Jun
25
Posted on 25-06-2008
Filed Under (Yoga Ramble) by admin

I can sense that the recession is coming nearer and nearer. First it was the recession in US and the rising of crude oil prices which hit Malaysian lately and seems that prices for retailed product has increased too for the the past few weeks. And now, petrol kiosk is not accepting payment by Credit Card. All sales have to be in cash. It has gone from bad to worst. Even Yoga Zone, Klang has been going through something very weird this few weeks. Either the Teacher did not turn up for classes or the Teacher has resigned. Rumors have been going round lately in the studio. I will refrained myself from spreading more rumors here in hope that they will sort out their internal problem.

The only thing I’m afraid now is the closure of the Klang branch. I love the strategic location at the shop lot in the hearts of Klang town which is very near to my house. Not to mentioned, we do not have to pay parking which is a cost saving to us. They have been talking about a new branch opening in a commercial tower. I can feel the pinch now. Not only it is a bit further and inconvenience to me, each time I go there, I will have to pay for the parking too.

Gosh, since the recent petrol price hike, everything seem not going smoothly at my end especially in expenditure. The kids school transport has increased from RM70 to RM90. I am fine with that as I can totally feel their pinch. Their violin lesson has increased from RM70 to RM80. For goodness sake, what does a music class have to do with the price hike???!!! &%$# The only thing that didn’t increased is our salary. That is so unfair! If Yoga Zone, Klang really closing down, I can’t be going for my classes as often as before. Oh, please God, please don’t let this thing happen!

… pleaseeeee ….

(46) Comments    Read More   

Comments

Aaron Wakling on 25 June, 2008 at 4:15 pm #

I’ve been reading along for a while now. I just wanted to drop you a comment to say keep up the good work.


Fei on 26 June, 2008 at 12:48 pm #

Hi, I just signed up life member with yogazone.

Why you worry about closure of yogazone? What is really happen in yogazone?

Yogajess said: Of course I’m worry. I just signed up life member with them too. Please take note. Things only happen in the Klang branch. The other outlet I am not sure.


Fei on 28 June, 2008 at 11:21 am #

Look at next week timetable, only 5 days got classes in klang. 🙁


Lil' Ms Pinky on 29 June, 2008 at 1:29 am #

I love your site, and your various yoga poses. You take very good pictures too.

I have been contemplating on whether to join Yoga Club or not, and my bf has decided to buy me the yearly membership as my birthday present. My aunt is also a member in YC Taman Desa, and she’s been telling me to not sign up yet, because of a few weird things that have been happening. Teachers going on long leaves. Teachers cancelling classes at the very last minute. Teachers resigning.

It is getting me a little nervous too, and in a way, I am glad I haven’t signed up yet.

I think Yoga Club/Yoga Zone is going through a bad patch, but I hope to find out more. If you do have any information, I would appreciate some updates. 🙂


Cassandra Bernard on 1 July, 2008 at 12:54 pm #

I’m YZ member since day one when they opened at Taman Desa, while the founder TJ was still teaching his classes ( till date, no teacher can give his kind of energy in the class ;))I’m now the lifetime member that give me the advantage to free flow and experience different locations and teachers, Plaza Damas is currently my second home.
The recent rumours had disturbed me for a while before i decided to send an sms to TJ to have a clearer picture ( We are the few privileged pioneer members to have his personal mobile number, ha! ) Coincidently, I was on the way to Damas outlet to attend class and TJ was there too for Green Yoga thingy. We had a chat over coffee and after the talk, I’m sad, i’m depressed, towards the attitude and ethic of some of the yoga teachers. Few of the so-called yoga teachers in yoga club actually stopped to teach immediately as their salary was delayed a couple of days,( due to internal fraud by one of the senior manager, I promised the founder not to reveal but oppssss…sorry TJ… ) even they got their pay-cheques, but they want the cheque to be cleared before they resume classes. As a member, I just wanna attend good classes, where’s the commitment of the teachers towards those members who purposely travelled all the way to attend their classes??? I have no choice but to presume their passion is simply towards the dollars and cents. As a senior executive in corporate company, I can clearly understand that the revenue is the blood stream of the company, these teachers also spread rumours to the members that YZ will close for good and discouraging them from buying any packages. These yong chics may not know the meaning of chain reaction, they are indirectly eliminating their own rice bowls and worse still, my temple of yoga practice! This poor founder still believe in good karma and “Ahimsa” ( correct me if I’m wrong ) and not to stand up and voice out, hey, the world out there is different! TJ, stand up! speak up! Tell them the truth! You have our support! Cheers!
By the way, is Ahimsa means “non-violence”? ( steal the knoledge from TJ over the coffee time ) Hmmm…I should not criticize too much from now on.


