Bikram Yoga

These guys closed on 5÷1÷2014. Their studios remain open in Back Bay and Harvard Square.

there is carpet in the room… i couldnt even fathom how much bacteria there must be. its also super small so be prepared to move around alot as you let people get changed, grab things, get to areas. i only gave it one more star because the yoga instructor was really nice.

I had never tried bikram and bought a living social voucher to try it. Heated yoga sounded like great discipline for the mind and body
I do a lot of yoga, power flow, hot (97F) flow, vinyasa, so this was the natural next step
But I was thoroughly disappointed by the studios. The reason they get 2 stars is because of the staff who were generally friendly
The studios have CARPET! why oh why would anyone in their sound mind have carpet in a place that’s packed with sweaty people? And as you walk, you are hot with a noxious smell of old fitting rooms, you know the ones that have no ventilation that mostly smell of gross feet? yep! you got it
This smell becomes even more overwhelming during the class as you try and contend and deal with the heat and humidity. You want to draw a lungful of «clean» air and all you smell is this rancid disgusting odor
I may be more sensitive to this than most, who knows, I strongly believe that if the floors were wood or tiled or were covered something that didn’t absorb sweat and odor then it would be a pleasant experience and you can focus on the poses and postures
All in all, I used 3 of 10 — I tried the studio in back bay (on boylston st) and that odor was stronger — the studio was bigger, packed more people, hence more odor.
I want to find a place that does bikram without the odor.
Let me know if you have any suggestions

I’ve been practicing at this studio since June 2012 and I think they finally deserve a review from me. This studio is great and also a plus because it’s a hop, skip and a jump from my office. Every instructor is amazing here and very personable. I wish I could call them out each individually but I would feel bad if I forgot someone! Trust me just take a class and you will experience it!!!
The folks that come here are very into their practice which challenges me on a daily basis. The studio is a bit small compared to the other 2 studios but it works for me and isn’t a hassel. They offer 2 free towels with every class which is a plus and if you are a yearly member you get free mat storage, another plus!!!
If you are looking for a challenging class and great work definitely check out this spot. I am OBSESSED!!! Also, if you live closer to Harvard Square or Backbay check out those studios as well.

This review is strictly on the studio. It is EXTREMELY TINY!!! I went on a weekend morning when there were 10 other students; the room was packed. Additional participants would not be possible in my opinion. The room is also carpeted (my pet peeve). I understand that the carpet would add to the challenge of Bikram, but I would much prefer a room without. While we were doing poses on the floor, I was disgusted by the smell of the carpet. When was the last time they professionally cleaned the carpet?! I like the class, but would definitely check out the other locations.

I’m visiting Boston for a conference, and I had the pleasure of visiting Bikram Yoga Boston in the Financial District. I came to this studio a few years ago, and like other studios I’ve visited in the United States, I feel like I get the true Bikram experience.
Upon entering the studio, I saw a familiar face Meredith who I had the pleasure of meeting at a Bikram women’s yoga retreat. Her class was true to the dialogue and really zen.
The studio is small and the amenities are limited. There are showers but I personally wouldn’t do it and there is no locker room what to speak of. Price is also somewhat high at $ 25 for a drop in but I’m all about the small business.
Bottom line Bikram yoga Boston deserves four stars. It’s a purist Bikram studio but locker rooms and amenities are left wanting. But if you want a sense of community, this place is spot on.

