I've gone to the gym for years, gotten personal training, done bootcamps...and Real Hot Yoga is unlike anything I've ever tried. Nobody yelling at me to do one more rep, no guy on a mic yelling about the "hill we are approaching", and absolutely no way to be lazy.
Previous experiences with Yoga have been quiet, calming, and stretchy, and I never really associated it with a full workout, until now. Hot Yoga is one of the best workouts i've ever had. It's amazing how much I can sweat in one session. I leave disgustingly soaked, head to toe...and it feels great!
My Apple watch is probably wondering what I am doing; even on the most basic "other" setting, i'm burning 600+ calories a class. That's a lot of calories to burn without going near an elliptical.
I'm nowhere close to an experienced Yogi, but that doesn't matter here. The staff is super friendly and very supportive; they make an effort to remember everyone's name and give you a shoutout or two during class when you are nailing a pose, and gently (and silently) correct you if you are a little off. If you can't do something (like stand on your head), no worries - there is always an alternative, less intense pose that will help you work up to it.
Even after only 5 or 6 classes under my belt, i'm much more confident walking in, knowing I probably won't be able to do everything, but I'll definitely do better than I did last time.
The studio itself is nicely ventilated; even through everyone in there is disgustingly sweaty, it never smells bad, and the windows (with nice NYC views) never fog up. There is parking close by and it's basically on top of the Biergarten, convenient for a post-Yoga (drink water first) beer.
For class - bring a lot of water. Well, bring what you consider a lot of water, and then bring some more. They have mats and towels to rent if you need them, and plenty of room to store your stuff during the class.
Classes are never really full (which I really appreciate) so there is usually plenty of room between mats. The schedule is pretty accommodating, so even if you get out of work late you'll probably be able to make it to an 8:15pm class. Saturday at Noon is my go-to, it's a good reason to sleep in late (but not too late) and get exercise done early.
You will sweat, and you will leave feeling more relaxed, more centered, and ready for the rest of your day - after a shower.
I signed up for the $45 unlimited for 30 days, and will very likely sign up for a plan after this expires. I can already see a difference - waist, stomach, and chest. No reason to supplement with a gym membership, because this is definitely one of the best workouts you can get. read more