Cassandra Bernard on 1 July, 2008 at 1:25 pm #

Hi, Fei, just browsed through the YZ homepage, there are classes everyday, why did you mention 5 days only? 😉 by the way, I’ll be in Klang next week, will try to attend class there.


Fei on 3 July, 2008 at 1:54 pm #

Initially they only posted 5 days classes, we can only see everyday classes later..


Yoga Man on 9 July, 2008 at 5:48 pm #

TJ is lying. Many teachers have not been paid for months. Some were sacked because they voiced their dissatisfaction of not being paid for months.After they were sacked, they were not even compensated for their back pay. Ask the teachers not the founder. They will tell the truth.


Fei on 10 July, 2008 at 1:06 am #

Hi, Cassandra Bernard. If TJ really has the story behind, I think he should come and voice out, at least to the existing members. I don’t agree in believe in good karma and “Ahimsa” so not to stand up and voice out. Telling the truth is also one of yoga practice.

Cassandra Bernard, you were right, the world out there is really different now! The rumour is spreading, existing members hesitate to renew membership, outsider not dare to sign up. Even if this is a rumour but the YZ closed up would be really happen soon, if no further action taken by the founder.

Ahimsa means “non-violence”, TJ, tell us the true story, we are all yogis, I believe we can accept and support you, as long as you tell us the truth.


YogaJess » Blog Archive » Namaste Frugal Club on 11 July, 2008 at 11:47 am #

[…] know they are trying to save the electricity but hey, when all things happen at the same time (read “Something Fishy” and “No Money No Class”) this is getting very scary and it send me a goosebumps seeing […]


Yoga Man on 11 July, 2008 at 7:52 pm #

The word is out. Melaka Yoga Zone is closed for good. Big news there. Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew has covered the story. The franchisee has been cheated by TJ of their life long savings and TJ is too coward to face them. Read all about it in the newspapers!!!


ayam goreng on 13 July, 2008 at 4:45 pm #

Yoga Zone ROCKS!!!!


Observer on 14 July, 2008 at 7:46 pm #

To all the readers: –

Correction here….the salary delayed was not for a few days as claimed by T.J but it was delayed for months. On top of that, the promises with labour office to settle employees/ instructors EPF is still not settle.

Ask the founder to stop lying and make those big empty promises and stop cheating public hard earn money!

And, for those so called terminated instructors…..The truth is these brunch of full time instructors stop teaching the classes due to several months of salary + EPF not paid. Every human being need to earn a money for living….I am sure no one would expect these instructors work free forever because they also have their own commitment. So to cover all these up, the founder is so clever to use the word “terminate” to make it looks so good. It is such a lost to the whole YZ group as some of these instructors are pioneer and shall be maintained.

Lastly, to those who sign up for life membership…..go to attend as many classes as you can else soon or later it will become history.


Fairlady on 14 July, 2008 at 9:54 pm #

sorry dear…the salary is actually delayed for a couple of weeks only….NOT A FEW MONTHS!!!! please do not make false statement when you dun even know the truth!!!


Ah Moy on 15 July, 2008 at 1:27 am #

Yes!!! Keep your mouth shut if you don’t know anything!!!


