HOA Karen reports her neighbor for doing yoga on their terrace, claiming they're ruining the family community with workouts that are ‘inappropriate for children to see’: ‘I practice at 6 AM, wear completely normal clothes, and make zero noise’

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Mar 29, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

HOAs are the bane of any homeowner's existence, but the resident in this next tale was wrought with grievances from her HOA-obsessed Karenish neighbor, who was apparently not a fan of yoga. 

I happen to live in a community with an HOA and, when I first moved here, it was run by residents who were Mom-and-Popped into power, genuinely caring for the community and keeping costs low. They maintained the pool, took care of the grills, and kept the landscaping nice, so I was happy to fork over some cash every month to keep that going. However, time went on and they grew old, ready to pass the torch to the next HOA leaders who, unfortunately, were a giant corpo property management company. Within a few months, everything had fallen into disrepair, they raised HOA dues by $300/month, and they became completely out of touch with the property. Now I know what it's like to live under the thumb of an idiocracy. 

The HOA Karen, in this next story started taking pictures of her neighbor doing yoga on her balcony, hoping to ban her 'Eastern religious' practices and save the family neighborhood from her standard workout garb….

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    Cheezburger Image 10487418624
    via Peter Berglund

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    "My neighbor complained to our HOA about my rooftop yoga practice"

    I've been practicing yoga on my rooftop terrace for the past few months as it has amazing sunrise views and helps me start my day peacefully. Yesterday, I received a
    via clammyanton
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    formal notice from our HOA stating that someone complained about my "inappropriate public displays" and "disturbance of community aesthetics." I was shocked since I practice at 6 AM
    via clammyanton
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    when hardly anyone is awake, wear completely normal workout clothes, and make zero noise. When I asked for clarification, the HOA manager reluctantly
    via clammyanton
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    admitted that my neighbor (who I've never even spoken to) submitted photos of me in various poses claiming they were "inappropriate for children to
    via clammyanton
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    potentially see" and "promoting Eastern religious practices in a family community." I'm literally just doing basic vinyasa flow!
    via clammyanton
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    Cheezburger Image 10487421696
    via Tim Samuel

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    krissycole87 Ask them to point to where it states in the HOA bylaws that have your signature, that you are forbidden from using your own terrace for exercise.
    via krissycole87
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    People can complain about whatever they want. The HOA cannot actually cite you unless it goes directly against the HOA bylaws that is the exact copy that you signed, not some updated copy they just manufactured to suddenly include yoga.
    via krissycole87
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    Also, file a complaint in return for your neighbor "peeping" and "inappropriately staring over into my property" which "makes you very uncomfortable to use your own backyard" and "if it continues I will be forced to file a police report." See how quickly this gets squashed. Signed, someone else who lives in a HOA
    via krissycole87
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    Equal_Enthusiasm_5... Wow, "promoting Eastern religious practices"? You would think you were doing human sacrifices on the rooftop, not that I think that's post of any Eastern religion. The HOA should be backing YOU up on this.
    via Equal_Enthusiasm_5
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    cheybananas If that whole promoting eastern religion thing is an exact quote, I feel like that right there is your ticket to fight. They can't just outlaw religious practices.
    via cheybananas
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    HeatherLouWhotheEff I would also point out that the HOA cannot prohibit certain religious displays but not others. That would violate the FHA. I.e. An HOA can ban all statues, but
    via HeatherLouWhotheEff
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    they could not ban just Buddha statues. They can ban exercise, but they cannot ban just yoga. A ban on string lights - probably not cool if you allow them for Christmas but not Diwali
    via HeatherLouWhotheEff
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    Protoman112358 I would ask the HOA if they ban religious practices and tell them to off
    via Protoman112358
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    NeatSure5751 HOAs are required to follow the fair housing act which prohibits discrimination based on religion so you could go after them for damages for the whole eastern religious practices part
    via NeatSure5751
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    Twenty_6_Red Got any flesh colored workout gear? I would be so tempted!
    via Twenty_6_Red
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    DippyHippy420 Ask for the contact information of their lawyer and inform them that infringement upon your Eastern religious practices is a civil rights violation and you are not above taking ALL involved parties to court in order to protect your rights. That should be enough to stop this.
    via DippyHippy420
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    KimBrrr1975 This is nothing but a "I hate people who aren't Christian. Yoga and Meditation are from the devil!" BS. How incredibly creepy that they were watching you at 6am and TOOK PHOTOS.
    via KimBrrr1975
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    halsta... I had someone do this too. Maybe don't refer to it as yoga when discussing it with the HOA. This is simply stretching and callisthenics.
    via halsta
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    In addition to what others have said this is a good opportunity to practice zen and nonviolent resistance at the same time. It's a challenge to your focus on your practice but you should meet that challenge and overcome it by keeping on doin what you're doin.. Haha! Zen IN YO FACE!
    via halsta
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    persian_omelette Sounds like you might have a jealous neighbor who doesn't want their husband to see you practicing yoga.
    via persian_omelette
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    Ok-Pomegranate-6479 That's creepy that they were snapping photos of you. Make sure you tell the HOA that you're uncomfortable that someone was filming you and ask to see the rules where it says no yoga is allowed.
    via Ok-Pomegranate-6479

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