According to tipster Patty C., last night's 8pm session at Stanyan Street's Yoga Tree was a little different than usual.
About 12 of us were in the 8:00 p.m. class, when around 8:15 p.m., a staff person came into the yoga room and informed us that Yoga Tree had been robbed. We were then instructed to come out and see if any of the recovered stolen items were ours.
Many items (large bags, clothing, etc.) were spread across the floor with a police officer standing nearby.
According to our tipster, personal belongings had been stolen out of the cubbies in the front lobby, which are separated from the yoga studio itself.
She said police on the scene arrested the female culprit and retrieved all of the stolen items.
"I don't know how the robbery occurred," Patty wrote. "I.e., by a so-called 'student,' or someone coming in from off the street, etc."
Further details about the incident, including the identity of the woman, are emerging. We'll update you if and when we get more information.
Update, 4:34pm: Here's what staffer Autumn Elizabeth, who was on-site during the theft, had to say about the incident:
"As the greeter on shift [at Yoga Tree], I was present the entire time and directly involved in this incident. Last night, someone suspected of theft was identified, and the police were called. Everyone comported themselves to the best of their abilities, and a complex situation found a generally positive resolution.
This event, and others like it, do not bring to my mind thoughts of justice and punishment, criminals and victims, or even the cliché of cops and robbers. What these situations bring up most clearly for me are questions about the extent of my compassion. I've recently said that one of the biggest challenges in this life is whether we, as humans, can see the complexity of humanity and care for it daily, routinely, even mundanely, with the utmost compassion.
I believe that this type of care and compassion, is possible and that it is as much about action as it is about philosophy. I can only hope that my actions, last night and always, come close to living up to this standard, and when I inevitably fail at such a noble goal, I hope I can at least regard myself with some compassion in my failings."