Observer on 15 July, 2008 at 10:28 am #

Really???? Would you like to call upon all existing instructors and ask them have they get their paid or not??? Let me tell you the truth, a lot of the instructors only received half of May ’08 pay…and now is what month??? Then perhaps you can also explain what happen to those ‘terminated’ instructors….are they getting the compensation as per labour law???


uglykid on 15 July, 2008 at 12:09 pm #

you better stop talking nonsense you stupid fairlady! you look like a witch instead. keep yr big mouth shut if you dunno anything!!!! better fly off with the broom!! pay’s delayed for coming to 3 months!!! only pay the teachers for a small amount yesterday! not even enough to cover the month’s pay tat was held back! TJ you are in deep shit! and let’s face it you are a coward!!


yoga star on 16 July, 2008 at 3:31 pm #

don’t start another war at here k?
i can tell the truth!
teacher=owe near 3mths
management staffs=owe 2 mths
outlets staffs=owe 1mth
clear?thank u


Observer on 16 July, 2008 at 5:21 pm #

Thanks Yoga Star. This is the truth.

Latest information here….

The so call management team[Name include T.J] send out an email to most of the teachers prohibit them to apply any leaves until Sept ’08. So if you got any personal issues to do you need to provide evidence. Guess they dun understand the meaning of PERSONAL…..
This leaves teachers following choices: –
a] resign [Sorry you wouldnt get any single cents]
b] convert from full time to part time [hmmmm….u r still work for FREE, may be you need to borrow from loan shark to finance his project/ dream]
c] Being Terminated by them [for whatever reasons they can think of….]

Sad thing are members…..without teachers…..Oh, I forgot….still got T.J to teach as he PROMISES !!!???

As for the yoga lovers, is time your shall seek elsewhere to continue your journey of practising. It may not meet your expectation but still it give you peace of mind that such indicidents wouldnt disrupt your peaceful living.


YC Student on 16 July, 2008 at 6:28 pm #

Oh no…really, Yoga Star? Goodness, YZ is doing so badly I’m really concern cos I’m a student in YC. I hope that I do not turn up one day to class and there is no more YC like what happened in Malacca…the fees are paid with my hard earn money *sob* *sob*

To the Yoga teachers, thank you for staying on. Without you, there will be no classes – I thank you from the bottom of my heart.


uglykid on 16 July, 2008 at 6:58 pm #

Dear all Teachers, you should all be united and stand strong for your rights. All of you should boycott and shouldn’t be teaching anymore with NO PAY! the problem with you guys are you guys are not united. wat’s worst is after all that’s happening, there are still a handful of you whom are too timid and even worst still some are back stabbing each other! Pls. Ladies & Gentlemen, it’s time to wake up!

YogaJess says: If all the teacher decided to boycott the class, who will be the next victim? The students! And without students, slowly one day YZ will run out of business. If run out of business, how does TJ going to pay off (if he intend to) the teacher’s & etc debts?


Observer on 16 July, 2008 at 8:36 pm #

Lets face it…T.J is not going to pay anything to anyone.
if he has the cash, he wouldnt be creating all these suffers to everyone….
He is just either buying his time or try to fool some ppl out there…thats what he is expert in it.


mousse on 16 July, 2008 at 9:32 pm #

Sorry Jess if i agree with uglykid’s suggestion by asking the teachers to go on strike.And if i offended anyone am sorry. But c’mon just look at TJ or should i say let’s face the truth………… TJ’s not goin to pay a single sen. He doesn’t have the ability to pay his debts!!! i know the students are the most innocent ones. But as teachers, there’s only so much we can do. We have to go out to get another job or somewhere else to teach! we have to eat and a family to feed. What do you think????

YogaJess said: Uglykid, your original comment before the correction looks like this “Sorry Jess if i offended anyone by asking the teachers to go on strike. But c’mon just look at TJ >snip<..." Remember when I close the earlier comment box I did mentioned that there are a lot of duplicate identities. You know who you are. I don’t have to put names here. So stop being like a school kids will ya?


Fei on 17 July, 2008 at 12:47 pm #

Agree with u, Jess. But their purpose is to find any way to make the yogazone vanish now, like using fake id now. They are not belong to yogazone anymore, wouldn’t bother the members too.

I saw other forums actually linking to your blog now. Sooner the whole world is watching, chances for yogazone to survive is dimmer.

