Sweatbox Yoga

I’m a big fan of Bikram. The consistent structure and pace of the classes make it easy to control your breath and the heat allows you to get into positions that would otherwise be painful or difficult.
However, there is a certain point where the heat can be detrimental to the practice, and Sweatbox definitely takes their temperature too high. It’s nauseating and disorienting to the point that the class becomes a battle to control your body and stay standing. Form and breath no longer take priority.
Additionally, the room was stinky upon entering (before it was full of sweating bodies). The room isn’t carpeted, so it should be possible to keep it fresh.

I have a love-​hate relationship with The Sweatbox. I began working out there in 2004 and for a few years, I was really into it. I had a monthly pass and I went all the time. Back then, the carpet seemed less icky and their heating system worked better.
A few years ago, the physical environment seemed to go downhill. The carpet just got really rank and the scent of body odor was overwhelming. It was like the smell was in the walls not just the carpet.
There also seemed to be a shift in the quality of instructors and the clientele became younger, shunned underarm deodorant and treated classes like a competition. If you had to go to the bathroom, you were shamed by the teacher and given nasty looks by other students. Another instructor turned the heat up so high that people actually had to go the bathrooms to vomit during the class. (They couldn’t leave because the studio doors were locked during class to avoid late comers from entering.) It was 115 to 120 degrees. After that, I noticed some classes were definitely much, much hotter than others so I think the system needed replacing. Still, some of the teachers were great and I remained a fan of the Bikram process.
One of the final straws was when an obnoxious blonde instructor told the class, «Ok, the only excuse you have for not doing tree stand pose is if you’ve had knee surgery in the past three months.» When only half of the small group did the advanced pose, she mocked us saying, «Well I guess a lot of you have had knee surgery recently.» Two of us actually rolled up our mat and walked out. It was just inexcusable to have a 22-​year-​old telling someone like myself who is pushing 50 and has been doing Bikram for more than a decade that I have no right to determine if a pose is right for me or not.
My last class was in 2014. I threw up on the sidewalk outside after a class because the carpet was so foul that it made me physically sick.
I suspect the reason they updated the studio is because a Core Power Yoga opened on Capitol Hill. They also do hot yoga but they have wood floors. Most of the classes are one hour, not 90 minutes. I see a lot of former Sweatbox patrons there.
However, out of curiosity, when I heard they had updated the studio, I went to check it out. I will say that the wood flooring is a huge improvement, as is the partition to the bathrooms. So the physical space is much better. I would consider taking classes there again.

Hard to adequately describe how amazing this studio is. A pure, peaceful, hot hatha yoga experience for the full 90 minutes of class, despite the mental/​physical challenges of the postures. Every element of this studio serves the student. The feel of the practice room is cheerful, yet without distractions. The instructors never stop guiding you inward for strength, and the result is a powerful, optimistic practice. The heat is perfect and consistent throughout class. I can fully engage in this yoga, without worrying about injury. There is a lovely red wall hanging in the lobby that makes your brain feel good when you stare at it after class. The showers are spotless. The studio is a welcoming hidden treasure, in an old brick building in the busiest part of Capitol Hill. You feel like you are worlds away from whatever is going on outside. The post-​class euphoria is awesome. You will love it here.

Sweatbox Yoga has updated their studio space! They ripped out the old carpet and replaced it with wooden floors. No more stinky wet carpet smell that has become all too common at bikram studios. The new routine is to mop up any water/​sweat spills you may have left with the mop that’s provided at the end of class. Paintings have been replaced too. There’s no longer a teacher platform and there’s now a divider between the restroom and the practice floor, which I believe creates more mat space and more privacy for the yogis!
I’ve always had a love/​hate relationship with bikram yoga, but Sweatbox Yoga and its instructors have really helped me fall back into it. I especially enjoy the «Power Hour» class that’s basically a condensed version of the 26 postures and two breathing exercises. It has more of a cohesive flow AND you still sweat bricks, plus you’re done with your yoga session much sooner! Definitely give it a try!