It’s been four years since I started doing Bikram yoga. I resembled a donut when I started. Now I look like a dainty sausage with my little love handles. The good news is they keep getting smaller, and smaller and smaller. At one point, I had just given up with total surrender to food cravings which took me up to 230. Yes, I was so porky I once owned a pair of pants with a 42 inch waist! That was it, the far side. Something had to change. And something did.
First I stopped drinking diet coke and switched to water. Took three days before water became refreshing and the diet coke was banished forever. Then I became more physically active. Simplified my life. Oh what a journey that’s been.
Down around 200 pounds I found Bikram yoga. I had tried a few different classes and styles but when I tried Bikram I was instantly hooked. The ten day intro was followed by six monthly renewals and then I stepped up to an annual membership. The money I used to spend at Starbucks easily covers my annual which I use about six times a week.
Why do I do Bikram six times a week? Because it stretches and addresses every part of my body. Remember the simplified lifestyle? I’ve been doing a man with van gig for awhile now. Moving furniture and god awfully heavy objects. You won’t find me at Bikram on September 1^st but when I haul myself in as soon as possible after you can practically hear the crunchiness get worked out of my body.
Today I stepped on the scale at 166. I’m probably going to drop to about 150 by the time I reach the level of leanness that I want. My yoga practice has not only tightened up my body, it’s done wonders for my head. Bikram refers to this process as tightening up loose screws. I experimented with various nutritional approaches finally landing on plant based nutrition with The Starch Solution by Dr. John McDougall.
I now eat as much as I want, enjoying what I eat as much as any dietary approach I’ve ever taken. Healthy food with a daily yoga practice feels balanced. I look good and it’s getting better day by day.
If you’re trying Bikram for the first time you have to go easy on yourself. Look around at the people who’ve been doing it for awhile. Want to look good in Hot Drop apparel? It’s only a matter of time, but you have to find balance and pay the price. The price you pay is to accept yourself, learn patience and maintain your practice. This will do as much for your soul as your body.
Hope to see you in the hot room. If you come to Lincoln Street it’s a small intimate studio with two shower equipped baths and three additional rooms for changing. The studio is well maintained with frequent carpet cleaning, students are required to keep two towels on their mats, and cleaning is meticulous. For those who say otherwise, please, get real.

I like bikram. It’s a challenge, and I like a good challenge. If you’re going to do bikram at all, there are some things you can’t get around and one of them is that it’s going to be hot, sweaty, and smelly (at first, at least before you get used to it). So for this review I’m going to omit any complaints relating to those things because those issues come with the territory.
That said, this studio is really, really small. Really small. There is one changing room and one changing room with a shower, and they both fit one person at a time. Outside of those changing rooms is basically a 20 – 30 square foot narrow hallway that leads to the door, and some of that space is taken up by the check-​in desk, a few stools, and cubbies for your stuff. Beyond that is the studio. So my advice is wear your yoga stuff under your clothes if you can, and afterwards, well… either plan to travel home sweaty or to wait awhile for the shower unless you want to be the person who makes a mad dash for it the second the last savasana pose starts.
Besides that, the staff is really friendly, and the instructors seem to really care about their patrons and work to create a good atmosphere. I didn’t experience any issues with instructors getting upset with anyone in class for leaving or anything like that at all – my experience was pretty much the opposite of some of the earlier reviews. So do not be deterred.
Try this studio if its convenient for you after work and you can’t get to any of the other studios easily. I’ll likely come back, but only for those reasons. Otherwise, I prefer the back bay location which is more spacious.

I should start by saying that I practiced Bikram for 3 years, and now (after 2 years away from it) am trying to restart my practice. I also think it’s unfair to give this studio low marks just because you don’t like Bikram. That’d be like giving a sushi place low marks for seafood just because you didn’t like sushi.
But I digress… on to the review. This studio is tiny & they *pack* people in. I was about 4″ away from folks on either side of me. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, but definitely made some poses tricky (full locust, anyone?)
A+ to the instructor I had. I can’t remember her name, but she was awesome. Strict, but funny, and kept the flow moving so quickly. The class was over before I knew it. I’d love to have her as my regular Bikram instructor, but now sure that I can deal with the crowded space here.

I was visiting Boston and wanted to keep doing my hot yoga. I have been to many Bikram studios All over the country, but never saw one like this. The room is not large but big enough. The wall behind us was made of brick, very old and the whole room was not exactly square so everything seemed almost tilted, slightly odd. Then the instructor came in and set up in front of the door — yes blocking the door. I thought, no taking a break and going outside this time!
The instructor was extremely good. I actually know this– not based on my own opinion but i was there with someone who always complains about the instructor wherever we go. My friend IS an instructor and can pick apart other instructors and point out what could be done better. After class, I usually hear in detail what the instructor got wrong. I was very surprised that my critical friend with discerning taste actually liked this instructor (Liz, I think), said she had good flow and kept the class moving at a good pace and made just the right corrections in a positive and inspiring way.
the changing area is very small. The location is wonderful, in walking distance of the financial district and great Chinese restaurants.
Great place, great experience.
One very helpful aspect to the three Boston Bikram studios (Financial, Harvard Square and Back Bay) is that you can pay at one and go to the other two. This is extremely convenient because it gives greater flexibility of scheduling and provides a variety.

