Bikram Yoga Lower East Side

My first impression of this studio was «wow this place is small!» Which it is. It’s probably one of the smaller studios in the city. However, what it lacks in space, it makes up in quality. I’ve been attending class for almost a month now, and I have yet to have a bad teacher or class. The 6pm classes will always be packed no matter what studio you go to, so if you’re looking for less crowded classes attend 4pm or 8pm classes. If you’re new to the practice or a beginner, I would highly recommend practicing here.

This place is the best Bikram in the city I have experienced. Everyone is extremely friendly and down to earth. The studio is cheerful and above all CLEAN. It doesn’t smell bad and you can tell the staff works to make it an inviting and positive experience for the students. I’ve also loved all the teachers I’ve had. All of them are so seasoned and professional and know what they are doing. A++

Arrived on time, but was denied entry to the class because 1) they said the class is full (even though I had reserved a spot on class pass) 2) they said I was late, which I was not. I understand it’s hot yoga, so lateness disrupts the class, but I was exactly on time and they could have let me in. It was 6:30pm and peak hour. What I couldn’t understand is that the lady was saying «even if we let you in, the class is full» OH WOW. I’m sorry so what is the point of reserving a class spot then? Yes, I understand that I should have arrived 5 mins before class starts to prepare, but not letting me in when I am on time is unacceptable. Poor attitude and poor service. Tons of other bikram yoga spots in the city to choose from who would be more accommodating to people with busy lifestyles. Avoid.

GREAT energy. Comfortable practice room, large, exposed brick and many windows.
I only hesitate to give all five stars because the locker room could use some more shower stalls.
I’ve been here 4 times and everyone has been extremely nice. I’ve experience a visiting teacher who was wonderful, and Pamela, who was even better. I personally have been practicing for years but can only carve out once a week in my schedule. Pamela is a positive presence that articulates the positions in greater detail to help me push my practice further.
Towels (1) and mat (3) are available to rent and water is available for purchase. Oh, and they have lockers, but you need to bring your own lock.

always wanted to try Bikram yoga and finally bought a groupon to try this place out.
I didn’t know what to expect for my first yoga class, I was afraid I would get nauseous. I read instructions on the website beforehand, and it told me to drink plenty of water beforehand and to bring a water bottle to class. Luckily I did not get nauseous… however the studio was not to my liking. I tried this place a few more times and decided it was not for me.
First off like most people have stated, every class is jam packed. That is a huge problem when you are doing poses that require you to extend your arms or squat and you might hit someone or worse — head butt someone. In addition when you are doing bikram yoga, it is not great to feel someones sweat drops on you or to smell them. The carpeted floor is also very smelly which makes the yoga session very unpleasant.
Every class I went to, I noticed that the instructors never helped a student adjust their postures or fix their alignment (probably because there is no space for them to even walk between each student) But that is horrible! Especially if you are new to yoga. Not to mention this is Bikram yoga– where the poses in each session are very challenging and require lots of strength and flexibility. If you do not know what you are doing and are not instructed/​/​given modifications you can seriously injury yourself.
Finally, the locker room is gross. It is very small. You are literally on top of everyone trying to change or waiting for the shower. Only two showers and one bathroom for 20 plus females.

came here for my first ever yoga class without much in the way of expectations. read reviews about it being crowded and smelly etc. surprised myself by loving everything about it! tatiana is a great instructor and made me feel welcome and comfortable despite having never taken a yoga class before. the class is challenging, but very peaceful, and i felt blissfully relaxed and sore afterward. i came for an 8 am saturday class and maybe got lucky because the class was full but not crowded. i maybe brushed against the person next to me once or twice when we had to do a pose that involved swinging your arms outward. and no awful smell, definitely nothing beyond your regular class that involves people sweating. the one thing i will say is that i wouldn’t shower there. only 2 stalls curtained off and not a lot of privacy. but i live close enough that it’s not a problem for me. i can’t wait to go back.
amenities: aforementioned showers, bring your own lock for the lockers. you can rent yoga mats (i think $ 5) and towels ($ 1). also bring lots of water!

One of the best bikram places in the city. Everyone is friendly and super positive.

Bikram Lower East Side is a staple in the LES and anyone who has lived in the neighborhood has probably passed by sweaty yogis leaving the studio.
I have been here a few times and all in all it has been pleasant, but the unpleasantness was enough for me to knock off stars.
PROS: They are part of FitReserve (my fave app!), the location is great, Trisha is a wonderful instructor, they offer showers and towel service, friendly class goers who are very welcoming.
CONS: They pack WAY too many people into class, I literally was getting touched by people and knocking into people; the bathroom was kind of gross (moldy shower curtain, one hairdryer); instructors are hit and miss. I really disliked instructor Lena, as I found her to be rude, incompassionate to newbies, very grating and would walk around commenting on people’s outfit (I really like those leggings!) which is so not zen or what yoga is about.
All in all, an okay studio, but not my favorite.