The studio practices hot yoga classes only… mostly following 90 min hatha-Bikram’s method. First half of the postures are standing postures and the other half are on the floor; you are welcome to take breaks/​savasana whenever you feel like …drink water perhaps if you have vertigo.
They’ve recently introduced the 60 min class by cutting mostly the breaks of a 90 min Bikram class & it comes across as Bikram vinyasa flow, saves time but you workout a lot…
The class schedule and the instructors are a plus… you can get hard core with Penny and Frani, more meditative styles like Parvanah’s, Katie will sing in the end, Gary’s breathing exercise is the hardest and so forth. My first yoga instructor, Keely, teaches occasionally, she is fun. All classes are fun and the diversity in instructors’ styles I find it refreshing since the yoga method itself is so repetitive.
The studio had a recent up-​do and replaced the carpet with bamboo floors. It looks cute, clean, and crisp. Since the bamboo floors reflect the heat, the classes are hot and humid! You’ll sweat a lot but at the same time increases flexibility.
If practiced regularly this type of yoga seems to help maintaining your weight and over time builds long lean muscle– it helps being in shape. \ Note: please pay attention to your water consumption and take electrolytes. …Otherwise you may run into low sodium problems. Good luck!

Gray and Laura are encouraging and fun the 6 am class is absolutely the best way to start your day

Instructors are all so warm and welcoming. Penni teaches Monday nights and is my favorite! She always has a sweet smile on her face and relaxed demeanor. Classes are always the same 20+2 poses but the instruction varies based on who is in the room at their levels of experience. Students are given subtle yet constant encouragement and modifications are offered for those who need them. Always a challenging and fun workout!

I had a great class at Bikram this morning. At the sleepy 6AM class I sat in the lobby and watched as the teacher gave a warm «Good Morning Sweetie» or «Hi Honey» to the incoming students she recognized… and you could tell the students were so glad to see her too. The teachers name was Penny. During class, this mid-​west charm was mixed with clear instruction and gentle encouragement (especially needed because the heat was *blazing*). Before class I overheard one of the ‘sweeties’ thanking Penny for her suggestion on how to modify her poses and how well the modifications where helping her back issues. Speaking of modifications, I have experienced some variation of this sincerely helpful attitude from all the instructors at the Sweatbox. This was on my mind, so i thought I’d write about it.

The studio is extremely stink. I’ve taken Bikram Hot yoga at 5 different studios & this location is by far the smelliest. They need to take out the carpet & research flooring options. Other studios do hardwood floors or some other type of material. I could not focus at all due to the smell.

This place smelled way too bad. I don’t think I’ll be coming again and I think I will stick to regular yoga!

I had to stop going here because Bikram, who makes money off all Bikram studios, is a serial rapist. But this place itself is great.
If you’ve never done Bikram Yoga, you will be destroyed the first 3 – 5 times. The instructors are good, not mean like Bikram instructors are rumored to be. They definitely get you to push yourself, but when I needed to rest that was ok too.
It definitely smells like a sweatbox in here. Also it’s next to a kind of rock club, so when there’s shows you can hear some bass which is a little un-​zen, but whatever. Parking can be scarce sometimes.

I absolutely love this place! The instructors are quite knowledgeable and very helpful. There are also a lot of regulars that help provide a great feel to the class. I do wish there was better parking but that’s not really their fault. Also not really their fault is the fact that you have to walk through the studio to get to the men’s locker room.

I’m torn about Sweatbox Yoga.
First off, I LOVED Franie as an instructor! She took the time and care to remember my name and the injury I am recovering from. I felt her eyes on me in class, in a truly supportive way, and she’d call out helpful corrections/​modifications to me. I benefited and appreciated this very much. Franie knows her stuff and I felt motivated, yet supported. She’s easily 5+ stars in my book.
However. the studio space itself really, really stinks. Like sweaty balls funk. It made me want to hold in my breath, which is counter productive to yoga! It’s carpeted (the owner says it’s waterproof and it cleaned nightly) I really wish she wasn’t married to the idea of of carpet. Sure, Bikram himself uses carpet, but if the MAJORITY of your client feedback is to please get rid of the carpet in lieu of hardwoods or linoleum. I wish they’d put their clients first and change the flooring. I think they’d see a stronger client retention.
Why I hated the carpet:
* It STINKS! Putting my face anywhere near it was repulsive.
* Since it’s not a surface you can wipe dry/​clean between classes. The carpet was mucky/​slippery from the previous class. Just gross.
* I have asthma and I don’t do well with carpet. Both my work and home are carpet free.
It may seem strange that I’m taking Bikram yoga as an asthma sufferer. I tried hot yoga classes elsewhere (not Bikram) and found while the heated room challenged my breathing, it also strengthened my lungs. My breathing felt more expansive and clarified.
I found, that it was more of a struggle to get my breathing into a seamless pattern in this studio. I’m looking at you carpet!
I live on the Hill and easy walking distance to this studio. As I love the format of Bikram yoga and Franie as an instructor, I probably will go back one more time to see if my experience shifts.
As it stands, Franie 5 stars, studio (mainly stinky carpet 0)