I have been practicing yoga for over 3 years now and recently decided to give Bikram Yoga a try. I have heard so many positive things about Bikram and I am definitely feeling the benefits. I have been going to this studio for about a month now and I am pleased with the way the classes are held and the two teachers I have had. I chose the Financial District studio because it is right across the street from where I work and is very convenient and they give you 2 free towels for class!
Yes, the studio is small and yes it is going to be very uncomfortable, but in all honesty, it does get easier. This particular studio probably gets to around 110 – 115 degrees (hotter than normal) so if you cannot take the heat, I suggest you do not go to this studio. If it is your first time, drink a lot of water beforehand and take it easy because the heat WILL make you nauseous and dizzy. The teachers I have had did not call people out for sitting down but they will say something if you attempt to leave the room. The most important part of Bikram is that you stay in the room for 90 minutes, even if you have to lay on the floor the entire time. The teachers are helpful, knowledgeable and will make necessary corrections to your postures.
The 5:30pm classes can get pretty crowded but the 6:15 am classes are my favorite and I have plenty of space to move. The «lobby» can get a little crowded before and after class as well, however this is not was prevented me from giving 5 stars.
The only reason I am not giving this studio 5 stars is because there are only 2 showers and it does not have a locker room. After the class I am drenched in sweat and have to walk to the BSC-​Downtown Crossing to shower and get ready for work. It would help if there was a small locker room with 3 – 5 showers.
Overall, I think this studio is great and I would certainly recommend it to other people!

I’ve practiced quite a few different yoga methods including hot yoga, but feel like I was just ripped off and spent my lunch hour in a torture chamber. Trapping students into a carpeted, sweltering, smelly sweatbox by standing on a podium blocking the door and barking rapidfire orders via a headset — «push, push push! your muscles should hurt! (and my favorite) eventually your skeletal structure will change and you’ll be able to do it correctly!» — it’s all enough to induce panic, claustrophobia, self-​loathing, and generally everything you try to avoid upon entering a yoga studio. Fuck this place — I walked out early and hope this review is a warning to anyone else thinking of going. Not cool.

If you enjoy Bikram Yoga, you’ll love it! It’s definitely not for everyone. This location is right across from my office, very convenient. All the instructors are friendly, supportive and strict, giving individual attention. As I had never done any sort of yoga in the past I was called out, by name, to fix mistakes I was making which I found very helpful. In just 3 short weeks I could see my body getting more flexible and in better shape.
The location only has two showers so it can get crowded after class if you’re trying to rush back to work.
I had a BuyWithMe which made it very affordable.

I’ve heard lots of people say Bikram is either a love it or hate it kind of thing. Well, I hated my first experience at Bikram Boston in Chinatown. I think part of it was my opinion throughout the class that Bikram in general is kind of BS — I’m an avid vinyasa follower, and I like to really MOVE in yoga, and challenge myself in poses. There is very little movement in Bikram, and the poses are easy, nothing you wouldn’t find in a beginner’s yoga class. That’s not to say it’s not a difficult class — my heart was pounding and I felt lightheaded, but this was mostly because the room was SO hot and stuffy that I literally couldn’t get enough oxygen into my lungs. Just because you sweat a ton does not mean it’s a good workout — in Bikram, simply moving from lying to sitting seems to require major effort, but my muscles certainly weren’t taxed anywhere near what they are in vinyasa.
Now, I know Bikram is supposed to be hot — but my understanding was that 105 degrees was the recommended temp, and although the studio hides the thermostat during class, I looked at it after class — and after the fan had been on for several minutes to cool down the studio — it was still 115 degrees! Meaning it was probably closer to 120 during the class. That is ridiculous. Add to that, the humidifiers and the carpet holding onto moisture — it felt more like a bacteria breeding ground than a purifying experience.
To top it all off, the instructor asks you not to leave the room if you feel sick — which is fine — but then BLOCKS the door with a podium he stood on the whole class. I felt like I was in a sweltering prison. The instructor’s demeanor was also very brusque and commanding — it was much more of a bootcamp-​type class rather than the relaxing, detoxifying experience I typically get out of vinyasa. I don’t mind being encouraged to work hard, but I also don’t care for my yoga instructor to sound more like an auctioneer or drill sargent.
Overall, I think Bikram is not for me in general, and I’m not really buying its «philosophy» but perhaps I would have liked it more had it not been for the too-​hot room and the unpleasant instructor.

