This is a good and proper Bikram Yoga place by anyone's standards, and so I think this review might…read morework 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.
