Bikram Yoga East Austin

Obviously some of the reviewers here are disturbed individuals. Yes, a different flooring choice would be better, but a little bit of odor is not going to hurt anyone, and yes they do clean. If you like Bikram yoga, then this is a fine studio. If you are a hater and find it necessary to criticize everything about Bikram yoga, then go do some weak, girly yoga instead, or stay home and eat Cheetos.
I took a couple classes with the owner and a couple with one of the main (female) instructors. They were all good. The owner’s flow class was very original and included some advanced Ashtanga forms. Also, his energy is very strong.
The bathroom was clean with good showers. Plenty of room in class and in the bathroom. They did not hassle me about being from out of town and doing an introductory special. Also, they have cool dogs! And finally, the other people practicing were very friendly to me… maybe that’s an Austin thing, I’m not sure.

Love this studio! Great space, great energy, and awesome community of yogis!

I’ve long resisted trying Bikram due to the fear that the smell of sweat would waft through the room. And, let’s be honest, it does. But that was the only downside. The class was intense, I was feeling it for a couple of days. The instructor (Michael) kept things upbeat and moving quickly. Clean facility with nice locker rooms.

While this place is spacious and has mediocre instructors with a very laid back attitude, the space if filthy. It smells like ringworm and foot fungus. The carpets obviously never get disinfected (if they do, they need to post a sign like normal fitness facilities do!) and deodorized regularly.
Typical of all of the Bikram (sport contortion fitness) yoga studios I have attended, the memorized and subtle brainwashing lecture you get during the 1.5 hour long routine of advanced gymnastics postures needs to be tuned out. The instructors make total BS claims about your neck, middle back, and belly being able to defy the laws of physics and human anatomy when «performed correctly». Serious injuries and joint laxity can be had if you go for this incorrect way of training. So, unless you are trained in dance or gymnastics, have a degree or training in physiology, neurology, kinesiology and psychology and can self talk to yourself during the class in order to tune out the incorrect and totally absurd lecture you get with every class, avoid this yoga cult.
This studio has the temperature set at about 110 — 107 degrees every class. In India, the hottest the dry heat gets is 102 in the shade, so it is always beyond reason as to why any yoga studio would want to go above 100 degrees…
The instructor at my first class was so concerned with the fact that I only brought in my towel, and not a mat that she told me to use one of the rental mats under my towel «in order to prevent sweat on the floor». I have to laugh because that floor is sweated on profusely and the instructors do not have the participants stay on their towels 100% of the time.
While Bikram is a good contortion training activity for high level athletes, it is the worst possible activity for anyone with arthritis, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, diabetes, or skin problems. But they don’t tell you that. So, beginners, stay away.
If this studio were cleaned and deodorized/​disinfected regularly — or better yet — if it had a clean laminate floor, I would give it three stars.
If they also had instructors who didn’t spout off incorrect anatomy and kinesiology, or add their two cents about things that have nothing to do with the «now» of the yoga practice, I would give it four stars.
If they could convince everyone to wash themselves and wear underwear (yes ladies you need bras) in each class as well as fix my two previous grievances, it would be five stars. I have never been to any yoga class where women did not wear bras. I was disturbed by this experience.

I’ve been doing Bikram Yoga on and off for about 7 years in Austin. I started at Yogagroove in North Austin, which I loved. Eventually that got bought out by Pure which I didn’t really love. Finally this place opened up. It took me a good year to come around get back into it. Once I did, I was pleasantly surprised at the energy of this place. The instructors are fabulous. Some times Bikram yoga instructors can be a bit boot campy and overwhelming (I get it, I hear some people actually like that). What I like about the instructors here is there calm assertive instruction and passionate perspective. This is my one and only bikram yoga studio in Austin, I am here to stay!

