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| - Like many other people on this forum, I purchased a Groupon for Bikram Yoga in the Strip District last year. I practice advanced yoga 2-3 times a week and have attended classes at a few other hot yoga studios, but never practiced Bikram. I had a two month unlimited membership and only went four times during those two months.
First of all, I was not wild about the Bikram practice - I like more variety, but to each his own. I think if you want to develop your Bikram yoga practice into more advanced poses you will have to go to teacher training. All classes in this studio are at the same level and I don't remember any pose modifications being offered.
Also, I did not like the instructors scolding me when I took a sip of water, wiped the burning sweat out of my eyes, or removed my wedgie. It is very difficult to hold a tree posed when you have a slow-flowing river moving down your leg. I fared okay with the heat, but there was a girl in my class who had to sit down for over half of the class. The instructor regularly checked in on her (which was nice), but when she asked if she could leave the room, the instructor told her "only if [she was] going to pass out."
The whole experience seemed a little cult-like to me (and according to Details Magazine, I'm not the only one). All of the instructors greeted you by name in a very sedated tone and wore (seriously) next to nothing. And they encourage you to buy into the whole lifestyle - practicing everyday or more than once a day.
I will say that the location is ideal and the facility is nice and clean. I would prefer it if the room were a little less bright. I'm a pretty confident person, but feeling like I was practicing in an operating room made me a little self-conscious. The bright lights also makes it difficult to concentrate when you can clearly make out every little bump in your instructor's Speedo (whether you want to see it or not).
I'm glad I gave it a try, but it's just not for me. Such is the beauty of Groupon.
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