Yoga Studio Frequented by Influencers Bans Filming During Classes

A yoga studio is cracking down on patrons filming in their classes — and influencers have thoughts.

Mimi Yoga, a studio with multiple locations in Miami offering yoga and pilates classes, announced on Instagram that filming in all of their classes was “prohibited, effective immediately” in an Aug. 31 post.

“Our studio is a safe space where students can disconnect without worrying about being caught on camera in someone else’s video,” the studio wrote in its announcement. “Your exercise time and time on your mat serve as an hour for you to disconnect and focus entirely on yourself.”

Continued the studio: “If you cannot comply, you’ll be asked to leave the class, and your class will not be refunded.”

Over the last few years, videos captured during classes at the studio have garnered millions of views from fitness and lifestyle influencers.

Speaking to the Miami New Times, the studio’s founder, Mimi Ghandour, said that Mimi Yoga had actually always had a no-filming policy, which was announced at the start of every class, but exceptions were often made for those in the back of the class who did not capture other students in their videos.

“Our instructors consistently announced these guidelines at the start of each class, but unfortunately, students weren’t adhering to the rules,” she told the outlet. “This led us to implement a complete filming ban during regularly scheduled classes to maintain the integrity of our space.”

Following the announcement, Miami-based creators took to social media to react to the policy update.

“Some people make a living on the internet. You could easily make $1,000 or more off a 60-second clip of you taking a yoga class,” said TikToker Giselle, who has over 160,000 followers on the platform. “I don’t necessarily think it’s fair to ban filming in every class — because it’s also exposure and marketing for the studio.”

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“I totally get the no filming policy,” said Melanie Suger, a lifestyle creator with nearly 30,000 TikTok followers. “I do appreciate some studios letting us film because that’s part of the content that we make… But it got to a point where there was one class that I went where I kid you not, two straight rows were just girls filming.”

In the comments of the original announcement, the studio’s patrons thanked the studio for protecting the privacy of its students.

“I love it tbh. I’m ALL for content especially capturing the vibe of a class but it’s so much more important than people feel comfortable to move through their workout in peace,” one wrote.

“Only in Miami this is normalized, but Mimi you all have a beautiful name and reputation for your self. This must have been a hard decision but it will truly bring the wellness community closer 🩵” another shared.

“I can now breathe knowing I don’t need to be making my best faces & tucking in my stomach 🧚🏼‍♀️😂” posted a third.