Bikram Yoga St. Charles

While I have never gone to the St. Charles location, I go to a class weekly at the Palatine location.
I used to have really bad anxiety, and a doctor recommended hot yoga. I have never felt better mentally, and physically after a class. The staff is great, smart, and awesome teachers. They provide a judgement free and relaxing zone.
Their student rates are great.
The facility is clean!
I really love this yoga studio, and it is my favorite workout!

Bikram yoga is all hype. I suggest trying out a studio where the instructors actually want to see you grow and transform on your yoga journey. These «teachers» could care less about you as an individual! Every single class is word for word and pose by pose verbatim. What fun is that? I forgot what instructor I had, but she seemed miserable and bland. I will not attend another bikram class.

These people seem to think that a good yoga class just makes you sweat. If you want to be screamed at by someone for 90 minutes in a sweaty room then look no further. I popped in here when I was working in Chicago for a few weeks. I don’t know where Peggy trained to be a yoga instructor but I’ve never in my 7 years of practice had to endure an instructor barking out orders on a mic. Underneath the horrible blaring lights, the smell of the carpeted flooring (that has likely soaked up years of sweat) only adds to the horrible experience. There was no flow to the practice, and no focus on breath.
When I tried to do some poses to stretch my back out, I was told to stop because it was distracting for the others. Fine by me. I just left and did a much better practice at home. Sure, I didn’t get to pour my sweat into the nasty carpet there, but my mind and body felt much better without a poorly trained yoga instructor constantly jabbering at me.

What am experience! Unfortunately I’m prone to fainting so it was pretty idiotic for me to try this place, but I just couldn’t resist. Really friendly staff and fellow yogis but this was not my cup of tea! Great place though if you can handle the heat!

I’ve been attending this studio on and off since it opened… It’s the only yoga I have ever done… and I LOVE it! GREAT staff! Super clean facility! Recently they are offering different classes; 60 minute sessions. I think everyone should do this a handful of times before deciding how you like it… My flexibility, energy, and skin appearance to name a few are greatly increased after I take a hot yoga class.

I love everything about this studio! It’s clean and super friendly. After one class they know you by name which could be a bad thing! Haha!

If this is what hell feels like then I promise to be good from now on.
90 minutes in 105 degree heat next to a studio full of other stinky, sweaty people. Not my idea of a fun Wednesday night.
Kirby led the first class I attended. Don’t let her soft voice and smiling face. Once the door to the studio closes, she will do her best to keep you in. Her encouragement helped me last 75 minutes before I had to call it quits before I lost consciousness. I came out dehydrated, «pruney» from being soaked in sweat, and with numb hands and feet that I couldn’t move due to cramping from electrolyte loss.
Learn from my mistakes:
–drink gatorade or vitamin water throughout the day before coming
–come 15 min early to lay your mat out in the studio but don’t stay in the room (believe me, an extra 15 min in the heat could make the difference of you surviving the whole class)
–don’t take huge gulps of water during the class, your tummy will get full and you’ll feel nauseous
Don’t forget to bring:
–mat
–big towel for your mat
–little towel to wipe the drip off your face
–plenty of water (think about leaving it in the freezer a couple hours before class)

First rate Bikram studio. Real Bikram instructors that care. Well appointed facility. Positive karma.

Bikram Yoga St Charles offers what I’d call Bikram Classic™: the Dialogue through a Madonna mic, in a carpeted room, «feet together toes on the line». If you’re new to Bikram yoga that might not mean much to you. To those I’d say… just try this yoga, I don’t know why or how it works… in fact (personal opinion) I don’t think Bikram knows either… but it does!
You can tell this studio is run by people who love the yoga. To me, the best Bikram teachers are the ones who deliver the dialogue more or less faithfully but who let the strength of their personalities shine through once in a while.
Yes, carpet, no, the hot room here doesn’t stink. I have been to studios that truly do reek (love you, Bikram Yoga in the Mission), and I embrace that as part of the practice for which I am so grateful. But Bikram STC is fresh and clean.
Anyway, this isn’t the place for a rant about Unilocalers’ reactions to the carpeting. Okay, but no, one more thing, if the carpet were really so unsanitary then Bikram yogis would get sick all the time, and the opposite is true!

Love this place!!! I’ve been to Bikram studios all over and this one is definitely one of the nicer places décor wise. Not to mention all of the teachers here are really good. Some I’ve been to have the «tell a 5 minute story» teachers… here they’re all business and by business I mean yoga of course.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I’ll admit that I’m a little (ahem, a lot) out of shape because I love food. It’s an obsession, really, which may also be why I’m a Unilocaler. But despite my beginner yogi status, I feel welcome whenever I practice here. The instructors knew my name by the time I started dripping sweat (so like, five minutes into class). The first couple of sessions were more about me trying to wipe the waterfalls off of my ‘brow while practicing the postures. Then, by the next few sessions, I realized I was actually zoned into my breathing and correcting my stance more than fidgeting with myever-​increasing sweatiness. Although, make no mistake– I was still sopping up some of dat nastiness all class long but I know you’re not supposed to (sorry).
Yep, this place definitely smells like sweat. So what? Why should you care?! You’re SUPPOSED to sweat here just like any other gym. If it smelled like tulips and daisies I’d worry about how much they push you in class which would mean no sweaty pits (and toes, and legs, and…). Anyway, they have reasonable prices and even give a discount for students which is great. Come here! Torturing yourself for 90 minutes is worth the feeling of overwhelming joy once you step outta that door. Support small business and stretch your spine and make yourself happy and go back, way back, fall back and SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS!!!

