Bikram Hot Yoga San Mateo

This place is great there’s parking, three showers stall for the ladies area and the staff is nice. Unfortunately my favorite teacher is taking a break for a few months. Bring a bottle of water or coconut water filled with ice when coming. 90 min class with no bathroom breaks so clean house first. Don’t park your mat in front of other students because they like to be able to check there form when practicing. Don’t sit under the heat vent because last time I did my fingertips were on fire. Wish all the instructors turned on the fan mid class and cracked open the door every so often. Located on the second floor, door code 222 if you take the 530am class. Namaste

Lovely studio, owned by the same folks who own my usual studio in Daly City. The sitting area is beautiful; the studio nice and toasty, and the showers well-​appointed.

I’m ecstatic to be back to Bikram Yoga after 2 years of sickness. BY San Mateo is one of the nicer Bikram studios I’ve been to in the Bay Area. The instructors I’ve had so far are not in the drill sergeant mold, which suits me just fine. The carpet is not fusty like the ones in other studios I’ve frequented, and the shower rooms are clean and sleek. So glad I’m back to the practice.

HOT yoga can be dangerous for everyone if you really try. Ironically.
Like it very much at the beginning, but I don’t think it’s safe or healthy in the terms of HOT. If you do your research you will find that hot make you more flexible, and the instructor always tell you «go beyond your flexibilities» in every poses throughout 90 minutes, which very likely you hurt yourself. HOT yoga makes you sweat and heat not really boot up your energy on the contrary your heart beat slower than in cooler condition. Your body keeps struggling take a break but the instructor and maybe yourself too will encourage you to move on try harder. I say, you should listen to your body.
Bikram hot yoga, talk to you yoga.
Yoga supposed to concentrate on your breathe and one group of muscles, but HOT yoga will distract you from that. Bikram hot yoga is conversational instructions. Instructors not supposed to do the demonstration, they just read instructions to you, so that you could follow along and teach yourself. When you listen, think, and teach yourself, watch others, your brain were very busy, hard to concentrate. The point for going to a studio is that you could have a closed room with heat and wet. Pretty much doing yoga in a sauna room. The thing is you got both male and female in one room, and like it or not, a lot of them are dress very «limited».
About the studio:
Carpet for a wet room with people sweating all the time…
Certified Bikram yoga studio need carpet instead of wood floor. For carpet, as a lot of reviews said, smelly. They do has air spay going on every 15 — 20 minutes, but I’d prefer no such spray. Sometimes I stand close to the door area, when the spray goes on, I want to sneeze and throw out. It’s strong. During each session, when you try to get down, the carpet smells so bad. No way out of it. Although owner says they shampoo the carpet everyday, I doubt. Probably not even vacuumed everyday. Each time I went to a session, I tried hard to not to stand or touch the carpet at all, because hair, dust, and funny things can be found on carpet. I do sneeze a lot sometimes.
Shower room:
Female’s shower room facing the aisle, easily to expose people in side of the shower room. You can use shower room as a change room, but no lockers. Small locker provided, just for your cell phone, wallet and keys. Not enough room for one shoe.
Spiritual instructions, thanks, I don’t need it.
Instructors often tell you, you are in the room practice and making life changes. Come on, 90 minutes a session, shower, driving, prepared and wrap up. Each time you spend at least 2 hours. If you can do 30 day challenge in this studio, you can do 30 day professional training or practice to get a bigger life changes. Or if you do 30 day challenge on making positive influence to the community you got a bigger and broader life changes. The thing is not hot yoga, but yourself. Yoga doesn’t carry magic, OK?
Crowded studio for popular time.
As the studio open longer the studio became more and more crowed in each session. Occasionally, students not pay attention to others, they just walk in and block you in the mirror. Instructors won’t do anything about it. You need to talk the situation out yourself. Some students even moved around in the room during sessions. Still, instructors not doing anything. But… if you try to leave or just walk to a mirror because your contact lenses dropped, instructors will call your name and let you wait for the time between poses, despite you were hurt and tearing in the eyes.
Instructors:
General speaking male instructors are much better than those females. I do observe once an female instructor passed out in the studio. I’ve also seen few senior male students passed out. And they stayed in the room till the end. Honestly, I was really worried. If I’m the instructor I would suggest them listen to their body, take a break outside of the hot and wet room.
Good sides:
Location and parking is good. Price is reasonable. Schedule is good, many options.

Beautiful building and space! Easy access to freeway and parking! Friendly and knowledgeable teachers & staff! Lots of mid 20’s to early 40’s young professionals in the lunch and happy hour classes! Really great place to check out if you haven’t!

