For whatever value one may give it, The Hummingbird Field is blessed to enjoy a very high Google Review Rating. The rating aside, we consider the individual reviews themselves to be very important to us, as student feedback is not only paramount in terms of us aiming to meet our community’s needs, we also consider student feedback as a very powerful learning tool for all of us who serve through this space. This is why we encourage you to communicate with us whenever the need might arise. Our preferred method of communication is typically in-person, though we realize this may not always be possible or feel comfortable/safe for some students. Regardless, we fervently invite you to share with us how we might serve you better, whether it be in person, by email, a phone message, or an anonymous note in the Comments Box at the top of our stairway entrance.

As for THF’s Google Reviews, we’re fortunate to receive steady recognition of having quality teachers and a clean and beautiful studio—reviews which clearly make up the majority of our 4.6 star rating. There is also a recurring theme running through our ‘not so positive’ reviews which undoubtedly have always kept us from a stronger star rating, and that would be some students’ voicing displeasure with our No Latecomers policy. 

Despite our sincere want to work with all feedback in terms of providing a quality experience for all, there does arise the uncomfortable need to uphold occasionally unpopular policies, resulting in unfortunate outcomes, and The Hummingbird Field’s upholding of our No Latecomer’s guideline is a clear example of this.

Our staunch practice of beginning classes on time while not permitting any students into the practice room once class has begun, is a custom that goes back millennia in terms of teaching settings, including many traditions in yoga and martial arts. It is a protocol still shared by many yoga studios worldwide, yet this fact doesn’t make it any easier when our staff needs to turn students away who’ve not made it to the studio on time. To sometimes witness the look on someone’s face or hear of how desperately they needed to join the others on their mat, is one of the most difficult messages to both deliver and stand behind. And regardless of the calm and kindness with which our staff members deliver this message, none of us ever enjoys turning a fellow yogi away.

As we are students ourselves, we know of the many strategies often (or always) required to make time in our day for practice; to maybe ask others (family, friends, employers) for support, to get ourselves (safely) to the studio, to pray for a parking spot, to make sure we have with us everything we need, to make sure we’ve registered for class, to make sure it’s the right class, to make sure we’re well hydrated or fed/not fed. And then to have all of this well planned, yet the subway stops, or there’s a holdup due to road construction—all adding to the reason we chose to practice today in the first place. 

And on top of this all, no one wants to be reminded that this is the practice. It is exactly the situations beyond our control that ‘hand to us on a silver platter’ the opportunities to use the tools we’ve learned on our mat.

 Please consider that:

• one of the reasons our teachers are able to offer such a quality experience is because there are no students entering the practice room and setting up their spot during their instruction (sharing that initial savasana together is a blessed gift to us all).
• denying latecomers to class is a showing of respect by honouring all the students who’ve made the effort to be in class on time. Arriving in proper time is not only self-support, it’s support for ones’ community.
• even though there are often circumstances that will derail the best laid plans, should we find ourself repeatedly rushed, or often too late for class, recognize if this is an invitation to create a shift in our lifestyle—one that encourages more self-accountability in showing up comfortably for all our appointments.
• maybe repeated rushing/lateness is a sign that it’s time to ask for some support from someone in our life. Consider sharing with them of the great importance that is our regular practice, and how it benefits all those we engage with.
• our last-minute rushing could be a calling for more accountability in our life in general. Is it maybe time to show more respect to ourself and others by following through with what was a personal commitment? Is it a sign that it is time to let something else go in our life? What might be behind our habit of always leaving at the last minute, or regularly ignoring our bedtime commitment? What might we be holding onto/avoiding that often makes us late for things?

Clearly, the practice of self-inquiry (yoga) touches all parts of our lives, and our No Latecomers Policy is a sometimes hated, yet always powerful experience in self inquiry on many levels. I share these points above because I need to be reminded of them too, as we truly are all and forever students. It is an endless education that I feel privileged to be a part of and share with this community. Please keep your feedback coming. We’re doing our best to hear you, to learn with you, and to humble ourselves together.

See you in the practice room,

Don