Bikram Yoga Arlington

I began practicing Bikram yoga about a year and a half ago after a friend introduced me and have found that it has truly helped me gain flexibility and led to the rehabilitation of my chronic lower back pain. That being said, I have visited this particular studio many times over the course of a year and enjoyed practicing with certain instructors more than others. I found Colleen’s hands-​on approach to be very useful as her minor tweaks and suggestions really helped me to go deeper into postures. She taught me something new each time I practiced with her. I enjoy practicing with their more experienced instructors as they bring personality to their class and are not shy about pointing out a correction.
The studio lobby is beautiful and clean. The changing rooms are relatively spacious so you don’t bump into women at every turn. The studio room; however, could definitely benefit from some sprucing up. A friend mentioned that the combination of the red carpet, mustard walls, and the black cauldron contraptions in the front makes her feel as though she’s stepping into hell upon entering the room.
Parking has been an issue every single visit since I’m usually rushing in from work. Unless you arrive early enough to grab a space near the studio, you either have to pay for parallel parking during business hours or park in the garage they mention on their website.

I came here on a groupon pass and really enjoyed the classes. It’s your standard Bikram studio, and yes it’s hot, but isn’t is supposed to be? Parking isn’t really an issue either, I always parked in the Ballston Mall parking garage for $ 1 and I always saw tons of metered street parking when walking to the studio.
Your typical evening classes did get crowded, but not so bad that there wasn’t room. I tried to stick to the early or last class of the night. I enjoyed all the instructors that I had.
Only reason for the 4-​stars, like others have said, the smell/​carpet. I know there’s probably not much you can do about the smell since you have many people sweating through-​out the day, but I did sometimes worry about he carpet. After some of the floor exercises I frequently found random hairs (not my own) on my legs/​arms. A little weird, but I just tried to ignore it, and stay on my towel/​mat the entire time. I never got a disease or infection, so I’m not too upset :)

Not at all smelly or anything!

My first Bikrim session at this studio was only ok. After reading previous reviews, my expectations were set pretty high. I am hopeful my experience will improve as I try other instructors and time slots.
POSITIVES:
–Friendly Staff
–Bikrim focus (carpeted studio, instructor in front, no hands-​on correction)
–Price (purchased initial package on a Groupon deal)
NEGATIVES:
–No Health History Questions (aka Previous Injuries, Surgeries or other ailments that may impact my ability to perform the 26 moves in 105 F heat).
–Instructor Introduction (create that personal connection by introducing yourself)
–For new customers, provide an alternative pose (like sitting) should they not be able to keep their breath in and out through the nose.
–Discuss the pose from the perspective of «why» Bikrim wants the knee locked. This is a Bikrim focused studio and I took the beginning class, so I want to know more background
–Parking can be challenging (there are about 4 spots in front of the studio, but otherwise, it is street parking at a meter)
–Studio smells like mold or mildew. I understand in taking the last class of the day the smell of sweat is expected, but ventilation should be such that there is not mold or mildew smell. I also smelled what I believe was feline (I did see a water dish but am not sure if it was a cat or dog bowl). Since I am allergic to mold, mildew and feline, I did struggle with breathing through my nose.
–Cleanliness was so-​so in the bathroom, again, I took class at the end of day on a weekend, so possibly this is isolated, but there was hair in shower pan drains and just a lack of wiping down the sink/​mirror area with a paper towel.
My biggest concern is this studio is located in Arlington. The demographics of Arlington routinely do yoga, but NOT Bikrim and may purchase the Groupon or Living Social specials thinking Bikrim is like «heated yoga» at Core Power or Spark Yoga. In all fairness, I do really like the adherence to the Bikrim method at this studio, I just know it can be executed better. I will try again as stated and am hopeful a morning experience will find the situation more pleasant.

I was really scared to do Bikram Yoga as I was intimidated by the heat and since I had not been doing yoga regularly in quite some time. However, this studio is very inviting. Colleen is the BEST teacher hands down. She isn’t too serious (adds jokes in here and there) and corrects you when needed. Highly recommend this bikram studio if you are in the market for one.