The stench is real. I thought how bad can it be? It’s bad. Real bad. I should have gone down to the studio to check out the stink before I bought a groupon. Teachers seem fine. Room is toasty hot. I also really didn’t like that they sent out pleading emails trying to raise 75k because their business has suffered due to construction. Yeah, I’m sorry that’s not cool. Maybe if the place didn’t smell like an elephants ass maybe their business might run a little better– just a thought v

The bottom line is that the instructors are hit or miss, and that greatly affects the experience especially for a beginner. Gary is GREAT! Super positive energy and just has a great time. He doesn’t keep the room as hot either. He teaches at bad times for me though, so I won’t continue to go to sweatbox. If his times are convenient for you JOIN SWEATBOX!
Frani is ok, her energy is not as positive as Gary but he is exceptional. Unfortunately, there is another female instructor that I just don’t enjoy and she teaches at the best times for me. She was obviously in a bad mood and doesn’t want to be there. She berated people for leaving and entering (really? who cares???) I don’t leave the room and it doesn’t bother me. The way she corrects your poses is not discrete and feels embarrassing.
This is my first time with Bikram yoga, and I can’t say I’ll be returning. The classes are too long — 90 minutes is TOO MUCH. I like it warm but I don’t like pouring sweat it’s gross and slippery and is just unnecessary. I don’t like doing the same poses every time, let’s shake things up!
I still get their emails, and the emails have lowered my opinion of Sweatbox too. One email was talking about how the author/​instructor said to people who go to the bathroom «there’s no magic in the bathroom! The magic happens on your mat!» I don’t possibly see how this could be encouraging, and I just don’t want to be at a studio that has that kind of rude, obnoxious attitude. If someone wants to go to the bathroom and take a break, that’s their business.
Another email was soliciting money, because their business has suffered. That would be fine, but they don’t seem to have a plan as to how their business will improve. You can’t not change anything and just expect business to magically get better.
There’s no magic in fundraising, the magic happens from improving your business and listening to customers!
Get rid of the carpet and get hard wood floors already — it stinks.

Simply the best instructors and a great vibe. This is the place for Bikram Yoga in the heart of Seattle on Capital Hill. I love the Sweat Box!

I practiced here about a year ago. The studio is dark and disgusting, like a dungeon in many ways. Bathrooms and changing areas are directly adjacent to the hot room, meaning they are also quite warm and humid. In one of the classes I took, the heating system turned on and then kept running. After ten minutes or so, the teacher attempted to shut it off, but realized she had no control of the system. More than half the class was down on the floor halfway through the standing series in the agonizing 115 – 120 degree heat. I don’t blame the teacher, but I do blame the two managers of this shoddy establishment. It appears they haven’t put one dime into their studio since it opened many years ago.

Bought a Groupon a couple weeks ago for Sweatbox! I mainly wanted to try Bikram for stress and anxiety relief, and prefer yoga that stresses more of a physical than spiritual focus. Sweating buckets is a bonus!
I’ve practiced yoga on and off for several years, but I’m not experienced at all with Bikram. Instructors are very understanding with beginners, and each class I’ve been to (the few ones I have attended) have had other beginners too. They make a point to learn your name, and I’ve heard a bit of, «Katie, try it this way for a deeper stretch.» I generally don’t like being in the spotlight, but it doesn’t feel like they’re singling me out.
The smell is absolutely horrible, and why I knocked off a couple stars. It’s overpowering when you go in, but during the class sometimes it reminds me of the smell of hair dye. But, well, sweat stinks.
Location, awesome; instructors, super awesome; smell, unavoidable and not exaggerated in past reviews.

Love Bikram but Sweatbox is gross. Soooo stinky, gross carpet. Maybe because the building is old. I’ve done Bikram at a few different studios, but sadly I won’t be coming back to this one.
The bright side– very nice people and the location is so great.

I’ve been to a lot of Bikram studios and the Sweatbox community is unparalleled.
The owners and instructors have years and years and years of experience and practice and do an excellent job of correcting your form so you can improve and avoid injury. They are also great at helping you adjust and modify for any existing injuries so you can practice during recovery.
They are also just incredibly nice and welcoming as are the people who practice regularly at the Sweatbox.
The studio is well maintained and clean. The heat is consistent (and during the winter like a tropical vacation). Cannot say enough good things about this place!

