Well boys and girls, I can honestly tell you that Bikram Yoga Lower East Side kicked my ass. But I will give you the pros and cons so you can get the whole picture. This will probably be my longest post yet, because I have a lot to say about this studio.
Pros:
Bikram Yoga LES is smaller but way less crowded, it was really nice not being a mere 3 inches away from the person next to me.
They also have a full locker room, with showers, and mat storage.
They also offer towels, which is good and bad. BYLES requires you to cover your mat with a towel during class and they offer them to you for an extra fee, and it is nice not to have to worry about lugging a towel there and cleaning it after (but it is also pretty gross to see how much you are sweating and to think of how many other sweaty people used that towel before you).
There was also a more personal touch to things. The instructor knew most of the class by name, was very attentive, and gave great personalized corrections (it also didn't hurt that he was very attractive).
They also have mirrors on 2 walls. You wouldn't think that this would be a good thing, but it really helps you to focus on yourself and getting your poses right.
Cons:
First and fore most the expense.
The first thing I noticed about the studio was that it is carpeted. I know that they cannot clean that carpet nearly as often as the towels, but it gets a similar amount of sweat and from everyone in every class. Gross!
I wasn't a fan in general of the kind of yoga we did. If anyone has ever done any kind of yoga there is a certain flow to the movements and poses, but I rarely if at all found a flow here. It was choppy, and my the end of the very full 90min the rapid choppy movement made me nauseous.
Which brings me to my next con, the cool down was the shortest I have ever experienced. Barely 2 min long, not nearly enough for as hard as the class was.
And the biggest con of all: I paid $25 for and unlimited week of yoga, but I honestly have no desire to go back. I had planned to get my moneys worth, but I have found that I am making excuses for myself instead of looking forward to it as I have every where else. I would not recommend this studio to anyone. It is back to Yoga to the People for me!
Pros:
Bikram Yoga LES is smaller but way less crowded, it was really nice not being a mere 3 inches away from the person next to me.
They also have a full locker room, with showers, and mat storage.
They also offer towels, which is good and bad. BYLES requires you to cover your mat with a towel during class and they offer them to you for an extra fee, and it is nice not to have to worry about lugging a towel there and cleaning it after (but it is also pretty gross to see how much you are sweating and to think of how many other sweaty people used that towel before you).
There was also a more personal touch to things. The instructor knew most of the class by name, was very attentive, and gave great personalized corrections (it also didn't hurt that he was very attractive).
They also have mirrors on 2 walls. You wouldn't think that this would be a good thing, but it really helps you to focus on yourself and getting your poses right.
Cons:
First and fore most the expense.
The first thing I noticed about the studio was that it is carpeted. I know that they cannot clean that carpet nearly as often as the towels, but it gets a similar amount of sweat and from everyone in every class. Gross!
I wasn't a fan in general of the kind of yoga we did. If anyone has ever done any kind of yoga there is a certain flow to the movements and poses, but I rarely if at all found a flow here. It was choppy, and my the end of the very full 90min the rapid choppy movement made me nauseous.
Which brings me to my next con, the cool down was the shortest I have ever experienced. Barely 2 min long, not nearly enough for as hard as the class was.
And the biggest con of all: I paid $25 for and unlimited week of yoga, but I honestly have no desire to go back. I had planned to get my moneys worth, but I have found that I am making excuses for myself instead of looking forward to it as I have every where else. I would not recommend this studio to anyone. It is back to Yoga to the People for me!
I was initially sold on your pros list for the smaller studio, but after listening to the cons... I'm with you - carpet does not belong in a yoga studio - or in hospital rooms or bathrooms either (yuck! for all the things that might be living there) & shavassana(sp?) is one of the things I look forward to most after a long yoga session. Seems like the best place to take classes is the studio you might actually go to.
ReplyDeleteYou have to pay for a towel? That is a bit silly.
ReplyDeleteI've done yoga before and I know it really sucks being so close to other people, so having extra room I can see being a huge plus. I didn't realize that different studios would be that different in the moves. You may have spent $25 and not had the greatest experience, but hey at least now you know not to go back and which place you love!