Detroit, MI — A yoga instructor at Detroit Yoga Lab, one of the city’s most established wellness studios, has filed a police report after an older male student allegedly sent her a series of increasingly personal and unsettling social‑media messages, prompting the studio to ban him from all future classes.

The instructor, identified by the studio as “Megan L.” for privacy reasons, teaches beginner and restorative yoga at Detroit Yoga Lab’s Midtown location. According to the studio’s statement, the situation began with what appeared to be harmless messages from a student enrolled in her Tuesday evening class.

Police documents list the man under the pseudonym “Robert H.”, a 62‑year‑old retiree who had attended several sessions before contacting Megan through her professional Instagram account. The initial messages were described as “friendly and appropriate,” thanking her for the class and asking clarifying questions about poses.

Within two weeks, the tone shifted.

According to the report, Robert began sending late‑night messages commenting on Megan’s appearance during class, referencing specific outfits she had worn, and expressing what police called “a perceived emotional closeness not shared by the instructor.” One message allegedly read, “I feel like we really connect during savasana. You have such a calming presence. I think about it long after class.”

Studio management said Megan attempted to redirect the conversation back to yoga instruction, but the messages escalated. Robert allegedly asked whether she taught private lessons at home, commented on her body positioning in photos she posted online, and sent multiple messages in a single evening when she did not respond.

The situation intensified when Robert began arriving early to class and lingering afterward, attempting to initiate personal conversations. According to the studio, Megan reported feeling “watched,” “cornered,” and “professionally compromised.”

Detroit Yoga Lab issued a formal warning to Robert and later revoked his membership entirely. When the messages continued despite the ban, Megan filed a police report with Detroit’s non‑emergency line, citing concerns about harassment and unwanted contact.

Detroit police confirmed the report but stated that no criminal charges have been filed at this time. Officers advised Megan to block the sender, document all future contact, and consider pursuing a restraining order if the behavior continues.

Studio owner Laura Jensen said Detroit Yoga Lab is reviewing its policies regarding instructor social‑media exposure. “Yoga instructors are often very visible online,” she said. “It’s part of how they promote classes and build community. But that visibility can make them vulnerable to boundary‑crossing behavior.”

Industry experts say incidents like this are not uncommon. A 2024 survey by the National Yoga Safety Coalition found that 27% of female instructors reported receiving unwanted or overly familiar messages from students, with older male participants being disproportionately represented in the complaints.

Megan has continued teaching but has temporarily stepped back from posting class‑related content online. In a written statement, she said she hopes her experience encourages studios to take instructor safety more seriously.

Detroit police say they will continue monitoring the situation.

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