Bikram Yoga

Adding to the very helpful reviews of other Unilocalers, here’s my experience from the perspective of someone totally new to yoga classes (though not yoga).
I got exactly what I was looking for here: a new experience, a challenge, and the opportunity to try out some new moves. I’m not a yoga superstar by any stretch, and I found the style of this instruction to be really nice for someone who is just learning.
Rather than modelling the moves, the teacher talked non-​stop (really) for 90 minutes. For a new person getting distracted by the novelty of the poses (and yes, the slipping and falling out of poses) this constant flow of «how to» was extremely helpful.
There is a gradual, step-​like nature to almost all of the poses, which meant that I could always participate (at least partially, if not fully).
I never felt pressured to go beyond my limits, and it was perfectly normal to sit out poses.
Finally, this is a class I would recommend to friends who might not go to a yoga class because a) they are self-​conscious about their body or b) they are worried about being berated for poor form. While there was certainly a fair share of athletes here, there was also a normal spectrum of bodies as well. And as of a few minutes in, everyone looked like a sweaty mess, and it certainly seemed like we were all way, way too hot to think about anything except how hot it was. And on the other front, I’m happy to report that the teachers here were very constructive and respectful — they did not embarrass anyone or hover around pointing out problems.
Before you go, do be sure to check out their website, which nicely outlined what to expect so that I walked in knowing how everything worked.

This is a good and proper Bikram Yoga place by anyone’s standards, and so I think this review might work in a more instructional sort of way, rather than as a straight up opinion rant.
Firstly: For newbies, they offer a $ 17 10 day pass. That’s not 10 visits, it just means you can do as many classes as you like, within 10 days from when you first buy the pass. There are all sorts of other deals: bring 3 people and get another 10 day pass for free, get a 1 month membership before the end of your 10 days and it’s only $ 99, etc. etc. While it all starts cheap, full membership can be quite pricy, though if you attend 3+ classes a week it can work out at below $ 10 a visit. They do offer concessions.
What to do /​what to expect:
Turn up 15 minutes early if you’re new. The entry isn’t on Crown Street, it’s right next door to Shady Pines Saloon. Take off your shoes before you go upstairs. Make sure you’re well hydrated and have eaten enough (but not eaten anything in the 2 hours before class). This Bikram yoga centre is big, calming and beautiful and the communal areas smell like well-​chosen incents. There’s an upstairs and a downstairs yoga studio, the instructors should tell you which one your class will be in.
There are small (ish) changerooms with lockers (you’ll need a padlock if you want to secure your locker). You can rent mats and towels or bring your own. Don’t wear a lot. For guys — just shorts is completely acceptable, and many women also just wear little shorts and sports bras. The room is heated to between 36 and 42 so you will sweat like a mofo, no matter what you’re doing. The less clothing, the more comfortable you’ll be. Don’t worry about what you look like, everyone is so focussed on the poses that no one is paying you any attention.
Ok, time to go into the room. Make sure you have your water, mat, and full-​size towel. Seriously, just like in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you WILL need your towel. If you’re new, find a spot close to the back. They only let experienced Bikram-​ers go up front, and it makes sense because it helps to copy them. When you first walk in, the heat can be a bit of a shock, and it also can smell a bit funky — like wet carpet — but you don’t notice that after a while. Once you have found a spot up the back, put your mat down (keep it straight), and put your towel over it. Lie down and chill out for a while. Once the instructor comes into the room, everyone gets up quite promptly and stands still and tall, ready for the class.
The sequence is the same each time, and it takes 90 minutes. They start with breathing exercises and a strenuous warmup, then move into the standing poses. Even the simplest looking poses can be extremely strenuous and difficult if you’re doing them properly. Start small, but try to do the poses as well as possible. If you’re new, you don’t have to get into the full pose immediately, they suggest different options. After the standing poses, there’s a series of seated ones — still difficult, but at least you get some chances to lie down and calm yourself a bit.
The instructors talk fast and have a lot of rules, though they aren’t particularly scary people. Breathe through your nose, keep your face calm, don’t talk, keep focused, try not to wipe the sweat off, try to drink only when it’s drink break time, try not to leave the room. If you feel totally overwhelmed, you can stand still for a while and/​or have some water, or if you really feel bad, sit down for a while (though that can make it worse). One tip: to put some natural electrolytes into your water, squeeze a bit of lemon juice in, or just a pinch of salt.
After the class you will absolutely need to take a shower. The upstairs showers are quite nice (and have great smelling shower gel) but they don’t lock, and you have to get-​in-​get-​out as quickly as possible. If you’re squeamish about sweaty towels you may want to bring a second clean one for the shower. The women’s change-​room is small but has some hairdryers and everyone is very polite in the cramped space.
This place is really serious about getting Bikram right, and the instructors are uncompromising, to the point of being perhaps a little unsympathetic to newbies who aren’t coping well. If you have a heart condition or if you frequently have low blood sugar and fainting episodes, then this may not be the right kind of yoga for you. I’m not sure it’s the right kind for me either, still working that out.

This studio is BEAUTIFUL! I normally live/​practice in NYC, but I was on vacation visiting a friend in Sydney & he told me I had to check out his studio… I am so glad I did! For a Bikram studio, it’s beautifully decorated & clean, with 2 yoga rooms! There are showers upstairs & downstairs, and my friend told me to shower at the studio because the showers upstairs are infinitely nicer than the one in his apartment (he wasn’t kidding!). As for the yoga, the instructors I had (I only went a few times) were all very good and from all over the world. I’d definitely recommend checking out this studio if you’re in Sydney!

Yoga in a sauna, who’s bright idea was that?! Let’s stick a load of people in a 42C room, and make them do strenuous poses in it. Fantastic!
I was a little reluctant to do it at first, mainly because it’s sounds like a absurd concept, but then having done it, well, I still thought it was an absurd concept. But I did enjoy it. In a way. If the sign of a good workout is how much you sweat, then this is the greatest workout in the history of workouts! By the end it’s like a person is standing over you, pouring buckets of water on your head — which is exactly what I was hoping someone would do. You can get a $ 20, 10 day pass which allows you to go as many times as you like in that time (I went twice), and then it starts getting expensive (I guess they’ve got to cover the heating bill).
It’s definitely worth giving it a go, and does take a strong will power to get over the initial hurdle of not throwing up (you’re free to take a rest at any time during the 90 minute, 26 pose routine if you do feel a little unwell) but once your over that, you do feel very cleansed once it’s over and you’re feeling semi-​normal again. This studio is located just off Crown Street, right above Shady Pines Saloon — however I don’t advise going there for a drink straight after a session (and vice versa) as it will not end well for you.
Oh, and bring water and a towel — you’ll need them both equally!