Yoga teacher loses her job for telling influencer not to drink water during class

A New York yoga teacher has been sacked after bizarrely telling one of her clients that she couldn't drink water.

The incident took place in the middle of a hot yoga class of all places, where the exercise takes place in a hotter, humid room that's between 32°C and 40.5°C, in a method that is meant to improve cardiovascular health and increase flexibility.

However, the person that the instructor picked on was a TikTok content creator, who was quick to share the experience with her 650k+ fans.

Roma Abdesselam, known on the social media platform as Stay AT Home Daughter, was at a 6pm class with Bode in New York on 26 January.

But during the session, she went to sip water and when she told it wasn't allowed, she upped and left on the spot.

Hot yoga is beneficial, but can make you feel dehydrated (Getty Stock Photo)

In the viral video, the influencer said she just left and explained: “So I was in the class and I went to go get a sip of my water, I just picked it up from my mat, and the instructor bullies me and calls me out in front of everyone.”

She actually told the content creator that she would 'let her know' when she can drink water as it was 'not time'.

Roma claimed that she was told: “You drink water when I want you to drink water.”

Starting to raise her voice in frustration, she said 'of course I'm going to get water', and ending her rant by shouting: "Is this news to you that I would get water in a fuc*ing hot yoga class?"

In the description, she wrote: "I’m about to open up my own studio so I never see that woman again in my life. I never beefed with a yogi like this."

Angry users took to the comments, with one asking: "IF THIS IS BODE NYC THEY DID THE SAME THING TO ME," to which Roma confirmed, even mentioning the yoga studio's account handle.

Another said: "I do [sic] hot yoga for years, not allowing water is not normal," with a third adding: "Literally what?! It’s HOT yoga. If you’re feeling thirsty you 100% should drink water!!!!"

Irena claims that she did nothing wrong (Getty Stock Photo)

Since the incident, yoga instructor Irena, who was sacked following her comments towards Roma, said she said it 'innocently'.

She claimed: “It was my invitation — not an order, not a royal command,

“You are seeing in this new era, young people are having a very hard time to be told what to do.”

Bode NYC founder, Jen Lobo Plamondon, since took to the company's TikTok to issue an apology, not just explaining that the comments aren't keeping with the company's code of conduct, but that hydration is crucial before, during and after working out.

Claiming that they usually encourage clients to take breaks if needed, the founder concluded: “It is not okay for an instructor at Bode NYC to tell you you can’t sit down, can’t leave the room if needed, or drink water.”