Pros:
Great, patient, and motivating instructors! (Kerry, Matt, Sarah, Christian, and two others I forgot their name)
If it’s your first few times there, they make you feel welcome and not let you feel intimidated even though you feel like giving up after the first few poses! :)
Shower room is provided with cubbies for your personal belongings. These shower rooms are stocked with shampoo, shower gel, q-​tips, lotion, mouth wash, and a hair dryer.
Cool motion-​sensor-​activated water bottle fountain.
They let you drink water at certain times, unlike other bikhram studios.
Cons:
The floor is carpet and everyone is dripping in sweat. Even if they shampoo the carpet everyday, it seems gross stepping in other people’s sweat throughout the day.
You cannot be late or leave early. What if you have an appointment that you have to leave early for? Sorry, you can’t leave. You have to stay the whole duration or else you’ll be hated on.
If you plan on going to the earliest morning class, make sure you ask about the door code the week and day before!!! I remember being stuck outside with a couple others because we all didnt know it; thankfully some stranger knew the code. If it wasn’t for her, we would’ve been late (meaning we would’ve totally missed the whole yoga class, meaning we would’ve wasted our $ and time).
There are no lockers to keep your stuff «safe». The cubbies are all you have. But so far, i haven’t experienced anything getting stolen from me.
There are only 4 showers and there can be a line to use them.
I wish they played some tranquil music while doing the yoga, but i guess they don’t do that for bikhram.

Wonderful yoga class. It heals my back pain and helps me get relaxed after work! Great teacher Christy.

The instructor, I think his name was Brad was very rude but he wasn’t the worst part of my experience there. The smell was unbearable and I had to leave after 45 minutes. I only went to this studio because it offered a Friday mid day class that my studio doesn’t. It was NOT good though.

What is cool about hot yoga — and Bikram’s simple but challenging combination of 26 postures + 2 breathing exercises — is how perfectly it combines the alluring promise of enhanced self-​discovery with the sustaining empowerment of collective performance, all packaged into the highly functional form of an easy-​to-​follow ritual. This very professional-​looking and well-​appointed San Mateo studio — 1 of 4 such BHYs in the greater Bay Area (SF, East Bay, Mid-​Peninsula) — offers you an excellent entry point into the world of intense but relaxing exercise that awaits those with the grit and gravitas to unlock its many hidden secrets.
The studio itself is well located on the second floor of a swank office building on El Camino Real, only a few blocks north of CA-​92. The changing and shower rooms are elegant and functional, and the outer seating area is quite spacious and attractively organized. The yoga room itself is cavernous and wide, with only one support column in an otherwise uncluttered space lined on three sides with floor-​to-​ceiling mirrors and one exterior wall with large windows generally covered with gauzy white curtains, but which can be opened at the instructor’s prerogative to infuse the space with fresh oxygen and cool air (there are very quiet ceiling fans, too). The heat inside is nicely maintained and consistent, and while you will notice it, that’s the point. Part of the joy of the practice is having your body glistening with perspiration as you glide between postures in the «standing series» (great for balance, flexibility, and strength, esp. the legs) and then transition (after a blissful short rest period) to the «floor series,» which if anything is even more aerobically intense than the first batch of postures, and which is great for arm strength and fine-​tuning your upper torso.
The 10-​class trial period ($ 5 per 90-​minute class, which generally seem longer, each led by a skilled and caring instructor), is something that everyone living mid-​peninsula should consider trying, either solo or in a small cohort of friends, family, of significant others. It is probably easier to survive the first few classes with a backup or two, although there is nothing that should stop single would-​be yogins from coming.
Often, as was the case with the founder, Bikram C., one is drawn to the practice in order to recover from a serious injury or sickness of some sort, either physical or mental. Scars take time to heal, and the spiritual, inward-​focused nature of hatha yoga provides a way not simply to «recover» from the past, but also in some significant senses to transcend that previous reality in favor of something more expansive, more enlightening, and more self-​aware than that earlier, stasis-​inducing status quo. I first started the practice in western Montana during a particularly nasty fire season (which made hiking outdoors unhealthy), and after a frightening fall while backcountry skiing solo on the Lewis and Clark trail near Lolo Pass that previous winter. Everyone in the room likely has a similar story to tell (if they weren’t so busy trying to catch their breath from the second round of balancing stick). It’s that inner drive that keeps people returning week in and week out. Even if you never find out exactly what motivates the others to come, you’ll sense it in their quiet determination, their patience, and the energy that they bring to their practice.
Strength, flexibility, and balance are the key benefits at the start, but dynamic healing, creative self-​fashioning, and evolving personal awareness (becoming more «you») are part of the package as well, if you can handle the heat (you can), the soreness (you will), and the initial frustrations about «failing» to maintain the postures correctly. Just remember that there is no wrong way to do them, only varying degrees of right. To my mind (and currently aching body), this particular studio offers an excellent spot to begin, or to continue, a Bikram yoga practice. Whether it lasts 10 classes, 10 months, or 10 years, that’s probably less important at the moment than showing up, mat and towel in hand, almost naked and utterly exposed (in a good way), ready to see what will happen next. The most inspiring yogins are often not the ones you might expect, and they come in all shapes, ages, and sizes. It isn’t a gym or a cross fit center or aerobics class: the difference will be palpable if you attend class for the first time, and while there isn’t any harm in those other places, a great deal of good can happen here. Perhaps you will find out for yourself, this season, or the next. It’s really the only way to know. Hope you will make it to class one day soon!