Bikram Yoga — The heated room and atmosphere is bullshit… It just draws out every good thing from Yoga. Yoga focuses on breathing and breathing fresh air… At Bikram Yoga. you just inhale smelly sweaty hot air and exhale more carbon dioxide contaminating the room even more… Though the asanas are right… The Yoga essence has been totally commoditized…
All in all the «Heat» makes it hell… Guru Bikram may have preached very well. But what is being sold as the «HOT» bikram yoga is a big no no…
I went there today. and instead of a calm and relaxed mind… m just feelin are nauseatic and havea headache from the extra heat. It is stupid!

I signed up for the week pass for $ 24 last summer. I ended up going to this location only once and going to the Harvard Studio the other 4 times. This is located near South Station on the Red Line but the shower and changing room were really small and you had to share with the opposite sex.
The instructor was very encouraging, I hadn’t done the poses in about a year, but she complimented my form nonetheless. I had to sit for a moment to catch my breath and she wasn’t pushy for me to get back up at all.
The Harvard one is better and offers a larger area to put your bags and pretty colored hair elastics in the girls locker room!

I am a self-​confessed Bikram yoga addict, and it’s all thanks to these guys. You could call me biased, because this was the place where it all started for me, but the only reason why «it» started at all is because this place is so great!
If you’ve never done Bikram yoga: Give it a try! Just show up well hydrated, with an empty stomach and an open mind, ready to sweat more than you ever have in your life. It is a heated, all-​levels class. You’ll be with hardcore veterans and fellow newbies. And it’s true that anyone can do this class — you are never too old, too young, too sick, too fat, too skinny, too lazy, too stiff, too ANYTHING. You may love it, you may hate it, and you may THINK that you hate it, but then find yourself coming back for more the next day…
If you already know what Bikram is about: The word that comes to mind for this location is «cozy.» The room is on the small side, and it is on the HOT side. If you go right after work, expect to be mat-​to-​mat with your neighbors. Some people are turned off by this. Personally, I grew to LOVE it. There’s so much energy in that room — all these people packed into this little hideaway on the edge of Chinatown, just there to work hard and do their yoga. It’s FUN!
The instructors are fabulous — friendly, knowledgeable, great dialogue. They will learn the regular’s names and help you improve your practice.
There are 2 showers and 2 changing rooms, and they have rental mats, FREE towels, and free mat storage for regulars. No parking, but it’s convenient to the Red, Orange, AND Green lines, so there is no driving necessary. And it is very clean. (Carpet is vacuumed at LEAST once a day and they air out between classes.) Great place!

I’ve got nothing against Bikram, I think it’s the studio that earns its one star rating, but then again I haven’t had too many experiences with Bikram, so maybe it’s the yoga and not the studio. Like Ms. F. I love ashtanga yoga, so it’s not the hot powerful yoga that keeps me away.
Instead, it’s the small carpeted room of a studio. I’m sorry, but carpet? As though the smell of sweat needs to be magnified to a higher degree. I bought a two week trial pass, thinking I would definitely make use of it. I probably could’ve dealt with the sweaty carpet smell (in an effort to make use of my «investment»), but I couldn’t deal with the sweat dripping off the instructor and onto my body.

This is a lovely studio with beautiful old wooden beams and exposed steel pipes. Large windows allow a lot of natural sunlight. The hardwood floors make the place very streamlined and clean feeling, without really being too uncomfortable.
This was the first place I ever did Bikram, about 8 years ago. The teachers are all very good and compassionate, willing to take the time to help you personally if you need it and allow you to rest when you need it.
The only drawbacks to this particular studio are the lack of storage space and the small outer room, which gets very crowded at the beginning and ends of classes. Also, there is no on street parking (as in most of Boston) and the nearest garage is $ 15 (or more?). If you decide to come and you don’t live directly in the city, try to find a way to take public transportation.

There are yoga styles out there for everyone, but this one is not for me.
In talking with fellow yoga folks, I’ve found that you either love it or hate it. I’m a flow gal, so the style just isn’t for me.
But to each his own, and I’m a huge advocate of people trying as many types of yoga to find his/​her own style.