Between Sumit Hot Yoga and Pure Hot Yoga, Pure is probably the underdog in SGF, but I think it won my heart over tonight. Whereas I always felt slightly intimidated by Sumit's hardcore yogis, Pure seems to embrace people that are just, I don't know - super normal, I guess?
What I liked about Pure was that for the community class I went to (a one hour session for $5 cash OR card), I didn't have to wait outside in the cold - my friend and I could go right in and pop a squat in the room. At Sumit, you have to assemble outside and freeze your tail off until like, 10 minutes before the class starts, not to mention you have to show up early just to get in. At least, that's how it was a year ago when I frequented Sumit. I may be wrong now.
Anyway, my teacher was great (you go, Leslie), the session was an ideal 60 minutes long, and I still sweat buckets. I can't tell if the flows are easier here than at Sumit or if the session was easier for me because my fitness level's improved, but it was a very good workout.
Also, if you've never felt the sensation of having a lavender-infused cold washcloth placed on your forehead in a cool-down session, you gotta go just for that. It scared the $@#% out of me the first time it happened at Balance Fitness Studio, but now it's my favorite part of working out at places like these.
TL;DR: Pure seems like a great, no-frills place to give hot yoga a try if you're new to it or if you're not into the more-intense atmosphere of Sumit. read more