I told you before, this is alien vs predator, whoever win we lose.. I know they are also in the hot soup now, but this is just not the way to resolve problem.

Jess, for the sake of all the students, I suggest you to close the blog or filter the comments.


you should think about it on 17 July, 2008 at 1:46 pm #

To Fei and Jess:It’s too late to take any actions on the blog now.Whether this blog exist or not,we can’t deny that there is something happening in Yogazone.This blog is only letting the whole world see clearly what’s going on.If TJ doesn’t come out and settle all the debts,there’s no way of asking staff and teachers to stay.Without staff and teachers,how does Yogazone gonna operate?You may say that this blog will make Yogazone ‘die’ faster but I can let you know this.KWSP already taking action towards the epf that Yogazone should had pay.By Sept,they will need to settle up all the epf (11%+12%) that they had owed for 1 year together with interests.

You can try to cover up the story but the truth will remain as the truth.Because everyone choose to stay silence at the first place when problems arise,thus,Yogazone had come to this stage.

What’s goes around,comes around..I’m not trying to add salt into the wound..and I do not wish to c Yogazone ‘die’..everytime I try to post a comment here,I’ll think twice,I’m worried that I’ll make a contribution to push Yogazone to the edged..this is ‘sinful’..but by keeping silence and trying to cover the truth = lying = sinful ..I believe in karma..

At least if u leave the comment box and ur blog open,u,urself can get the latest news on what’s happening in Yogazone and whether things can/had been settle..Also,u’ll know whether ur membership is still safe..


Fei on 17 July, 2008 at 2:59 pm #

Hi ‘you should think about it’, you have your point too.. Jess, it’s on you now, what’s the next action: remain open, close or filter.

With all the same ip, fake id and all the cursing &%$#, i wonder how much the truth is? (Now i know why government so afraid of the bloggers now..) All teachers on strike, means yogazone would be committed sudden death. Students definitely don’t want to see this.

My teachers, I sympathy to u all too, Tj maybe cruel, but students are innocent, you wouldn’t solve the problem in this way, show the students your mercy and love, pls..


PplWifVoice on 17 July, 2008 at 4:53 pm #

“Ahimsa” अहिंसा – The positive aspect of Ahimsa is extended to the insistence on the spirit of toleration. It means that in accordance with the doctrine of Ahimsa, injury through the activities of speech and mind has to be avoided, especially also towards people of different ideas, ideals, and religions.

Ladies & gentlemen! You know the truth now. Yogaman has given enough facts then put into details. Let’s stop advocating negative chi’ in Jess’s blog. Enough is enough! Stop hurting each other. We all know what is going on and how is the condition now. Employees of Yoga Zone Group, the final decision is still up to you whether to continue or not. From what Observer had mentioned earlier, resign or convert from full-time to part-time. My apologies to the practitioners.


YC Student on 17 July, 2008 at 11:03 pm #

Uhm…with all the discussion today, maybe I shouldn’t ask this question but does anyone knows if Comfort Zone is also affected? As I have a package there too, so if it is then its a double whammy for me 🙁


jediknights on 17 July, 2008 at 11:22 pm #

Fairlady on 14 July, 2008 at 9:54 pm #

sorry dear…the salary is actually delayed for a couple of weeks only….NOT A FEW MONTHS!!!! please do not make false statement when you dun even know the truth!!!

PLEASE Lah, what kind of fairlady you are, if you dont know the truth, please shut up, you said couple of weeks ? 5 weeks also couple of weeks, 10 weeks also couple of weeks, if you are damn rich of course you even bother whether you will get the salary, a lot of them are surviving on the salary, one week without pay means a lot to them, whatever comments written by Yoga Man are true FACTS !


