This brings yoga away from smelly yoga mats and old farts down the local sports centre or community centre and into the Heart of the city with fearsome challenge to your body. You get younger with every day not older surrounded by the occasional superhuman athlete to look up to not some anatomical failure. When I started, I was in regular pain and seeing myself in a pit of despair of losing my mobility due to back pain/fibromyalgia with a scoliosis about to set in. With a discounted membership for newbies, I went on a one year charge practising yoga nearly every day, sometimes twice a day, at their studio. For the most part, the effects were medical miracles, and though it took me many months to master some basic excercises, and some I am still only average at to say the least, the classes are powerful and stimulating and exhausting, and i have never found anything better. On the down side, i didn't lose any weight, and after you have been to that many classes of Bikram Yoga, even with the variety of friendly instructors, its difficult not to feel that the lack of variety to the program tends to take instructors and students into a realm of robotics, and its a shame that too few of the 'instructors' actually prove to us they can do the poses themselves on the day which is arguably immoral for a 'teacher'? Thankfully other classes are options, though too few of them make use of the heated room option. Whilst the statue of Indian Elephant-Head God Ganesh is cute, its not going to please all faiths. The changing rooms are often over-crowded especially in the most popular sessions. Special note must go to Vinyasa yoga teacher Jude Whitburn who is a breath of fresh air originality and surprise. Worth every penny, not cheap, but no complaints just suggestions. read more

BIKRAM - ok, this is not a class for the faint-hearted. You do indeed feel at some point you would kill someone to be able to get out for a breath of cool air and I suspect that previous reviews alluded to this part of their experience. But there are two good news 1) it stops feeling 'masochistic' after a month of regular attendance as your body adapts 2) when you get out you feel absolutely fabulous ( from day one !) . It is the only intense exercise I have done where your body is buzzing with effort yet your parasympathetic system kicks in and you feel paradoxically relaxed. I have done various sports absolutely nothing compares to the sense of wellbeing at the end of a Bikram class. FACILITIES - I agree they could be a bit better; especially the showers. But overall there is a touch of care and gentleness - you find creams, deodorants, tampons in the bathroom for free. THE TEAM - I found the teachers wonderful: dedicated supportive and fun. There is a team feeling and sense of belonging. I have overshoot my 90days pass and all the unused entries were rescued added to my next subscription. I love this place! read more

Poor Shower facilities. Female showers weren't working and only 2 Male showers - should have 3 but one is broken and hasn't been fixed. Bristol Bikram studio needs better maintained. Pity about the facilities. But the Instructors are really good and care about the students. We liked our instructors, very approachable. We heard London Bikram have the same Owners? Can the London Owners spend to fix up your Bristol studio? Again thanks to the Instructors. read more

After months of hearing my London friend rave about the benefits of hot bikram yoga, I decided to give it a try. It's as hardcore as it sounds- an hour and a half of bikram yoga postures in a room heated to 40 degrees. You sweat, you stink, you have no dignity, and you have to look at yourself in 10 kinds of pain in the mirror all the way through. It's not for the faint-hearted- this is a pretty gruelling work-out and you are discouraged from drinking too much as you do it because it interferes with the body's digestion during the poses. But there is something delightfully sado-masochistic about it. I was also interested from the point of view of loving yoga but having a really bad back and thought the heat would help. I was a little disappointed with the teaching though- I think the teacher I had was more interested in his regular students who were already very good, rather than attending to newcomers and those who, like me, were really struggling because of physical impairments. I will be going back, but may try a different session as it was oddly enjoyable (although kind of horrendous at the same time!) and I must admit a drink of water has never tasted so good as afterwards. However, if you want a yoga class to relax you, I wouldn't recommend this one. Although it does re-energise you (after initially killing you) and most of the regulars are in really good shape so it obviously does have long-term benefits. read more

Bikram Yoga Bristol - Yoga Near Me - Bristol, BST

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In this class, I've managed to damage my cartilage in my knees...after years of doing lots of physical exercise, this is bad news..and I've signed up for the 12 month contract..and I'm 3 months in....just so you know. read more

Wow, I have never experienced anything like this before. I would agree with everything the other reviewer says apart from the teaching. I think all the instructors are good and give attention to everybody equally. There is a certain pace to the class that needs to be maintained and if I have had any queries then I have asked at the end. Can't wait for my next session. I have never sweated so much in my life. read more

