IY
ILAYDA YILDIRIM
4 days ago
I came to Club Pilates for a workout, not to be publicly humiliated for being an immigrant.
Our instructor, Lynn H, spent the class repeatedly making jokes about my accent, including asking whether I came to this country through 90 Day Fiancé and questioning what I was even doing in Ann Arbor. As if that wasn’t insulting enough, she started directing comments to my partner, apparently assuming that because I have an accent, I couldn’t understand English.
Let me make something very clear: I am a proud Michigan NURSE, an immigrant, and a contributing member of this community. My accent is not a punchline, and my background is not your entertainment.
Ann Arbor is known for celebrating diversity, inclusion, and welcoming immigrants. How embarrassing that an instructor working in this community would make a paying customer feel so unwelcome.
And another thing: PLEASE ASK FOR CONSENT BEFORE TOUCHING PEOPLE’S BODIES. Being a Pilates instructor does not automatically give you permission to put your hands on someone without asking.
I expected professionalism, encouragement, and respect. Instead, I experienced behavior that felt, ignorant, and deeply inappropriate.
The only thing that needed correcting in that Pilates class was the instructor’s behavior.
Club Pilates management, I genuinely hope you take this seriously. No one should have to defend their accent, their immigration status, or their right to belong while paying for a fitness class.
My accent tells a story of hard work, and resilience. What does mocking it say about your professionalism?