YZ student on 18 July, 2008 at 9:18 pm #

hi YC Student, comfort zone is affected for sure. they did not get their gaji hence in damas none of them showed up for work on wed.


fairlady on 19 July, 2008 at 6:00 pm #

jediknights…i dun have to shut up…coz in malaysia we got ‘hak untk bersuara’…haha…fairlady doesnt mean that i am a very ‘fair lady’…i love nissan fairlady(no other meaning)…dat’s y i put this name..plus i’m not a lady(mentioned 2nd time liao)…haiz…i’m also one of the staff in YZ and i know wat’s happening there…things will get better…we must have faith in TJ…hoping that YZ group will soon shine again and continue being the best Yoga Center in Malaysia…so i’m here only to support TJ…not to argue…sorry jess to what happen in the ‘Namaste Frugal Club’ comments…Just that the uglykid kept on scolding me…or else this might not happen…i totally agree with Fei…we have to make things better by not cursing people in this blog..we are only here to share…no members hope to see YZ Group drop because they love yoga very much, love our teachers and YZ r like 2nd home for some of them…plus, yoga is their lifestyle now..So I’ll fully support TJ no matter wat others say bout him because he is really tring his best to do wat he can do best…wanna let him know that there r still staffs who work hard, and fully support him and YZ!


Yogi Desa on 22 July, 2008 at 9:46 pm #

When a company gets into deep shit like this, there’s no other easy way out. Probable ways are:
1) Get new funding from others, inject new investment from other company, such as joint venture, or sell off some of the company shares to raise more fund

2) Close down those unfavourable centres, consolidate accounts and try to work out with its creditors, teachers, staff, etc for a more viable payment schedules. If the founder is sincere and really wants to get it over, he should be honest and try to talk to his creditors.

3) This is the worst option and I hope it’s not the way that the founder has chosen, is to sell off the business to another party. What could happen is the new comer may not honour the existing memberships – be the yearly or life time membership, everything will start from fresh. Just like the Jackie Chan Fitness Centre, when it was taken over by California Fitness, all existing memberships are void. To join the club, you have to purchase the membership again. Hope this will not happen.


Vi on 22 July, 2008 at 10:14 pm #

To all YogaZone members, we should stop arguing this issue on the blog….it will end up no conclusion, it seems that this bustard is a real conman. I think we should all group up, make a trip to the HQ and make a big “hu ha”, prior to that we will make a police report and getting media involve. If problem not solved, next step is to get the minister involved. Agreed???


vic on 23 July, 2008 at 8:28 pm #

Some resign staff until now didn’t get him salary back, so somebody already went to labour office to su TJ, and EPF, sosso also.


tantan-tantan on 24 July, 2008 at 8:35 pm #

All Malacca yc member are lost, take us as a good sample club is close. Try to call 06-2868000 nobody pick up anymore.


Ahha on 26 July, 2008 at 4:57 pm #

De true is.. Teachers & Stuff no get the pay for few months… They are curretly suffering from ‘eating bread & fasten noodles’ to survie… if no $$ to buy bread and noodles, two way for them to choose.. either ‘Die’ or ‘Leave’!

Lastest news get from front desk… There is NO class for one week on all YC/YZ. Most of the pillar and core teachers has been resigned with 24 hours notice. OMG!


~*cute*~ on 27 July, 2008 at 1:48 am #

*If only next week classes cancel, fine. However, someone might consider to complain to association of consumer etc if this scenario still persist. Look, anything could happen at this point of time.

If the outlet still operates without having classes, YZ group still able to charge the membership fees from its consumer’s credit card which is under monthly installment plan. Pity for those who signed up as GC or for those who have not activated their membership.

Pray for YZ group will really resume its classes after 1 week. *


Pissed! on 27 July, 2008 at 7:41 pm #

Cassandra, you are so naive to believe TJ!
I am one of the many instructors, and since we are in the picture, let me tell you what is up!
YZ is owing instructors not only few days of salary, but in fact months.
FYI, they even owe EPF and SOCSO money for months, and that is just too much. They could get sued and who are they to blame instructors for taking actions.
This is a business deal, you pay, we service, or else it is a breach of contract, be it black and white!
When you think you are so priviledged to have talked to him, let’s just say you have the priviledge to be fooled by him by his own stupidity!
Don’t blame the instructors, ask yourself, would you work if you are not paid, not delay it is a no-pay situation now. Some get paid like 1/3 only, can you imagine how serious this is!????
He can tell all his lies and stuff, but we ain’t fools to fall into his trap. We have life to live on, we work hard for the money, we strive hard to win him reputation, at the end of the day, he is screwing everyone up! So, you tell me, yoga mind? BULLSHIT!
Oh, his frustration becomes a revenge in sacking people. He absolutely has no stupid rat’s brains to think that this could translate into legal action, class action as a matter of fact, so who is on the losing side?
It takes two to tango, but in his case, we as instructors deserve more respect, and he and his management team get none! All they do is scapgoating and point fingers!
Now truth hurts right? Do you feel betrayed now? I betcha!


