How do you handle a student who consistently shares negative feedback?

The Question

I’ve recently taken on the roll of teaching yoga classes in a gym setting. The class is advertised just as “Yoga”, with no description. There is a student who comes almost every week, and since their first class – they have shared negative feedback at the end of class, immediately after class ending, directed to me but in front of the entire room. I’m open to feedback, but feeling uneasy about the way she continues to disrupt the peace cultivated for others at the end of class with her comments. Out of maybe seven classes she’s attended, there was one class where she shared positive feedback, and each other time it was negative. Only once (2nd class) did I ask for feedback. Her comments range from mid class requests about the fans (sometimes on, sometimes off), inquiries about how long I’ve been teaching, to comments and critics on the sequences. She has an ongoing request for more flow and sun salutations, leading me to think she would like a more physically demanding class than I typically teach. I’ve transitioned the class from a medium heat building Hatha class to a more Vinyasa style to accommodate her and better suit my expectations of what a gym yoga class audience might be looking for. I definitely notice moments of other students looking like they’re getting a “work out” – though that’s not my typical teaching goal But regardless of the changes, and the definite inclusion of sun sals, after seeing her again at last class, she had the same critique – needs more flow and sun sals- as of recently she’s begun to compare me to their previous teacher, whom I have never met nor had the privilege of taking her class prior to taking on her roll. Other students have challenged her in class on this but she insists. After her comments tonight, a student texted me from the class to say they really enjoyed it. I understand some of this is a class name / description, or lack of, issue. To be fair, I was hired just as a general “yoga” teacher, without instruction on the expectations of current students. I’m struggling with the feeling that I won’t be able to accommodate her requests. If there was different style yoga classes and teachers at this location; I’d refer her to another class. But alas; it’s just me and this student who seems to dislike my class but keeps showing up. TLDR: Student keeps speaking to the room after shavasana to share comments requesting a more physically demanding class. I’m about to tell her that it’s seems I’m just not her teacher so pl

— via r/yogateachers