I took a ~6am weekday class here the other day. The room was full but not crowded… but that’s at 6am so I can’t imagine what a 6pm class might look like. The instructor was fantastic and the class was great. I felt completely revitalized at the end! For some of the poses that people weren’t doing correctly, the instructor took her time to show the entire class the proper pose, which I thought was really helpful.
The studio is clean but it smells. I think it’s in the carpet because the bottom of my mat smelled when I left. This was a deal breaker for me and sadly, I haven’t been back here since my first time. I go to the herald square or soho locations instead.

I love Bikram yoga. I travel quite frequently and have been to studios in Paris, London, Berlin, Toronto, Vancouver, Austin, Chicago… ok– so it’s true. I’m an addict and catch a class as often as possible. Even on vacation. But I am completely blown away by this studio. Honestly, I think it is my favorite studio I have ever been to. The owner, Tricia, pulled every last drop of effort out of me. I gave the «bikram» 110% through her energy. I was captivated, motivated, and visually stimulated. The studio is so interesting and beautiful. Even the ceiling had wooden and metal beams to admire during savasana. I prefer it HOT and the temperature was better than I could have expected. I also took Pamela’s class and through her teaching will continue to fine tune my poses. This place is magic. Thank you, Tricia. You have made this world a better planet.

Great vibes at Les. Bouncing in and out of Nyc I feel at home with Trisha and her team. Compassion. Thank you xx

I LOVE this studio. I started my Bikram practice first in LES for the very first time at this studio about two years ago. This now serves me as an advantage and a disadvantage… Because I didn’t know it at the time, but this Bikram studio is not like any other. Trust me!!!
And I mean this in a very, very good way. The energy in each class is different, and you’ll find which teachers become your favorite. Tricia is always amazing and inspiring. But, my personal favorites were Pam and Nick.
The studio will know your name soon enough, as well as the instructors.
Now that I live in LA I practice in a studio in downtown. But, let me tell you… each studio is different and I know I shouldn’t compare… But I really do miss the whole vibe and energy in LES.
The discipline in Bikram and the energy that these instructors in BikramLES bring out is one in a million. Enjoy it while you’re there, because this studio is really a gem.
Yeah the studio gets crammed during rush hours, but so what! Focus on your practice. The instructors will crack the door open and take care of you, not only through the environment but with their words. Not to mention their nitesweats are fun and the fact that this studio gives back to the community is incredible. Also, the owner is very much part of the studio and not an invisible person you never meet.
Never thought I’d miss being an inch near someone with their sweat dripping on my mat.

Yack!!! Newbies — stay away. You will hate Bikram after visiting this establishment.
Overcrowded studio will put you off for life. You’re not supposed to be treated like a cattle. And when the teacher telling you next time that 2.5 inches between your mat and the next is «Fine» don’t believe them — it’s supposed to be an arm length or you will not get the benefit of the workout.
You are entitled to a workout space you’ve paid for. It’s the Studio responsibility to provide it. Otherwise it’s too stressful — very unYoga-​like.
Pure greed from this business owner. If you’re struggling to pay your bills — don’t do it at my expense please.
The studio itself: in bad need of renovation! Carpet floor stinks. Plus the heat from up to 70 (or more?) bodies in the tiny room — and you could taste the other persons sweat on your mouth.
I’m pretty sure Bikram supposed to use the dry heat, not steam. The whole thing is a DIY joke and extremely unhygienic. They don’t care about their customers at all!
Note to owner: you should really visit your competitors. Because just on Vibe — you wouldn’t go far anymore. Time to change.
I bought a 3 months unlimited on Groupon. Went for 1 class at 4pm in a middle of the week — packed and impossible to workout. Very much doubt that they’ll give me my money back. I’ve emailed the owner, but as experience shows — they don’t really care about their customers.
Positive: next to subway and I hear they have a good teachers (if you’re lucky enough to find a workout space)
P. S. I see the studio had «reacted» to my review with more customer care insulting comments: «yes, the studio is crammed — so what?» they say.
People — we don’t have to be treated that way.

I started Bikram practice in 2010 when my chronic depression was at an all time high. Family illness, abusive relationships, and depressed friends. I was grasping for life and met someone who whispered how the practice changed his life.
After being a wandering yogi, hopping in and out of the practice in multiple studios, I felt like Charlie sheen and rehab. I walked into this studio in 2012 after a really bad break up and feeling like I was non existent.
I walked in to this studio barely able to look myself in the eye (not even realizing that was something that ppl could do)… this was kind of perfect because it can be very crowded.
I once described the largest class as a community mat. Lol.
The studio is so pretty. And the instructors all seemed to be survivors. Mentoring pushing smiling nodding and keeping everyone afloat. I’ve been to bynyc and it’s not the same.
I returned after abandoning my practice, and felt like my heart opened. I felt welcomed.
My interpretation of my practise is to focus on myself and let every thing happen in the moments they take place in. The crowd is a test/​testament to committing.
Tricia and the LES team are not running a studio they have fostered a community.