I love Bikram Yoga, I would practice more often if I could afford it. but when a groupon came my way I couldn’t resist ;)
A couple reviews below mention that it was «loud and abrasive» and Bikram Yoga is not your typical calming, elevator music, put-​me-​to-​sleep yoga (that I particularly don’t care for). Some may describe it as «militant» but it is anything but, in my opinion.
Anyone who is unfamiliar to Bikram Yoga should know this:
The yoga teachers follow the same script and it is branded so that every Bikram Yoga class anywhere around the globe is the exact same– same exact script, same postures, and for the same amount of time. It’s not supposed to be easy and it’s not a cake walk. It’s about teaching your body to slowly perfect the postures, and that is done with repetition and continued practice.
For some, it’s too much, but for me, it’s both challenging and peaceful– I always leave with a clear mind and an open heart.

Ok. SO I have heard about Bikram yoga for years and was always afraid to try it. Well Groupon had a deal and I can not say no to a groupon so my sister and I tried it. I have to say the torture chamber is well intimidating but the people are awesome. I have herniated disks in my neck and back so basically any workout is a painful struggle but the mantra mind over matter is key and well as remembering to BREATHE. The two instructors I have experienced have been awesome and would like to take their classes again. The studio is currently in the process of a remodel and so far I like what I have seen. My only complaint is the carpet in the torture chamber. I have recommended this yoga studio to everyone that I have come across. The workout is amazing and my skin has never looked better. Not to mention the feeling of peace is fantastic!

I’ve been going to the STC Bikram Studio for a little over a month and have had a wonderful experience with the instructors and exercise.
I will admit that it took a few times to get the whole routine — leave the shoes at the door, place your mat in the room with the tape line in the middle of your mat, etc. — but like anything new, it becomes more familiar as you come more often.
I’ve enjoyed all of the instructors and have found the majority of the class participants are very nice and happy to answer any questions about the studio or classes.
But the BEST part is the workout! It’s not easy, but I feel wonderful after!

Bikram St. Charles is very professional & they just got new carpeting :)
It’s one of THE BEST workouts ever at first the «torture chamber» scares you but I swear you end up missing it if you stop going :)
Drink & bring plenty of water & remember to BREATH!
Namaste

YES, Bikram Yoga is possibly one of the best things… ever. I’d give it a bajillion stars if I could. But, this rating is for the location NOT Bikram…
It’s awfully tiny in there, with carpet floors. Carpet soaks up sweat, then continues to hold it… which means a pungent smell of feet and BO anytime you’re near the floor (…every single savasana). Not just that, but whatever they use to make the room hot… is located RIGHT next to the door. Therefore, the hot-​ness can be unequally distributed. One day (when you’re by the door) you’ll be sweating buckets, and the next (when you’re opposite the door) you’ll find goosebumps on your arm from being so cold.
Despite the smelly floors, I’ll still give St. Charles a 4-​star rating over a 3-​star just because it’s so close to me ha. Selfish, I am. Not just that, but it’s the only Bikram studio in the area… the next closest is Naperville, which is like a world away. The teachers are great too! Give them two sessions and they’ll figure out your name and strengths and weaknesses (and help you through them, of course).
Ok, so it may not be the best Bikram studio in the world, but it’ll do. If you haven’t tried Bikram Yoga, you’re missing out.

I am addicted to this. At first a lot of what they tell you sounds a bit far fetched, but Bikram Yoga really is some kind of magical cure for most of what ails you.

AAAAAMAZING!!! I workout daily, and I have NEVER sweat so much in my LIFE!!! This is such a great workout. It will definitely change your body from inside out. This 90 minutes of hell is worth EVERY SECOND. It is tough at first, but now I am ADDICTED!!! The body just feels so refreshed right after the class and the day after. People get great results from taking this class!
If it’s tough the first time, don’t give up, go back, it only gets easier!
LOCK YOUR KNEES and BREATH!!! =)

Discovered this from my BFF Amy, who lives in the area. Stay tuned for a more detailed review with pictures.

On day 14 of the 30 day challenge, and I’m lovin Bikram yoga. The instructors are all very knowledgeable. The classes are an amazing workout. I’m seeing benefits: increased energy, less asthma and allergy symptoms, weight loss and over healthy feeling. Drink lots of water!