Bikram's Yoga College Of India

I trained in a studio in Milwaukee and NY so familiar with bikram, this place is gross. You expect the familiar hot yoga odor as all studios have but this place is just uncared for. When you lie on your back you are treated to stained industrial soundproofing tiles to focus your gaze on. The walls need to be repainted or at least scrubbed. The teacher for the class was fine but when exiting I was yelled at by some short haired blond woman behind the desk for coming out the wrong door. This was my first time and I'm down with following rules but really?!? Maybe I just got spoiled by the amazing teachers in Milwaukee who are friendly and fun. Also the men's locker room is tiny and dirty - there were 5 men (in a packed class of 40) and I had stand and wait in line (literally) to use the 1 shower stall - then wait for a spot on the bench to dress. I drove 2 hours to attend and thought this would be a treat - but I won't return and will warn against. more

**It should be noted for yoga newbies that Bikram classes are run the same way globally (yes, globally), have intense instruction, and are vastly different from all other hatha yoga classes** I took a class with Carol Stocks, the owner of Bikram Yoga St Louis, at the Clayton Rd. location not very long ago, and I will never return to her studio. I recently moved to St. Louis from California where I have been practicing yoga for 10 years (Bikram included) in both San Francisco (the US's ""Mecca of yoga"") and in Los Angeles, at the actual Bikram Yoga headquarters. I have practiced with Bikram Choudhury himself a dozen times, so I know what a class should be and how it is to be properly conducted as per the Bikram Studio Guidelines... Well... this was my first (and last) class at this studio, and I was DISGUSTED with the way the owner treated customers and ran our yoga class. She actually made a a young woman cry when the woman could not complete an exercise. Instead of asking the girl if there was a problem, Carol made a passive-aggressive rude remark which was audible to myself and those around me... and we were on the OPPOSITE side of the room. Carol then actually chastised this same woman like a child after the class was over as the young woman was leaving the studio, saying that the woman was rude to her when it was clear to several people in my class (myself included) that the young woman was just standing up for herself when Carol was yelling at her in the middle of the exercises. Honestly, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, so I thought maybe they knew each other and had some personal issues. I asked the young woman when she left the studio if classes were normally like that and she told me she had no idea because she was a grad student who had just started practicing yoga at Bikram Yoga St. Louis that month and had never had a class with the instructor or even met her before!!! All of this put together outraged me as a fellow yoga enthusiast and a human being; thus I felt compelled to write this review of my experience. I have never in my life seen such disrespect in a yoga environment from an instructor, let alone the OWNER OF A YOGA STUDIO! Yoga practice comes from a place of LOVE. It is about finding one's balance and center while getting a great workout, and there was no way a single person in that studio could find peace or even concentrate on the practice after that psychotic outburst by the instructor. This behavior has NO PLACE in the yoga community, Bikram or otherwise. There seem to be no other Bikram studios in St. Louis (besides that 2 that this company has).... so do yourself a favor and FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE in St. Louis to do a hot yoga class because this place is run by a holier than thou dictator who has no clue what it means to be a yogi, how to run a business, or how to treat her own customers! PROS: you can practice Bikram Yoga here CONS: the owner treats customers/practitioners like crap more

HORRIBLE place, HORRIBLE, energy, WAY to over priced.\r \r And to add insult to injury, they will turn you away from the door if you are not 15 min. early to practice. I had to come back for their ""Orientation"" which told me NOTHING I didn't already know. And even though I told them I'd been practicing for YEARS, they called me a liar. Actually their words were ""Not that you are a liar, but a lot of new people lie."" I have practiced in 11 states, and they were the WORST studio I've ever been to. Pros: Its the ONLY bikram studio in the area Cons: Mean People, Horrible Energy, Overpriced more

