, took a picture before I began (as I have a following on social media that I'm consistently trying to encourage to have healthier practices, and I try to practice what I preach...) and then left my phone out while I was meditating during which time I was abruptly shaken out of my meditation by being yelled at by the owner for having my phone in the room. I didn't know this was a rule (note, it was my first time there and the sign on the wall was incredibly small, not to mention on the opposite side from which I entered the shrine...). A simple verbal reminder would have been enough. She proceeded to attempt to grab my phone and insisted I delete the picture, which I did in front of her. Then she character assassinated me and lectured me on my egotistical ways for the next 5 minutes. Again, it was my first time- she didn't even know me to make these judgements. I understand, now, why my actions would have been so insulting- as there are some pre-set notions around the use of modern technology in certain contexts within this religion. I couldn't have known that at the time and, even so, I would have expected more kindness and understanding from her, using it as more of a teaching opportunity than a scolding one. I apologized numerous times, and sincerely, for doing anything disrespectful, yet she continued to accuse me of all kinds of things- being selfish, being a "typical white American" (which, by the way, what does that even mean?), being "dumb and illiterate" for not being able to read a sign, etc. etc. I was so taken aback I hardly knew how to respond. Next thing I know, SHE is the one leading the meditation class. Guh. I chose to use this as a test for myself, and my own patience/compassion, knowing I clearly triggered some trauma in her, and to try to not take it personally. I thought maybe this is just a test of my own distress tolerance...so I can see if I can ground myself within it instead of doing what I felt like doing...grabbing my stuff and running out of there. I joined her class. No. One. Else. Showed. Up. When I walked in, I was now nervous I would do something else wrong. I asked if I needed to take my socks off and she laughed at me, "no." She scoffed, and rolled her eyes, like "duh, you can keep your socks on." What the heck? Then I asked where I should sit (there were like 50 cushions out, but in the very back of the room. She annoyingly told me to bring a cushion closer to her in the center of the room. It was, then, just her and I. During the meditation, she proceeded to insert covert aggressions and character assassinations into her "lessons" within the meditation. The whole experience was quite aggressive and unsettling. At the end, she even gave me a hug, which felt more like she was asking for forgiveness for losing her temper than showing love towards me. It was quite the codependent hug. I left feeling more shaken up and upset than I did when I arrived. To sum it up, THIS IS NOT A SAFE SPACE. People are not perfect, and clearly she was having a rough moment, but the owner of this space has a lot of work to do before she's in a place to guide anyone else, spiritually.
To be said, I don't know any of the other instructors and there is a good chance they are wonderful. I only speak about the owner. read more