Best Yoga in Austin! I used to frequent a few other popular yoga studios, but this one really is a cut above. I’ve been going very off and on for the past year. Classes are as intense as you feel your body needs. The instructors are all great — super friendly and will push you to push yourself. The studio always has a very clean and warm atmosphere. This practice allows you to focus so much on your body and mind, nothing like any yoga I’ve done before. The high you get after every class definitely follows you for hours and days. I also really appreciate that this studio is relatively spiritually neutral. Some studios make me feel like having a detailed understanding of Eastern philosophy is a prerequisite to attending class. Not here. Its all about you, your focus, your practice.

This is my favorite Bikram studio in Austin. The vibe is very laid back and inviting. All of the instructors are super knowledgeable and I always leave feeling like I learned something new. When I was returning to Bikram Yoga after a pregnancy– induced hiatus, the studio owner, Gabe, went out of his way to make me feel welcome. I love practicing here!

Starting from the beginning, I had been looking up and researching yoga places. It had been a while since I had done any type of exercise and I started looking up yoga studios with the best reviews, cheapest prices, good locations and class times that fit my schedule. I decided to go to Bikram Yoga East after reading up on hot yoga and Bikram Choudhury. In preparation I read all the information on the website, drank a lot of water, and packed my yoga shorts, a towel, my mat, and a bottle of water. Honestly I was pretty excited and thought I was pretty well prepared. I walked into the studio and started speaking with the gentleman behind the counter and the woman to his left. He was very polite in asking me questions and suggested that I buy a week, since it was the same price as one session. She was kind of rude and had an attitude. I went and changed and they have a fantastic dressing room with 2 showers and blow dryers. I walked into the studio and was caught a little by surprise by the overwhelming stench of what I can only describe as just funk. Well I suppose that is normal, right? A room heated to 105 degrees and people sweating… a lot! That makes sense. I battled my way through the experience, having to sit down quite a bit, but in the end feeling very proud of myself and the fact that I got through the class and didn’t pass out or die. After I was done I went and showered and then spoke with my instructor who stated that it would be best for me to attend another class within 24 hours, and I fully intended to. Now here is the big but, I got super sick. After walking out of the studio I immediately began sneezing like crazy and just thought I had gotten something up my nose or something just irritated it. When I woke up the next day I couldn’t go to work I was so sick, runny nose itchy eyes and throat, and watery itchy eyes. Dr. said I must have come into contact with something I was allergic to, perhaps mold…
So needless to say I have not and will not return to this studio and most likely will not do any type of hot yoga again.

I love Bikram Yoga. It is an amazing practice of mind and body! I was so happy to learn this studio had opened and even more excited after I took my first class there. I’ve been practicing Bikram on and off for about 4 years; and after being on a hiatus the last year, I have been looking for a new «home» studio (the majority of my practice had been at Yogagroove). The studio space is awesome and it has a great energy. It feels so welcoming and calming when you walk in the door… something I felt was really lacking from the downtown Bikram studio (IMHO).
I am already being greeted by name; it is very clean; and I’ve really liked all of the teachers. I feel they are excited to teach and enjoy guiding you through the class. Those that have practiced Bikram before know that even though the class is the same 26 postures and same dialogue, the teachers can really change the dynamic of the room.
I encourage everyone to try Bikram Yoga. Go into the room without judgment or expectations. Let yourself be and listen to your body (not your mind!) as you move through class. You’ll be surprised what your body can do once your mind shuts-​up. Oh, and don’t forget to hydrate well in advance!

East Austin/​Mueller def needed a Bikram studio and this one delivers. The instructors are varying degrees of friendly but most people are attracted to Bikram as an ascetic discipline vs. feel-​good forum for so perhaps it’s fitting that the whole vibe is no-​nonsense. The studio is clean and has showers + lockers + community board, all of which are essential in my opinion. The Q&A below is great — here are few other pointers for anyone going to Bikram for the first time (and I do recommend that EVERYONE try Bikram at least a few times in your life):
— Drink water and eat light (vegan) food for the 24 hours prior to class
— Bring a water bottle into the room, but know that drinking water during class doesn’t actually make you feel better; it just cools off your mouth more than anything. It fills up your belly with water making spinal twists in the second half of class more uncomfortable. Drink water before and after — not during.
— Wear tight-​fitting, non-​cotton shorts and sports bra/​tank. Cotton is your enemy.
— If you need to pause to rest during class, sit on your bum rather than lie down, allowing the blood to flow away from your head.
— The class is as much about mindfulness and delaying gratification (eg not wiping sweat from your face) as fitness — if you approach it that way you will definitely find it rewarding.

