pant.. pant... pant..... pheww! AM I DONE YET??
This is my first experience with hot yoga and man it'll kick your ass, literally my ass is still sore. Hot yoga encompasses primarily strengthening your core but also increases strength in the extremities as well. I have definitely noticed my face thinning, my abs waking up from their winter hibernation and dirty this place is.
Setting: My major drawback of this place is how unsanitary it is. The flooring isn't wood but a foam absorbent material that is probably only cleaned once in the morning and once at night. I've never seen anyone come in after each class to sanitize the floor after 30+ people breath, sweat and have other bodily material (HAIR) collect on the ground. Literally after each class I have different types of hair stuck to my body after having made violent love to the yoga floor, its just gross. Also there is no spray to sanitize your mat after the class.
Classes: Various classes are offered but for a real workout I'd recommend hot sculpt which is a hot Pilates class that utilize hand weights to really add definition to your muscles. Venus is the beginner Bikram yoga and Mars is definitely for the advanced yoga practitioner.
Teachers: There are a variety of different teachers so make sure you go on the schedule to see who is teaching what class. In terms of who to go to I personally enjoyed Moorhead (teaches in a very scripted style that coincides with her music), Wiesienski(sp?) (she has a great positive attitude) and Trice (she will push you and focuses more on arms than glutes).
Overall: This place lacks sanitation which is a big issue for me. Bacteria love to dwell in warm moist areas and the fact that they do not regulate cleanliness is a deal breaker for me. Hot yoga in itself is a great workout but be careful not to overdo it because heat stroke and passing out are very realistic in this setting. Just be honest with yourself and know your limits because i've come close.