I was lucky enough to be an the edge of the room on my first visit, but I must say the other reviews are spot-​on in terms of over-​crowding. I love to support small businesses and especially yoga studios, but not necessarily at the expense of a fruitful yoga practice. Out of the 26 poses of bikram, I was limited in fully engaging in all of them, because of severely limited space. Since my appendages would have been either rammed into a wall or a neighbors nether-​regions, I had to just (on my own), modify my full locust pose & balancing stick, and it’s hard to say if my practice was fully engaging because of those space limitations. I arrived 30 mins early, and then you are asked to move over once, then twice, and thrice, and then literally have 2−3″ between you and your neighbor. I will continue to go because I really love Bikram, and secondly I loved the instructor Riji -(she’s brilliant) — but I will try to go on «off hours» and not on the weekends, for fear of severe overcrowding and discomfort. I found that my yoga-​high was greatly compromised by the overcrowding anxiety that pervaded the practice and post-​practice. Overall the staff is OK; not particularly friendly (except for Riji; she’s got a great attitude), nor are they rude — they seem as though they are just as stressed out about the over-​crowding as everyone else, or are tired or going through something, and that energy definitely spills over into their interactions with members. Aside from the overcrowding, I’d give BYLES a full 5 stars.
Update: the staff is friendly and amazing IF Tricia is there (she is just a ball of energy and can-​do support /​happiness), but if she’s not there, I’ve found some staff to be less than friendly — I am always, no matter what, happy and kind when I enter any yoga studio, and just expect the same engagement. I mean, You don’t have to offer me your first born, but a smile and kindness goes a long way in this city.

I can’t believe I’ve lived around the corner from this place for years and this is the first month I’ve ever been here! I used to attend Bikram Yoga Union Square religiously, but when it closed, I just stopped doing bikram yoga altogether. Sad day because this place is awesome & it’s just been sitting there waiting for me!
First off, the place is adorable and you can feel the supportive & non-​judgemental atmosphere as soon as you walk in.
Secondly, I enjoy my time in class! This is big for me because BY Union Square taught more of an aggressive, competitive approach but at BYLES, I feel like the 90 minutes is «me» time & I don’t feel like I’m just going to die and panic the whole time. This is not to say that I don’t feel pushed or challenged, I just feel like the teachers here have a way of guiding you without being mean to you. And that’s obviously a plus.
All in all, it’s my favorite. They also have «nite sweats» yoga dance parties once a month & you can tell they do a lot to anchor the community they’ve cultivated there. Thanks for being awesome BYLES!

I’ve been to this studio 30+ times. Prior to this studio I used to go to Bikram Yoga NYC (particularly the Flatiron location). I was introduced to bikram yoga by the BY NYC location and fell in love with the foundation and beliefs that bikram yoga is supposed to be practiced by. It changed my mindset and how I approached yoga, exercise, and life in general. It pushed me mentally and physically to the next level and after each class I felt euphoric. I used to go about 4 times a week.
The only thing about their closest studio to me, flatiron, was that it was a few subway stops away from me and I wanted somewhere closer. That’s when I found BYLES. Regardless of the other reviews of how packed the class gets, or how hot the locker room gets, I really care more about the experience of the class itself, and I was looking for a similar experience I had from BYNYC, something to continue pushing and challenging me mentally and physically. However, this studio positions itself as more of a trendy, cool, progressive yoga place. I don’t feel like they teach bikram the way it was taught to them or as a real «practice.» The class is more about the mechanics, less about the mindset and the foundation of its teaching, which is what makes it a practice instead of an exercise class. If I hadn’t learned how to properly go into each pose correctly from BYNYC, I would probably be doing everything wrong because the instructors don’t ever give you the mindful tips of correct positioning. There’s very little personal attention/​adjustment even in the smaller classes I’ve attended. Again comparing it to BYNYC, even in the large classes, the instructor paid attention to each person and helped adjust when necessary. The instructors at BYNYC also made sure to write down everyone’s names so they could be addressed during class instead of being called «green shorts».
Additionally… what’s up with the loud music constantly playing? The music is constantly blaring from the reception and locker room areas, and you can hear it anywhere in the studio, including the yoga room itself. Almost everytime I’m there the music of choice is Jay-​Z, who I love, but not when I’m in the middle of class or getting out of class. I’ve never been to a yoga studio who interrupts the zen-​feeling with loud hip-​hop. I don’t ever feel like I’m in the zone when I attend this studio, too many distractions — and not enough discipline reinforcement from the instructor.
The last thing I want to point is everytime I’m leaving the studio, no one EVER says goodbye to me. Again comparing it to BYNYC, there was always someone (not sure about nowadays) who would say bye to me as I left the studio. Just something reinforcing your feeling after class and the whole «practice» experience. All in all, I still go because it’s close to me, and I learned enough from BYNYC to get into the frame of mind during class. I use this studio as more of a «place» to have class rather than a location of practice.