I was so excited when I saw that Bikram Yoga East Austin was first being built in this part of town!
This place is amazing. The instructors are fabulous. I am so happy doing Bikram Yoga; it’s challenging, but now I don’t have to go to the gym and lift weights, which I never was a fan, just did weights for my bone density. Now, I don’t have to lift weights. I have regained muscles in my upper arms and my legs. So impressive. I have even lost weight, which wasn’t my goal, but I sure am glad to find a natural way to lose that unwanted extra poundage put on by age and a love for food.
Yoga: each practice I feel I am able to challenge myself to the degree I am most comfortable with that day, that includes pacing myself for my own practice, not racing to get ahead of the person beside me.
I’ve been going for about 4 months now, the first two months, I admit, were challenging: getting into the poses, adjusting to the temperatures, wanting to throw off my clothes, but with the instructor’s help, I was able to get through it each class. I asked about how the Summer heat would effect my practice, and Tessa told me the studio heat would actually acclimate me to Summer’s heat, and she is right — at least so far, it is only June 16, after all. But, I love my Bikram Yoga. I encourage everyone to practice yoga. Namaste.

I’m writing FAQs as a tribute for the first timers of Bikram yoga (of which I am not far from):
Q. Is Bikram yoga just for hardcore hippies? A. NO. But it is for those who want an overall workout that you will NEVER EVER forget, not to mention your state of being that follows is equally unforgettable. All of your body systems get a work out all the way down to your internal organs — this is not an exaggeration!
Q. Will I barf? A. MAYBE. But more than likely not if you drink lots of water starting 24 hours prior and avoid alcohol 24 hours before and after as well. Pace yourself — trust me that no one will be staring at you as everyone (no matter how advanced) is too busy with their own challenges.
Q. Do I have to be flexible? A. YES AND NO. It does help if you can manuever like a pretzel — I am not going to lie. However, if you have even mediocre muscle strength and/​or endurance, your flexibility is almost an afterthought compared to those two vital ingredients of Bikram yoga.
Q. How do I dress? A. NOT IN YOUR UNDERWEAR. Guys please avoid items that leave nothing to the imagination to include «how it’s hanging.» Girls, keep in mind you are bending over a lot. You are up and down a lot. Your business dangling while you are cross-​eyed in Dandayamana Dhanurasana is probably not a good look. Just guessing.
Now that we have that out of the way we are ready for this wonderful thing called Bikram yoga that is the same 26 postures for 1 and ½ hours in 105 – 110 degrees. Everytime. Don’t forget a big towel for your mat and a little towel for your tears!
Tidbits: Timeframes to use class passes are very generous. Gabriel is amazing and whenever I have him leading the class I am at ease and at peace. The floor is textured to help with slipping. All areas are clean and pretty — lots of windows. The only downside is the sun, even with the solar protectant on the windows, it is an issue as far as UV exposure. But you can always get in the front of the class and avoid the windows while getting to look at your hot self up close in the mirror. I mean, I don’t know about you guys but I’m always at my best when gasping for air while in some position I wonder if I will ever make it out alive from … bright red sweaty neon face and all.

I love this place.
Gabriel, the owner, is friendly, peaceful, welcoming, and accommodating. I’ve been looking for a spot closer to home and this little yoga studio on the back side of Mueller is perfect for me. They are adding more class times in February, and they just opened the last week of December. I paid a year’s membership and am very happy with my choice.
People of all levels of practice are welcome here. You don’t feel judged or looked down upon if you are newer.
The studio is clean, welcoming, and well organized.
It doesn’t feel corporate or like you are just a number. Gabriel knows all of our names and greats us every day. I feel so encouraged when I go-​even if I had a crappy class.