I am absolutely shocked to read all of the reviews and that not one person has commented on the complete lack of sanitation at this studio. Upon arriving to the studio (6:15 pm class) I was greeted with an odd stale odor. At first glance the studio appears spacious, organized, professional and warm (as in staff interactions). After I placed my clothes and belongings in the designated cubbies, I entered the hot yoga room of practice and immediately was able to confirm the stale stench was coming from this room. Specifically the DIRTY CARPET! I have practiced at many bikram yoga studios and I have never been in a practice room with anything besides tile, hardwoods or specialty padding that is able to be wiped down and mopped. From a sanitation standpoint, this is highly alarming environment as the combination of heat + foot traffic + body sweat (moisture +bacteria) and clear lack of cleanliness serves as the perfect place for serious bacteria to harbor. During the class, the room was excessively hot– warmer than I have ever experienced a fellow yogi had perspired so much he was drenched through his towel and mat and was visually pooling sweat on the carpet. I was nauseas throughout the class (especially floor work– lotus pose is tons of fun when you are instructed to put your mouth in the mat) not because of the heat or difficulty of poses but due to the awful stale feet/​mold smell and overall dirtiness of the room. This is the type of place people get sick/​staff infections/​skin issues etc so please be careful. The practice room is lit with rows of fluorescent lighting which proved to be was quite disruptive and distracting during my session as fluorescent lights have the tendency to drain energy. Following the class there was no spray bottles available to wipe down the yoga mats (um ew?). Clearly hygiene was not this studios strong point. This studio is in need of a complete makeover suggestions would include (but not limited to) ripping out the carpets and replacing them with appropriate flooring, changing the lights to candles, Himalayan salt lamps or dim lamps, offering disinfectants following classes. I will surely NEVER return here. It’s a hazard.

Awesome place. The crew is super friendly and helpful. Classes are great — Zahra is definitely the best yoga instructor I’ve ever had. The studio is really clean and has great showers and lockers. This place delivers twice the value of other places I’ve been to and costs half as much.

What a workout! 100 degrees while you work on balance, flexibility, focus and determination. 26 postures over 90 minutes. The instructor was young and full of inspiration. The class was diverse. People of all ages and physical abilities. Yeah it was a tough class but afterwards I was re-​energized! Glass mirrors need cleaning…

This is by far the best Bikram Yoga studio I have ever tried and it is in large part due to Zoha and Zahra’s classes. I recently had my appendix removed as well as a hernia and was very nervous about going back to yoga. Zahra managed to bring me back to 90% strength in one class (which when I did it with other instructors, I had to sit down for a large part of the class and actually felt sick afterwards). Zahra knows the answer to every question and really understands the human body, which is crucial in an instructor especially when you are healing. Everyone I know that comes to this studio knows Zahra and looks forward to her classes. Zoha is very similar in that sense. Her soothing voice and expertise brings your practice to another level. I constantly find myself thinking «Let it Go, Let it Flow» in random moments of my life. I have been doing bikram for over a year and a half now and I have yet to meet such wonderful instructors.
If you have never tried Bikram before be aware that the practice in my opinion is almost a hundred percent about your instructor so really find the one that resonates with you. I have tried the studios in Tysons, the one near AU and Charlottesville but this is the first studio I really feel at home with and can see myself frequenting.

I love this yoga studio! I have taken classes around the world. LA, NYC, DC, London, Berlin, Paris, Buenos Aires, you name it. Honestly, I am not the best yogi but I travel a lot for work so when I can find a minute to go to a yoga class, it’s the best way for me to relax & let my body breathe. That’s why I love it!
Frank & Zahra run an amazing yoga studio. They are the kindest, generous, and most patient people. I have known them for over 10 years!!!
I highly recommend taking a class with Zahra or any of the instructors. They are equally wonderful :)
p. s. Lady Gaga takes personal classes here when she’s in town. x

Namaste, Zahra, for a few months of great yoga, but your comments comparing your ⁹⁄₁₁ sale to Ray Rice beating his wife are simply too irresponsible to ignore. I’ll be taking my business to Spark Yoga.