I am shocked to read so many bad comments about Bikram's Yoga in St.Louis. I have been to both the Clayton & Chesterfield location. I can see where people think that the Instructors may come off a little aloof, but that is a huge misconception. All of the Instructors I have had, have been more than helpful, I mainly go to the Chesterfield location b/c I enjoy the smaller classes, & also live 2 min away. All Bikram's Instructors are trained the same way. Yes they are strict, however it is for your benefit. You can move at your own pace, so newbies should not worry. My 1st time I literally wanted to run out & never come back, however after I completed the class I felt instant gratification. Within 1 week, my mind was much more clear, my flexibility & balance was amazingly advanced,and the most important part is that i was HAPPIER!!! I love how you only focus on yourself, nobody is staring at you, and that it is silent w/ the exception of the Instructors teaching the class. I have been to other Yoga studios & people come in late, stare and try to talk to you. I believe that is VERY RUDE!!! Like I said earlier I love that you are only focusing on yourself, not anyone else. This 90 min is for me to improve & trust me, I don't care how good you are there is always room for improvement. The Instructors walk around & look at how you are doing the poses & make sure you are doing them correctly. They are very detailed for a REASON. They want you to do it the right way so you are not cheating yourself. Since I started last winter my MIND, BODY, & SPIRIT has peaked. I believe that every single person can benefit from Bikram Yoga. I do recommend that newbies read the Bikrams etiquette. It is very helpful. I believe if the complainers had known or read about Bikram's etiquette, their experience would have been different. Pros: MIND-BODY-SPIRIT more

If you want this to be YOUR practice, go somewhere else. This yoga studio is for the instructor to strut her power. I have visited from the west coast when in St Louis twice now. Both times condescending, arrogant and demeaning. I love my hot yoga practice at home. Pros: basic bikram Cons: egomaniac owner/instructor more

I have never been so rudely treated and by a yoga studio no less. I have practiced Bikram all over the US, I practive 6 days a week in LA, and even volunteered at the studio when I lived in Austin. \r I have never in my life walked out of a yoga studio in tears and these were not tears of relief, tears of fristration and anger. When someone is outrightly rude to me for no reason, I take it personally. I was so excited to get a class in on my Christmas vacation while visiting my grandmother and to experience a new studio, I was so wrong. This studio didn't center me, if brought upheaval into my day and life. Pros: Bikram yoga Cons: this establishment more

I've noticed a lot of people complaining about the carpeting. Carpet is the ONLY approved flooring for Bikram studios. (If you look at the official Bikram yoga website, you'll see it listed as a ""Bikram yoga basic."") This is because wood flooring is EXTREMELY dangerous when it becomes slippery with sweat. I once practiced in a studio that had (unapproved) wood flooring, and I saw multiple people fall and injure themselves. Please, stop complaining about the smell and be glad that you are not in danger of getting seriously hurt. (Note: I can't review this particular Bikram studio, as I've never been. But the carpeting issue is universal. I picked 3 stars arbitrarily because citysearch made me put down a rating.) Pros: Example: best croissants in town Cons: What are the drawbacks? more

This is a great studio. Bikram yoga is strict and the instructors are trained to teach in a specific way. I practiced Bikram Yoga in Boston for a long time and every studio is the same - strict rules and carpet! I sweat so much in class that I would slip on any hard surface. It would be quite dangerous. I am assuming this is why they use the carpet. I even slide a little on the carpet. I wouldn't like it if the teachers weren't consistent about correcting - I need the encouragement to get through the class. Also, I wouldn't have improved over the years if they didn't correct and help everytime. This is a tough class, but awesome for the mind and body. This class may not be for all people. There are easier yoga classes out there for those people. I describe Bikram as a sporty yoga class. I personally love the heat, sweat, hard work and strict dicipline. It is addicting. As far as encouraging people to not leave the room, yes, it is disruptive to the resst of the class and the dizzy feeling in the beginning goes away when you get used to it and when you hydrate before class. They probably want you to stick it through knowing that you will not always feel this way. I remember feeling that way the first few times too. I think the key is drinking tons of water a few hours before you take the class. more

