Bikram Yoga Branham Meridian

Abhinav Sagar is a wonderful teacher.
I’ve been to three bikram studios — this one is by far the best. They don’t lock the doors if you show up late — and they have hardwood floors instead of carpet.
The three classes I’ve been to had plenty of room.

I’m not a regular yoga goer and this class was challenging but also great for beginners and I saw people of all levels in the class! Sarah is a great instructor — she is energizing and calming and encouraging! Definitely coming back … Even though I wanted to quit halfway through haha

Purchased a groupon for the ~$ 30 unlimited classes for a month. Went here religiously — maybe 5 – 6 times a week until my groupon ended. I believe I went for the month of January 2015, so this review is a bit overdue…
This was my second bikram yoga studio. The last one was Bikram Yoga Santa Clara. Thought that location was a bit small so I decided to go to this location. Also Branham Meridian was much much closer to my work so I was able to catch a class right after work — pretty relaxing if you ask me.
I didn’t find the instructors to be as helpful as the ones I was used to in Santa Clara. But then again I was a morning attendee at the SC location and a night attendee here at Branaham Meridian. I’ve also noticed that compared to the morning sessions, there tends to be a lot more people going to the night ones. Perhaps everyone is in the same boat as me — we have work during the day!
Compared to the Santa Clara location — the room you practice in is pretty much the same size, same hardwood floors — which I totally appreciate. The room is exposed to outside light (meaning that the walls are basically windows but covered in posters/​pictures.). I found that kind of bothersome because cars’ headlights would shine through when I was taking their night classes.
Spacious area for you to leave your belongings — I find that awesome because it gets pretty crowded when classes end/​begin so you want room to walk around! Also changing rooms/​showers are like «locker room style” — where the men’s is segregated from the women’s. In the changing rooms, it’s pretty open. They’ve got mirrors and a bunch of storage to place your belongings.
Parking is very spacious since it’s basically in a plaza with a whole bunch of other stores.

My favorite yoga studio in San Jose! Why?
*They have classes at hours that work for everyone, unless you are really THAT busy. :P
*The studio doesn’t smell! I’ve been to a few studios around the bay and the majority of them smell so badly that I can’t concentrate on the poses… and I’m really not that sensitive to smell so that says something!
*Most of the instructors are awesome. This is NOT to say that there are any instructors that are bad at all. I say most because everyone has preferences on who they gravitate to and the majority of instructors here I enjoy! They are always willing to help and answer any questions that we have and some of them will correct our poses during class.
*The facilities are clean and well kept.
*There are 3 showers in the women’s bathroom and two toilets.
*Filtered water is available, there are also after practice drinks and coconut water for sale.
I’ve had a great experience every time I attend a class. Some days are more challenging than others and it really varies with how you’ve treated your body throughout the day or just how you’re feeling.
Some tips for a good class:
1. Drink lots of water throughout the day, before and after class.
2. Bring water or a water bottle!
3. Bring a large towel — I like the ones specifically for yoga because they retain a LOT of water.
4. Try not to eat right before class, this always makes me feel terribly bloated, nauseous and uncomfortable. If you must eat, have something light.
5. Try to come a little early so your body can get acclimated to the heat. I like to break a sweat right before.
6. Wear sweat wicking clothing — it’ll get soaked, but it won’t feel as heavy as cotton!
7. Breathe! :)

I have been going to the studio since last fall. The instructors and owners are professional and traditional to the 90 minute Bikram Yoga. I started on a groupon then went to the monthly deal. Studio is always clean.

I don’t have extensive experience (yet) with bikram yoga but today’s class was the best I’ve ever experienced along with the instructor and owner Navin. This guy knows what he’s doing, is extremely attentive to all students, and went out of his way to break down further techniques, benefits, suggestions, etc.
I will be returning and referring friends for sure. Thanks Navin!

The teachers and fellow students were welcoming and supportive. Facility feels nice and clean. They are very dogmatic but I got a better understanding after reading bikram’s book.
There is little support for what to do if you can’t do a pose during class and you see different people trying different things who cant’ do the pose. Teacher rarely demonstrates and pose and certainly not modifications. One teacher scolded me for not doing what I was supposed to but didn’t tell me what to do, nor had the other teachers. Teachers did invite questions after class.
Everyone says bikram classes smell but I think the wood (fake?) helps and while I sense an odor it isn’t bad.
Doing bikram does take time. 90 minutes of class. I personally needed a few minutes in the room to get settled before class and a few minutes after before I could drive. No eating 2 hours before class (I eat oatmeal 45 minutes before spin class and need to follow the 2 hour guidelines for bikram) and lots of fluid before during and after. Everything is wet from head to toe.
But… before trying 2 bikram classes my back was hurting and I felt an oncoming case of plantar faciatis both disappeared after just 2 classes. I could also see my flexibility improving after just a few classes.
It is obvious that it this class is hot. The analogy I would give, is warm enough that if it was that warm and I was sitting outside, I would think I was getting a sunburn and humid enough that it feels like there is a mist in the room.
Water — LOTS of it but ONLY before, at specific water breaks and after
Towels — A full sized beach towel or hot yoga town — They frown on you wiping your sweat off because the idea is that. Someone else mentioned 3 towels (one on the mat, one to wipe your face, and one for you car). I would skip the wipe your face ones because some of the instructors dislike that.
First Class — Isn’t going to feel good, nausea will set in (as teacher warned)
Second Class — soooo much better but make it soon after the first class.
Groupon — It is a good way of trying this studio, see if there is one currently
I would recommend someone try at least 5 (probably 10) to get a real feel for it. I like that the groupon gave me 10 which is about right to make an assessment.
I’m exploring other yoga options but I can see how someone might get addicted to this studio and bikram yoga.