I have to say that ever since Zahra took ownership of the studio, I have enjoyed her transformation of the décor (color, paintings, mirrors), the hanging hooks in the women’s bathroom and extra toiletries that women need. It is a much more inviting environment to come in and very welcoming. I’ve been coming to this place for over 2 years now and it is one of the top ones in the area.
For those of you that have never taken Bikram Yoga, please read about it online before you enter the room. When I invite my friends, I tell them the following:
1) No talking inside the room. Please respect those around you that dedicate 1.5hrs of their time and appreciate the tranquility.
2) Hydrate 2 hours before the class and you can eat something light like a piece of fruit, some yogurt or a small protein shake an hour beforehand. Do not eat a heavy meal before coming, you will not feel well doing your poses.
3) Bring extra clothes and a towel to take a shower or just change.
4) Inside the room, you will need a mat, towel (regular size) and at least 16oz of water or more.
5) This is very structured yoga and everyone should move at the same time. Do not jump ahead of poses, listen to the cues of the instructor.
6) After the 1^st pose, you must breathe in and outside your nose.
7) You must find a place where you can see yourself in the mirror so please be conscious of people in front and behind you when you choose a spot so as not to block them.
8) If you need to sit down, you must face the mirror. If you need to lie down, your feet should be facing the back wall.
9) Do not compare yourself to others in the room. You must concentrate on your own poses.
10) Mind over matter is what I say to myself when it gets tough. I guarantee that you will feel amazing afterwards.
Again kudos to Zahra for taking ownership. I enjoy her classes as well as the other instructors.

I’d just like to respond to Frank’s note about my «ignorance». The purpose of this is not to defend myself, so much as it is to warn future potential customers about what they’re getting into:
— F: Zahra has compassion. Response: I personally didn’t experience this, when I was yelled at for drinking water in class.
— F: She won’t stop class just because some new person is sitting down. Response: when did I ask Zahra to stop the class? I never asked her to do this, and would never think of doing so. I just wanted to take a sip of water, and in the process of taking a sip of water, was yelled at, and told that we drink water only as a group.
— F: while the student interrupted the class for 40 other people. Response: did I? I don’t recall actually talking, just sipping my water. If that’s interrupting a yoga class, then my…
— F: persoinallly bashing someone because she wasn’t allowed to be disruptive. Response: the proper spelling is actually «personally», and I was not «bashing.» I’m simply warning students against overexerting themselves, and caring for their bodies, because it was apparent to me that the staff here was not.

I’ve been wanting to try Bikram Yoga for a while now and bought the Amazon Local deal for Bikram Yoga Arlington. I picked it based on its high ratings as well as it’s location.
I have no bad things to say about this place. From the beginning, the staff has been incredibly helpful and welcoming, especially considering I was complete newbie (I was familiar with some yoga but wouldn’t call myself a yogi by any means). I called ahead since I was planning on my first class being at 6am and I wanted to make sure they could process the voucher at that time. Not only did they answer my questions but they also offered helpful suggestions on parking, what to eat before class (spoiler alert — not much), and what to expect.
I’ve had a few different instructors since I’ve started (Zhara, Sarah, Dagmar, and Kristen) and they have all been very helpful and encouraging. I have not experienced any instructors saying you can’t sit down/​take a break/​have water (which I saw in reviews of other studios in the area).
The location is a little weird, building wise, but the studio itself is very warm (pun intended) and inviting. They have cute products available for purchase, ranging from body products, yoga clothes/​mats, and water/​coconut/​electrolyte drinks for after class.
The bathrooms are clean and seem well stocked if you choose to shower there (I haven’t yet).
A few tips from my newbie experience: bring two towels — one to cover your mat and one to wipe your face/​hands occasionally. Bring at least one bottle of water (double walled if possible — my ice melts in like 5 minutes in my regular water bottle) but try not to chug during class, it can make your stomach too full to be comfortable in the floor poses. Bring a change of clothes for after class, trust me you will be soaked through.
All in all: I love this studio and am falling quickly in love with Bikram Yoga — I’ll be going back after my voucher is used up.