I have been practicing Bikram Yoga in Tampa, Florida for about 6 months and have never been treated ruder in my entire life then at this studio. First of all, my family lives in Fenton so I had to get a ride from a family member out to the yoga studio in Chesterfield which took about 35-40 minutes commute time. I was planning on attending the 4:30 PM class. Because of traffic, I arrived at 4:20 PM, I was turned away and told to come back for the 6:30 PM class. I asked if I may fill out the paperwork while I waited for my ride (since they had left) so I could save time before the 6:30 PM class. The ladies at the front desk said, ""No, just call your ride on your cell phone and come back at the proper time."" So, I called my ride and they turned around and came back and picked me up. At first, I wanted to leave the studio and never come back again. Then I realized that was ego talking so I should respect the facility and their rules and go back and complete the class since my family member was nice enough to take me back at 6:30. Fast forward to 6:30 PM (after killing 2 hours at Chesterfield Mall) I arrived at the yoga studio at the appropriate time. I filled out the paperwork with 3 other first timers. One of the instructors went through a laundry list of do's and don'ts which by the look of the newcomers eyes, they were quite intimidated. I was told in the locker room they were turned away at 5:50 because they were too early and told to come back at 6:00 PM. The instructor stood at the podium at the front of the studio and never came down to student level. I'm used to wood floors this studio had carpet which is smelly. The instructor was arrogant and condescending. I understand Bikram is a very stringent practice and that the man himself is quite strict HOWEVER, Bikram has a right to be intimidating, he INVENTED the practice. The instructor I had did not. Her arrogance stood out. I am used to strict but compassionate teachers. They're not here. Pros: It's the standard Bikram Yoga 26 Postures and it's the proper temperature in the room. Cons: Harsh environment more

The general attitude was not very welcoming. One instructor walked around the class with a ruler in his hand, berating you if you couldn?t do the poses. I thought yoga was supposed to be your own experience, relaxing and mindful. This was anything but. If you couldn?t do the poses perfectly, you were demoralized and told you were not doing yoga. How can anyone concentrate with a drill sergeant in the room?!! I have experienced many yoga classes, with a variety of teaching styles and this was by far the worst. I agree; the room smelled of mold. I am not going back and would not recommend the place. There are MUCH better studios in the city than this one. Avoid it like the plague! Pros: The other students were great Cons: Facility, instructors, carpet more

the owner girls and the one guy teacher can be harsh at times, but it is fun yoga to do. Yet do they really have to take it that seriously???..it's not the end all be all, it's just yoga folks! ..let me chill and enjoy my class without you whining and moaning and complaining i'm an 1/8th of a millimeter off on my posturen(oy yea and you're constant telling us what postures full name every time is annoying, keep it simple)...also- carpets???? come on, it's the 21st century, get with the bamboo floors or something similiar that can be cleaned like your competitors have...no one wants to be laying in some nasty @ss carpet puddle of someone elses sweat from the class before!!! Pros: cool postures, fun classes, feel great afterwards Cons: the attitude isn't always checked at the door like it should be more

It's not a spa. You won't be pampered. But you will get an unbelievable workout/stretching session that will challenge your body, mind, and spirit. The instructors are following the philosophy/requirements of the founder of this school of yoga. If you want your butt kissed, or to be stroked and petted, go somewhere fancy and get a massage or go do some wimpy yoga. But really, you'll do yourself, your whole self, a much bigger favor by putting your ego aside, showing up to work, and following instructions. After a few times you'll even appreciate the discipline involved, and the fact that the rules are the same for every damn body. more

If you need to be disciplined, this is the studio for you. Bikram has an aesthetic that everyone understands. If you find subtlety unappealing, you'll love this place. Pros: It's a Bikram studio Cons: emphasis on the obvious to the point of obnoxiousness more