Love the atmosphere, people are very friendly. I always leave with very good feeling, even if it is not a ‘good’ day for me.
Studio is nice, locker rooms are on the smaller side, but definitely not the smallest I have seen in the city. Classes are usually filled up, but you can always get a good comfortable spot if you arrive 10 – 15 mins before class.
For beginners I recommend left side by the windows, best is left back corner, you will get a slight breeze between the postures (if you get lucky :). But do not worry, you will sweat it out as everybody else. The opposite corner, right front is a place for the bravest.

Over crowded is an understatement. I had a strangers head in my ass when changing positions (I’m not over exaggerating, his head went through my crack) and another strangers sweat fall on me multiple times during one class. Gagtastic. I went at around 11am on a Saturday. They pack everyone in… Your mat is literally about a quarter of an inch (on all sides!) from your neighbor’s.
It was my first hot yoga experience. The hot yoga itself was intimidating, the violation by stranger’s body parts and bodily fluids just added to it. I had a month unlimited class pass and never returned.
Too overcrowded to find my zen.

I was holding on to a free pass for over 4 yrs; one day a girl gave me one when I was sitting on a bench on Allen street; I prolly looked depressed bc she was really nice to me… anyways, finally decided to trade in my free pass card (which sorta became a sentimental token) for a class. The people at the front desk didn’t give me a hard time that my pass was all busted, welcomed me graciously…
for someone who needs some amount of personal space; the locker room was tiny and though the studio itself is large, they really pack you in like a can of sardines; and with sweat involved, it’s kinda gross. I had some guy’s foot literally in my face and he was flopping around, landing hard on his mat, and his sweat bounced off it and on me… not the studio’s fault … point is, they will pack you in and I guess since there’s not a lot of hot yoga options in the LES, this place is popular… and I’m not sure how any teacher can really give constructive feedback but most really don’t… I love Bikram yoga though but with the sexual harassment cases against the guru/​creator, I’m at an impasse on which type of hot yoga to practice…
Anyhow, I found the clientele to be hip; I mean, people make an effort to look good… for whatever that’s worth, maybe helpful info to single guys? gals?
Anyways, it’s only a couple of stops from me but it’s a lil to crammed and a lil too hip for my taste.

I «yoga vacationed» here while spending a week at my guy’s place in the village. Yeah, I like the phrase yoga vacationed, I hope I can do it again some time!
It’s kinda been hard for me to hate on any yoga studio, specifically Bikram, because I mean, com on people, yoga is LOVE. Big, sweaty, hip opening, back bending yoga love. The love I feel in all Bikram yoga classes I’ve taken is definitely felt here-​and in a really unique and cool way.
I had the pleasure of taking Tricia’s class twice during my intro week and way blessed by the positive energy during my two personally difficult practices. When I’m feeling that particularly hard sweat, the one that makes you question, «seriously, why the hell do I think this is a good idea every time,» I am super appreciative of the reminder of why we all, or all should, be practicing this yoga. It is personally and globally uplifting and powerful. And I felt that here in this studio.
The clientele here was very varied, from a few preggo women and a lady with an injured leg doing yoga in a chair (you guys totally F-​in ROCK) to the super bendy gumby yogis that make yoga fun to watch other people do. Everyone, though, was friendly, welcoming, and warm. I was a little nervous about this aspect as NYC in general is just very impersonal and cold to me (sorry, NYC, I still love you for what you are).
Great intro deal, $ ²⁵⁄₇ days with mat included. Big changing room for the ladies and honestly have read the complaints about there not being enough showers but for similarly sized studios in other cities, this one is actually one of the bigger locker rooms. I love the pink door, and the HOT PINK theme in general. Perfect temperature, great instructors-​perfect yoga. Isn’t it always, though?

BEST. BIKRAM. STUDIO. EVAAAAAA!!!
What more can I say? The staff is friendly and amazing. All the instructors are helpful and funny. The studio is kept clean. And no matter what time off day it is, it’s always popping.
I’ve been to a few of the instructors’ class and they are all GREAT. I recently attended Trisha’s and was so energized afterwards. She’s beyond amazing with the energy she brings to class. They also make the effort to at least try to remember people’s names and get to really know their students.
They teach us the most important aspect of any practice and that is to have fun, despite whatever level you’re at.
Bikram Yoga LES, I think I’ve fallen in love :)