I have been to this place a few times. Love some of the instructors (Spencer, Zahra, Jackie). They took the time to explain all the poses to you, and gave extra attention — in a good way — to the newbies.
I had been to a class where a newbie had to leave the room because of the heat, and the instructor did not torment or shame them into staying in the room.
The ladies room is well stocked with supplies, soap, hair products, body spray, hair dryer, you name it!
One thing I can’t get over is the carpeted floor and dark-​mustardy-​dingy wall color in the yoga room. You don’t have to be on a locust pose to be able to smell the mustiness of the carpet. Hopefully this is something that they would change in the future — at least a brighter fresh coat of paint will project a bigger and cleaner room :-)

I had purchased a Groupon for BYA and finally decided to go to a class today. It was really good. The receptionist at the front desk was very friendly and the studio very clean. The room where the yoga class is conducted is very hot! Make sure you are not wearing pants or a long sleeve shirt or you will pass out. Wear shorts and a tank and do bring water.
My instructor was Spencer and he was very nice; even came by and showed me how to correct a few of my poses. All in all, he was very sweet and encouraging.
I have been looking for a bikram yoga studio for seven years and I think with BYA, I have finally found it!

I used to go here when I lived in Arlington, and I recently came back to visit while I was in the area. Holy Cow is it nicer! It’s under new ownership and feels like a spa inside. It actually feels like a whole new place, and everyone just seems happy once they are inside. The room has been consistently warm and humid, and I love the Zum products in the bathroom area. Sometimes they even have fresh smoothies. I am going here on the weekends now, even though I have moved. Definitely a place to try if you haven’t been in a while.

Love, love, love Bikram and love this studio. New ownership, new vibe. Mucho better than before.
This ain’t your mama’s yoga. Bring your boyfriend or husband and challenge him to make it through in one piece, too. (I did that with my husband about 2.5 years ago and now the guy goes 5 times a week. I go every other day.)
Totally awesome and they are running a Groupon as of 1÷3÷14, if you can snag it.

90 minutes at 105 degrees… We need to talk about hot yoga…
On the recommendation of a friend, I decided to try a session. I had done regular yoga before and enjoyed it, but I definitely will be going to more hot sessions in the future. It was lower impact on my arthritic joints and because of the heat, it was much easier to stretch into the various poses.
Located on some nowhere street off Wilson Blvd in Arlington, this studio is located across from a parking garage and around the corner from a chicken joint, but as soon as you enter, everything else melts away. The lobby is inviting with little trees for your shoes and cubbies for your accoutrements. Proper clothing is available if you didn’t dress well, along with mats, water, and Gatorade for after you’re done.
Our instructor — Phillip — was excellent. As I said, I’ve never been before, so I don’t have another example to compare, but he was clear when describing the positions and I was able to follow along easily without much difficulty. Between him and the other students who had clearly been more often than I, it made for an interesting evening.
Lessons learned from my first visit…
— Drink water. Not just while you’re there, but the entire day before you go. You WILL sweat out your body weight while in the room, so this is a good idea.
— Bring a towel. When I say a towel, don’t bring a hand towel like I did. They mean a no shit beach towel. The most absorbent one you have that you don’t mind getting nasty. Or washing several times a week if you go as much as you’re supposed to.
— Wear as little as you’ll be comfortable in. Breathable things, not a lot of cotton.
— Check your vanity at the door. It does not matter what your body looks like. Reflected and contorted into an upside down pretzel, you will not be seeing the same thing you do in your bedroom. Do not be alarmed. Like me, use it as motivation…

After realising I would be in DC for about a month, I looked to sign up for an affordable workout to hold me over for the month and stay in shape. Bikram Arlington had a great deal on Amazon local for 10 classes that I signed up for. I practiced Bikram for about a year in London between 4 – 5 times a week so i’m quite familiar with both the teaching style and postures. I’m fairly advanced in my practice so am always excited to have teachers that can point out small things to improve my practice. I’ve gone to Bikram Arlington about 4 times and I’ve found that the teaching style has a fairly broad range from quite hands off to very hands on — I would absolutely recommend Dagmar who gave super helpful feedback and Zahra who encouraged us all to go further in our practice. Both of their classes were relaxing and invigorating
SIde note: On the outside this place looks fairly scary — on a small road full of car washes and automobile places but inside it’s quite nice, quiet and taken care of!