I’ve only gone a couple times and I love it. All the reviews complain about the smell. I really don’t think it smells that bad. People must be really picky. I had a great yoga session. Helps out a lot with my upper back. I had a great experience and the instructor remembered my name which is a plus!

Ive been doing bikram since 2009 at multiple studios. This is my home though for the last few years. I like the consistency of the poses and the temperature. It’s real bikram. Alot of studios cheat where its not as hot, or the time in each pose is haphazard and variable. I like the discipline of bikram and that Sweatbox reinforces it. It’s my time to be locked in a room for 90 minutes. It’s MY time! It’s not pretentious and beginners are welcomed.
The teachers are really fantastic. I usually go to Frani’s class which I love. I like that she reinforces bikram etiquette, thank gawd… that you shouldnt get up and leave the room during a practice… aka poor bikram etiquette. Other tips: hydrate well before and after, bring towel and water bottle, dont talk in the yoga studio, lay down if you are getting dizzy or overheated, arrive early (at least 10 min prior) to get your spot, prelearn about the poses before your first class if you haven’t done bikram before, but it really easy to follow and you’ll pick it up very quickly. Dont come in if you are sick! Gary is great too.
Room for improvement:
— They’ve reduced the number of classes making it difficult to make it though I’ve paid for a crap load of classes that are expiring. :(that’s annoying.
— Parking is very difficult, but not their fault.
— the 2^nd row of the room is not level… there’s a ridge
— the smell, yes it’s terrible but after years I’ve gotten used to it. The floor is waterproof and they clean it every night. I’ve never gotten any infection after coming here for years.

Pretty poorly ventilated room, the smell everyone else here has described is not in any way exaggerated. I’ve been to several other Bikram studios that do not smell like this. They never clean the carpets here it seems… kind of the number one prerequisite for a Bikram studio.
Also — some of the teachers are very hit or miss. Some are nice, and some are the totalitarian-​esque Bikram instructors (you know the kind — berate you when you seem like you need to cool off or breathe for a second, or freak out when you go to get water). There is also a lack of consistency across quality of instructors. Some allow you to meditate and work on your practice in peace, others ramble on and on and on about their tiny dogs or their tiny dog’s weekend plans or whatever the heck else I really don’t care about.
Another problem, that is just a personal pet peeve, is when a Bikram instructor is out of shape and clearly doesn’t practice regularly and then berates me for not holding the pose for the entire time. It just doesn’t motivate me to be berated by someone who cannot even do it themselves.
Oh, and the bathroom in the studio thing is super weird. It feels like everyone can hear you peeing. The yogi/​yogini signs are redundant since everyone uses both anyway. Also since they are the only place to refill your water since the sinks in the changing rooms are awkwardly shaped so if you’re on one side of the classroom furthest away from the bathrooms, and it’s crowded, it’s quite awkward getting to the other side of the room.
A final caveat, I greatly dislike it when instructors won’t get water for you (but fine, you’re not a waiter, I get that (I’ve actually had someone in NYC Bikram say that to me on the UWS but that’s a separate review)), but then berate you for leaving the room. Yes — I understand we’re not supposed to, and I don’t want to! But your policy of not getting water for me precludes you from being nasty to me for having to go get more water. It’s quite hot in there (they don’t baby you in any way — which is a positive in some respects) and if I only have a normal sized water bottle (because let’s say, I can’t afford the $ 5 giant water bottles you sell) and haven’t practiced in a while I’m going to be quite thirsty.
Overall, if you live in Capitol Hill and are a Bikram devotee — you’re kinda stuck here I’m afraid. It’s bearable, but by no means should you kid yourself into thinking it’s a high-​quality studio. It’s very meh, and that’s because they can be since they are the only one in a convenient location.

Ugh. It stinks. It’s dark and dank like a basement and it’s closed off. The entry is tiny, chaotic and cramped. So is the changing room.
It stinks!!! Even the mat that I rented smelled.
Plus, there’s a picture of some shirtless Indian guy sitting on a dead tiger blanket. I mean, WTF is this? He’s not doing any yoga pose! I came to relax and focus but end up feeling stressed like some bad energy shit chased me away. I don’t want to see a dead fucking tiger head staring at me every time I turn around.
The teacher, I liked. She was energetic and knowledgeable. I think some extra options/​modifications for people who are new to Bikram or who have injuries or limitations would have been helpful though. The other lady who was there was super friendly and helpful also. But the space itself… nope.