I love this studio! I’ve been a student of yoga the majority of my life, and bikram is my favorite style. The teachers are so encouraging, kind and wonderful.
I wish I could express more how incredible each instructor is!
I bought the groupon and ended up purchasing a full year package.
I can honestly say it’s made a difference in my life. I feel more energetic and my muscle and joint pain has reduced greatly. My husband has even noticed a difference! He told me my back looks much stronger, and my hips much leaner! «You’re as young as your back is healthy» one of the instructors said once, and I sure believe that!
I changed this from 4 star to 5 star because they added new early morning classes and mid-​day classes; which really help with my schedule. The only problem now is: I only have myself as an excuse!
Bottom line: if you like yoga, come here. If you want to improve your health and over all well being: come here!

great studio, great instructors. ONE complaint… do something about the doors slamming!!! When taking your shavasana, the slamming doors by individuals entering and exiting the studio ruins the state of relaxation you’re in. I know people may forget to close the door quietly behind them, so it would be awesome if the studio could address this concern. If it wasn’t for the slamming doors, I would be giving this studio 5 stars.

I am a long-​time Bikram practitioner and love the practice. I visited the studio as an out-​of-​town guest during a business trip. The instructors were warm and welcoming and led the practice perfectly (I attended twice). The space is beautiful, the lobby is open and clean, and the locker rooms are quite nice. However, I was disappointed by the condition of the yoga studio. While Bikram previously mandated carpet in his studios, that is no longer the case. Most studios have upgraded their carpet in recent years, as the stench from the sweat and humidity being pumped into the room is overwhelming. The carpet (and smell) really took away from the experience for me. With solid flooring, you have to deal with the smell of sweat but it is infinitely more tolerable (and less nauseating). I also felt like the studio was a bit shoddy — the ceiling had a plastic tarp-​like covering connected with tape. It felt to me like there was more effort put into the aesthetic of the lobby and locker rooms than the place where students spend the majority of their time, the studio.
In summary, I would likely attend again, but the smell makes it hard to get excited to go. I think San Mateo Bikram Yoga would see better attendance if they improved the quality of their studio. The studio I practice at regularly (in another state) has at least 3x the students in their 6:30pm classes than this studio (and are drawing from a much less densely populated geography). I love the practice, and I want it to be embraced everywhere. I suggest the studio owners remove these barriers that will limit their success and growth.

Amazing yoga studio. Not smelly. Amazing instructors. Fell in love after just one class! But be prepared for it to be challenging for a couple of classes.

I notice there are is a lot of complaining about the smell. Have you tried other studios because this studio does not smell bad at all! I have been to yoga studios in the area that smell WAYYYYY worse. The whole point is to sweat!!! If sweating is not for you then this is not the workout for you period. Plus a true bikram yoga studio is carpeted, not wood floors. I think they do a great job of keeping the carpets as clean as possible
After trying out several bikram yoga studios in the area, I will never go to another one again after trying this studio out! I have been going here for over a year and absolutely love it! I go several times a week, which really is necessary to get all of the benefits. Before going here, I would go once a week and wasn’t getting all of the benefits. They have some great deals and all of the instructors are great! I have lost weight, but even better I wake up everyday feeling more positive! Bikram has changed my life and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. Thanks Bikram Hot Yoga San Mateo!

I recently bought the Groupon for 10 Classes, and I attended my 1^st class last Tuesday (²⁄₂).
The instructors were very welcoming & helpful. In my 1^st class, I forgot to bring my water bottle, and the instructor gladly stepped out of the room to get water for me. They also encouraged me to stay in the room for the entire 90 minutes, so even while taking a break, I can observe the poses for the future. By my 3^rd class, I didn’t have to sit and made it through majority of the poses.
I ended up coming 3 times last week (Tues, Thurs, & Sat), since it was recommended to feel the full benefits, and I feel AMAZING! :D
I only took off 1 star because the lobby smells pretty sweaty when you 1^st walk in, but it was still tolerable and didn’t take away from my practice.