tantan-tantan on 28 July, 2008 at 8:19 am #

check yz schedule morning all center no schedule…looks like malacca sickness spread to all over…same tactics…all teachers sorry for you…students very sad…anyway life goes on…


jc on 28 July, 2008 at 4:49 pm #

can we ask credit card bank to charging our card for easy payment


jc on 28 July, 2008 at 4:58 pm #

what i mean stop the easy payment


knot on 28 July, 2008 at 10:37 pm #

i’m one of the TTC student (Jun intake)in YZ. Kinda afraid that it will effect all our TTC students certificate, one more thing is they r now facing this problem but y they still have this 200 hrs course end of this year?? Izzit just a way of business for themselves coz the feez cost a lot s well. I’M SO AFRAID THAT SUDDENLY WHEN I GO FOR CLASS ON SAT N SUDDENLY EVERYTHING CLOSE DOWN!!


Belinda on 31 July, 2008 at 9:23 am #

I am also a member at YZ and FF. I started with FF but when YZ opened I signed up for a life membership there too because I like their yoga classes there better. I am glad I did not cancel my FF membership in the end because of what is happening now. Can someone tell me if I can get a refund of my membership at YZ??? I also heard that FF is giving a promotion for all YZ members, is this true?????


klangman on 3 August, 2008 at 11:56 pm #

Y fitness in Klang is still operating..?Are they different entity..? What’s the difference if you signed up with Yogazone instead of Y fitness..and vice versa ? Is the boss owning Y fitness or what happened if he sells YZ, does YF affected too..? He may be a Yogaman but a lousy businessman/enterpreneur !
Thanks


Giam on 4 August, 2008 at 9:41 pm #

YZ/YC members, Both I and my wife are lifetime members. Today there were classes in Cheras center and some other centers too, apparently it was arranged by a group of dedicated instructors and some staff of YZ for the love of YOGA. Help them, keep the classes going by buying the vouchers. Bravo to the dedicated people involved. Check around if you can find a place offering such myriad of classes hourly offered by YZ/YC in the Klang Valley for such a price. It will be so sad to see it close. The people in these places are so friendly and most of the instructors are so helpful and so genuine when they teach. Can someone hold a fund rising to help the YZ/YC. It is of no benefit to see it go to waste after all these years of hard work by the founder and all his staff. It is not easy to manage such a big organization and still have a passion for the art. But he has done a good job so far for such a growth and Yoga has become a lifestyle for some of us if not all of us. Monetary benefit cannot be compared to healthy lifestyle benefit. Thanks to the dedicated instructors. For those instructors still sitting on the fence, join them, you’re stronger together. Both of us will continue to support you all. Remember – Nothing is permanent, people take things for granted when it is there – how do you feel now that it is almost gone, it is like leaving your girlfriend after the summer is over. On behalf of those dedicated members. Keep it up we’re still behind you all.


punky on 12 August, 2008 at 9:32 pm #

I have read all of your comments and I am one of the victims too. Just joined the classes for 2 mths and this unfortunate thing should happen. Btw, how much did the life membership cost? I paid for a yearly membership and I really feel the pain. I do wish that this crisis can be resolved asap cos I really do miss the classes. To all the members, lets keep each other updated for any latest news. I know that YZ is under receivership now & the branches are closed for indefinite period of time. I’ll just wait a while to see what happen before I decide 2 join another club again which I am quite apprehensive after this incident and also sakit hati about the money that I have paid. Sigh…


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