I'll start with the same thing I said in my review of the Fitzroy studio: I think it's tempting when writing reviews of places like this to review the activity rather than the facilities and their suitability for that activity. That's not quite fair, though. Make no mistake, Bikram Yoga is not for everyone. It's hot. It's sweaty. And frankly, it's kind of gross. (Among other things, it has to be done in a carpeted room. (Carpeting with all that sweat??? Yeah. Kind of gross.) You can't really hold that against a Bikram studio, though. It'd be like rating a brewery based on its crappy wine list.
Bottom line for the Richmond studio, as for Fitzroy: if Bikram is your thing, or you haven't ruled it out yet and want to give it a go, then this is a great studio.
The Good: The main thing I prefer about this studio is that it tends to be less "sceney", and the students are a bit more polite about chatting before/after class. I also like that the lockers are free, and that the teachers (on average) tend to do a bit better about looking after new students and making corrections (though there are still those who are pretty slack in this department, something you'll find anywhere you practice).
The Bad: My main gripes are that the heating/air system is pretty darn inconsistent, and the locker room a bit cramped (only three showers, there's usually a queue). I was also pretty unhappy when I bought a 50 class pass and wasn't told that there was a 20% off sale on passes in a few weeks, since I definitely would have held off and saved myself $100; if the owners were more of a presence, that might not have happened. That'd be another difference from the Fitzroy studio.
I'll throw in my tidbit of first-timer advice here, too: go at least three times before deciding whether it's for you -- try not to judge right away. If I hadn't gotten that advice when I went the first time, I probably would have never gone back. The first time or two are the hardest because you don't know what the hell is going on and all you can think about is the heat. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself. And do your very best to listen and follow the teacher's instructions. read more