I started doing Bikram here mid December, and it was about half as crowded as it has been in early January. Bikram yoga seems to be a popular New Year's resolution.\r \r Anyway - if you try the popular times (anytime besides early morning) during this part of the year, it's going to be crowded and real busy. I can testify to the fact that the staff tend to be real friendly and helpful when they actually have time.\r \r Try the early morning classes - especially during the weekdays. Plenty of room. And the carpet hasn't started getting saturated yet.\r \r I'll ask them about the carpet and report back here. more

I agree that the carpet in the room is an unfortunate choice for flooring. The concensus is that the room temperature is 105 degrees. Any surface below my sweating body is soon to be soaked...especially if the room is 105 degrees! Ladies and gentlemen, you do NOT want to put your mat and/or towel and/or water bottle in the puddle that I work very hard to create. You DO want the floor sanitized between calsses...don't you?!?! Pros: The discipline itself is a great mind-body experience. Cons: The environment is uninviting. more

The basics of the class were good and the level of heat was excellent, but the service and the do it ""my way or the highway"" mentality has got to go! I have taken Bikram all over the country and even though a participant needs to be pushed everybody is different. The instructors don't take into effect that someone may not feel 100% and may need to make adjustments and do poses a little different just to get through it. Also, having a carpeted room has to be the most unsanitary situation I have ever been in. When you are face down on your mat you can smell the mold in the carpet. There needs to be a standard wood floor that can be mopped and sanitized after every class. St. Louis needs more Bikram Studios, HELP! Pros: heat, basics of Bikram Cons: wet, sweaty, smelly, moldy carpet. Front desk staff not very friendly more

This is a great yoga studio. Bikram yoga is a very demanding practice. The beginning class is 90 minutes long and in a room that is 105+ degrees. The practice requires focus and determination. I remember my first class vividly. I wanted to run out of the room screaming after about 20 minutes because it was so flipping hot. But, because of the instructors and in partucilar the owner, Carol, who was teaching my class that first day, I stayed. It wasn't pretty but I did it and I did it because Carol was incredibly supportive. It was not necessarily specific to me, but her support was to the entire class. She was positive and upbeat, yet also still demanding (in a good way) that we give 100% effort. \r \r There are rules that must be followed. You need to remain still if you are not participating in a pose. You need to remain in the room even if you are not participating and even if you are just done and can't do any more. This is out of courtesy for the others in the room, so you are not a distraction to them. You have to pay attention, close attention, and listen to the instruction. This is very difficult to do when you keep thinking to yourself, ""It is freaking hot in here!"" But, the more you work past your distractions and focus on the practice, the better your practice becomes and the better you feel. \r \r If your idea of yoga is hanging out in an air-conditioned room, doing some streching and maybe closing your eyes for a little nap this is not the place for you. If you want to be challenged, if you want to give 100% effort and if you want to improve your health and fitness level, come here! Pros: Parking, Class availability Cons: The smell more

I do not agree with the other reviews. This is a great Bikram studio! The instructors have always been very helpful and friendly to me. I have been to other Bikram studios around the country that do not have the structure that this studio has. The lack of discipline at those places was so distracting to my practice! I can appreciate that they enforce their rules for the comfort of all of the students. They were also just named best yoga studio in STL by the RFT and most classes I attend are packed. They are definitely doing something right! more

I completely agree with the other review. Do not waste your time, the girls at the front are sooooooo rude. It makes me sad because I really loved the class but had to quit going because I did not agree with the way they treat people. more

I was treated to a barrage of attitude from the moment I walked in the door. Expect to have studio rules lectured at you as if you were back in elementary school. I wish I could blame this interaction on a less than amicable new front desk person but the woman (who could not have been more rude) explained to me that she was the owner. The class itself was fine (I've done bikram in three other cities and it's so standardized that they're all pretty much the same). The instructor was good aside from chastising two women who were unable to complete the class (which is run at a temperature of about 105). I've only lived in Saint Louis for one year but in that time I have been constantly amazed by the courtesy and friendliness of its locals. My experience at Saint Louis Yoga could not have been further from this. I was shocked at the treatment I received and will never return. more