The Bikram Yoga Arlington promotion, advertised online, said, “Freedom Isn’t Free — And we intend to honor those patriots who have died for our country and morn [sic] the loss of freedom of speech and other rights that died that day.” After that statement, it offered discounts like a week of yoga classes for $40 rather than $50 and a year of unlimited yoga classes for $1,000 rather than the normal price of $1,250.

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Right away, Twitter users voiced their disapproval.

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“I didn’t realize people would be so ‘roar,’ you know?” said owner Zahra Vaezi, 33.

“It’s like that man who punched his wife,” she said, referring to ex-Ravens player Rice. “I mean, that’s upsetting. But I think it kind of gets blown out of proportion.”

Vaezi said that her husband, Frank Machnick, came up with the idea, inspired by recent Labor Day and back-to-school specials that she offered at her eight-month-old business.

He was also the one behind the Twitter account, which stood up for the 9/11 promotion at first:

The angry responses continued to pour in.

Then the string of apologies started. First, “I wrote that stupid post at 1am with yoga brain. I’m sure some of you know what I mean.”

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Yoga brain?

“Have you ever done hot yoga?” Vaezi explained. “It’s such an intense practice that you get put into this zen. You just feel really zen and peaceful and great. … You might go and just drive off and not pay attention to all of your surroundings like you should.