The theme of my total 30 min spent in class here was: LOL WTF.
Admittedly I have never done Bikram yoga before, so maybe it just isn’t for me — maybe I’m alone in feeling nauseous from the intense BO in the hot room (every review about how bad the small is is true), or alone in being weirded out by the instructor who stood on a box in nothing but tiny red shorts and talked constantly (giving the most confising instructions) but didn’t actually demonstrate any of the positions himself.
I DID do some research in where this yoga style came from and was already nervous coming into the studio that I would be supporting a seemingly — ridiculous — but-​not-​funny-​anymore– due-​to-​rape-​allegations figure and this franchise (just Google «Bikram Choudhury»).
I am sad to say that almost every derisive thought I came up with during my reading turned out to be pretty accurate. It’s hard to impart in a review how creepy the studio feels to an outsider, from the instructors Bikram-​channeling-​attire (minus the $ 1MM rolex), to the clause in the waiver saying «by signing below you promise to not leave the room for the whole 90 min class,» to the picture on the wall of Bikram sitting on a tiger skin.
I was hoping i woukd get lucky and this would be one of the hot yoga studios that broke away from what is often called «Bikram’s cult» but within minutes your stomach starts to sink as you quickly realize it’s quite the opposite.
If you’re totally into yoga and don’t mind the whole Bikram juju thing, you’ll probably like this place. For anyone new to yoga, sensitive to smell, or strongly feminist — I suggest you try Patty’s class at Butterfly Yoga studio on the other side of the 101.

This place is still great, been increasing the frequency of my visits. I used to run quite a bit but my knees hurt with age and some of the more impact-​intenstive exercises are starting to be replaced with increased visits to this studio. It also is amazing for hangovers!!! I was having the worst crash after a night of partying and I walked out a new man after one of these classes. I really really would like to see more classes in the middle of the day during lunch hour. Sure at first there may be fewer people but there are enough businesses locally to where people will eventually catch on to the idea of a lunch power hour Bikram situation. More noon classes please.
UPDATE POSTED OCT 23
This place is still great, been increasing the frequency of my visits. I used to run quite a bit but my knees hurt with age and some of the more impact-​intenstive exercises are starting to be replaced with increased visits to this studio. It also is amazing for hangovers!!! I was having the worst crash after a night of partying and I walked out a new man after one of these classes. I really really would like to see more classes in the middle of the day during lunch hour. Sure at first there may be fewer people but there are enough businesses locally to where people will eventually catch on to the idea of a lunch power hour Bikram situation. More noon classes please.

Love the new studio, it’s very comfortable to kick back in the lobby, the showers are something you need to experience… very, very nice after practice.
I practiced with Cynthia, she was awesome and experienced, giving small corrections as needed. And I’ve never met anyone so cheery.
Being a Bikram Yoga studio, it will be hot, bring water. The more you sweat, the cleaner your skin becomes, and the better you will feel.
This studio is located a few blocks north of Hwy 92 on El Camino Real in San Mateo, easy access from 101 for those of us doing that commute.
Get in here… it’s a hidden gem in the Peninsula.

I hate to give such a low review because I thought the instructor and the class itself was great, but I have to agree with the other reviewers on here — the smell is AWFUL! It made me very nervous that I was sweating like crazy (which is good), but I was having to wipe my face and mouth off with hands and arms that were touching that filthy smelling floor!
When I walked into the studio, the smell just about knocked me over and I came THIS CLOSE to turning around and walking out, despite my free pass which I’d received from a regular patron of the place. I’m really sensitive to smells anyway, so I told myself to stop being a wimp and stay. Which I did.
Again, the instructor and the class were top notch, but I just cannot subject myself to another hour and a half of that horrible odor. Even a long hot shower as soon as I got home couldn’t dispense the smell from my sinuses!

I’m not going to lie… as I waited in the yoga room for the instructor to start class, I had to talk myself out of leaving before the class had even started. Bikram is soooooo hot!
I have been trying to lose the post pregnancy weight that I’ve gained for the past 3 years. Since i’m not consistent with exercising or eating right, it’s been tough. I
After talking some sense into myself with the voices in my head, I stayed and since then have taken 2 classes so far.
The instructors are nice and know what they are doing. They talk constantly throughout the poses and walk around the room to adjust you so you can get a better stretch.
The facility itself is another story. Don’t get me wrong, the lobby and changing area is nice. However, as soon as you walk in, there is a distinct toe jam mixed with sweat smell. The lobby is hardwood so I don’t know why the smell would linger. The actual yoga room itself is carpet and that initially grossed me out. The room smells like BO and feet. There is a pose that requires you to stretch your arm out on the carpet. Needless to say, when class is over and you return to your car, you will smell a bit like feet. Stick your nose to your arm and you will really smell it.
I understand that they deep clean the carpet but with that many classes rotating through and all that sweat, I can’t imagine it being that clean. After all, if you can smell it…