Consumer watchdog receives 286 complaints over sudden closure of Hong Kong yoga chain

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has received 286 complaints over the abrupt closure of yoga chain Hotstone Yoga, which shut its doors on Thursday. Hotstone Yoga in Causeway Bay. Photo: Hotstone Yoga. The Consumer Council said on Friday that the complaints involved around HK$3.9 million, adding that the Customs department was investigating the case. Hotstone Yoga’s Instagram and Facebook pages were not working when HKFP checked on Friday. According to its website, the yoga chain has branches in Central, Causeway Bay, Jordan, Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, and Sha Tin. A companies database states that Hotstone Yoga Limited was established in 2016. Its first branch opened in Kwun Tong, followed by Tsuen Wan. The yoga studio specialises in hot yoga, a type of yoga in which students practice in heated rooms for stimulated blood flow. The chain promotes itself as the first in Hong Kong to offer hot stone yoga. A notice posted outside the Kwun Tong branch when reporters visited on Thursday stated that due to “business operations and other actual circumstances, [Hotstone Yoga] has decided to cease operations after careful consideration.” The notice was signed off by a law firm that said it had been appointed by the yoga company. Hotstone Yoga in Kwun Tong. Photo: Hotstone Yoga. “After ceasing operations, Hotstone will not offer any classes, treatment, packages or other services,” it stated in Chinese. Staff will be paid their September salaries as usual, the notice said, adding that staff can enquire with “relevant government departments” regarding employees’ rights. Local media reported that a “victims’ group” consisting of students who had unused lessons at Hotstone Yoga had around 500 members. Some said the company’s staff were still selling classes ahead of the closure, raising questions about potential fraud. One woman said she spent around HK$11,800 in July on a package of 60 lessons with three free bonus sessions, leaving her with 44 unused classes. Another said she still had 19 classes to go, valued at around HK$5,000. A cleaner at one of the yoga studios told a customer that she was aware of the closure beforehand, but had been ordered not to reveal the news, according to Ming Pao. Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps Make a one-off donation. Hillary Leung is a journalist at Hong Kong Free Press, where she reports on local politics and social issues, and assists with editing. Since joining in late 2021, she has covered the Covid-19 pandemic, political court cases including the 47 democrats national security trial, and challenges faced by minority communities. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Hillary completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and sociology at the University of Hong Kong. She worked at TIME Magazine in 2019, where she wrote about Asia and overnight US news before turning her focus to the protests that began that summer. At Coconuts Hong Kong, she covered general news and wrote features, including about a Black Lives Matter march that drew controversy amid the local pro-democracy movement and two sisters who were born to a domestic worker and lived undocumented for 30 years in Hong Kong. More by Hillary Leung