I recently tried Bikram Yoga Bristol, however I was not at all impressed. I had spent the summer in Bournemouth practicing hot yoga, and had developed a real passion for it as a new hobby! So I eagerly searched for somewhere to continue yoga here in Bristol. Although the price was much more than I had payed previously in Bournemouth, the website looked good. However, I'm afraid to say the whole experience was a disappointment. The facilities- small, dingy changing rooms with no lockers was not what I had expected for the price of £16 a class (not including the rental of mat, and towel). Also the studio was very disappointing, before the class had begun the air was unbearably stale and stuffy, the scent of B.O still in the air. It seems they do not have an air filtration system at this Bikram yoga. The studio was not light or modern, with carpeted floors and big pipes running along the ceiling. Moreover, the intensity of the 40 degree heat was just too much for me, especially as they claim the classes are ALL suitable for beginners. Barely five minutes in I began to feel extremely faint, even having made sure I hydrated myself well all day. I also found the class to be very slow from posture to posture, and the actual exercise to be not very strenuous but the mere heat overpowering, unlike the hot vinyasa flow that I had tried before (heat around 30 c and faster paced movement). Yet, I'm not sure if the particular style of class I went to was meant to be like this. I left before the class was over, disappointed with the whole experience, however, the receptionist still insisted I pay the full £20 for the 30 minutes I had spent there. Ripped off..... read more

Do I enjoy hot yoga? Almost never am I keen to be on my way towards or in that hot room. But I do keep going back because when I practise regularly I am without the chronic pain and elderly feeling I experience when I do not. As well, I've noticed recently that when I abstain I slowly develop a rather troubling anxiety disorder. Once or twice a week is all it takes for me to enjoy the benefits, though there is more than enough encouragement to practise more frequently. read more

About 4 months ago I decided to give Bikram yoga ago after seeing impressive results. Not just visually but their energy levels were off the scale. I talked my partner into coming with me (he's super fit I'm not). I explained to him that this was hardcore yoga not the fluffy type and he assured me that this will be no sweat (excuse the pun) as he has done ashtanga and what could be tougher than that, famous last words. The receptionist was super friendly and registered (you have to arrive much earlier your first time to meet with the instructor, med history etc). There is no place to lock valuables although the place is very secure whilst in class so maybe leave mobiles/money at home if your worried or ask for them to be placed in the safe. I was initially shocked to see a carpeted floor in the room but have been reliably informed that it is steam cleaned on a very regular basis with no chemicals. The class was very full and as newbees go to the back you are surrounded by people to follow and very detailed instructions from the teacher. It is by far the toughest thing I have EVER done and believe me I've tried them all (cross fit a close 2nd). It's a mixture of cardio, stretching, strength and a massage at the same time. At the 1 hour make I heard my very fit boyfriend mumbling Nooooo to himself. When the class was finished I met him in the corridor and he said what was that ? Jesssus that was hard. That night was slept like babies, the next day I ran 5 miles ( I can usually only handle 3) and my skin was amazing. I suffer from Keratinise Polaris (blocked pores on back of arms rough skin) and it was almost gone I one hit!!!! Needles to say we are both hooked and are planning on doing the 30 day challenge (help!). There is a yoga for everyone, I realise that I am not the fluffy type and need the cardio. I can not recommend it enough. read more

Bikaram Yoga Bristol is not a great place. Stinky, packed, they are obviously very focused on making money rather then delivering a good service/experience. One particularly nasty teacher - well, I think this lady have some anger management issues. Only went for class once and she completely put me off shouting at one of the students who had problems to follow her instructions. It was a while ago , I think they have some other teachers there as well. In general my I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. read more

Persevere Pollita! - you didn't experience enough to make a fair judgement. I've been practicing Bikram yoga for a year now, and the real benefits have really started to come through. (Had knee and lower back problems, that made surgery in the future an inevitability - no more, I am delighted to say. The class is made up of mixed abilities - complete novice to seriously experienced. At every stage the teacher will tell you there is no competition (between those practicing), and every attendee should recognise their own level. One is advised to hydrate well before class, reducing the need to drink during class - filling your stomache with water during class does indeed hinder progress (the 'need' is often a convenient distraction from one's natural resistance to something that is certainly challenging). As the teacher will often say to beginners - it is an achievement to simply come to terms with the heat (in the first session) let alone attempt the postures - (which by the way definitely improve with every additional class one attends!) Quite apart from the physical benefits I have received, my ability to focus and to 'stay in the present' have improved enormously. The ability to completely relax (after the class) is a huge bonus. I would go as far as to say attending Bikram yoga has been life-changing, as it has certainly been for others who attend regularly. Give it another go - I think you'll get a lot out of it. read more