Great new studio. The only studio in the South Bay that offers ONLY Bikram approved classes. No semi fast express silent or any other made up classes that are all taught by trained instructors. They practice true Bikram in its original form. Great people and awesome teachers and managers try it out, you’ll love it

Only been here twice and had a 10 class deal for $ 34 on groupon that actually expires today.
First class was on a Sunday morning 10AM class I had Rupali as my instructor who was amazing! Such a sweet woman and I felt like her voice helped me through all of the moves.
Second class was a weeknight 8:20PM class my instructor was Jennifer who was a little more firm in her class and called me out on a lot of my floppy stances which was much appreciated and helpful.
I didn’t attend all of my classes because I had a migraine headache for three days straight after both classes and didn’t want to keep doing that to myself, but f you’re into hot yoga this is a great studio.

I have been at the Santa Clara, San Jose prospect road and this studio. The west San Jose has the biggest room and front desk and full lobby and a great bathroom area separate restroom area etc. Compared with Santa Clara which has the smaller front desk and shower. Meridian location is kind of in the middle. But the one thing I like about this studio is the teachers especially Samantha L who will take the time to correct your post and help you to get it and show the post herself to the class. I see that she sweat in the room with us as she is working out with us while she walked the room non stop to help each of us. She is the teacher make me understand why bikram yoga and what each post is really for and how we should try harder in each post. Plus this studio seems has the most discount and flexibility in their different rate programs that other bikram yoga doesn’t.

I like the size of class and the studio.
The place is clean (I like the hardwood floor)!

Found my way to Bikram Meridian by way of Groupon! Whoot whoot, on the count of three say with me *YOGA IS EXPENSIVE*!! But the Groupon deal for this place makes it affordable. I’ve been practicing yoga for my fifth year now, and I think this is a top-​notch clinic to go to for cleanliness, professionalism, facilities (showers and towels!!!), and yoga teachers.
I had never done Bikram (hot) yoga before, as I am a FIRM lover of power vinyasa in regular-​people-​temperature. I did not know what to expect on my first class – and I admit to shamelessly googling «Things I wish I knew before going to my First Bikram Yoga Class» the night before. But with five solid years of active yoga practice under my belt, I hoped for the best.
My first teacher here was Ryan, who was a great introduction to Bikram. I learned the basics and felt myself advancing at a steady rate after a few classes with Shirley, and two other male and female instructors who I forgot the names of. I remember that after my first class, I felt renewed, glowing, and yes, literally DRENCHED. Here’s a pro tip: bring 3 towels (one large one for your car seat after class is over and you drive home, another large one for your active practice to cover your yoga mat, and a smaller one as your «ahh-​get-​the-​sweat-​out-​of-​my-​eyes» relief throughout your practice). Signing up for classes is easy with their online weekly schedule, and setting up my yoga card at Bikram Meridian was easy as cake!
However, as a warning to other yogis who have eczema or other skin problems – this practice might not be the one for you. I soon had to stop going to classes around my fifth visit because my childhood problem with eczema came back to haunt me :(So alas, even with the awesome facilities and instructors at Meridian, I couldn’t return because of my own skin problem. So that’s something to look into before you commit to a Groupon or membership.
Other than that, old and new yogis take note: bring a LARGE water bottle, THREE towels, self-​motivation, and courage!

Clean and no carpet floor that prevent odd smell. Plenty of parking. Enough showers.
No hassle to get spot in the studio.
Not a fancy studio but I am not coming to see cute decorations but doing bikram so no problem.
Love this studio!

Just started using my awesome 10 classes for $ 34 Groupon here. I had a class with Nikki and she was wonderful. She has such a friendly energy and her descriptions of the postures were great. She gave me water when I forgot mine! Another teacher (I want to say Judy??) was also incredibly nice and helpful and showed my friend and I around the place. The class itself was amazing. If money weren’t an issue I would definitely keep coming here regularly. I will have to see if I can somehow budget for it. This is the best yoga class I’ve ever been to and has the best teachers!

I am very impressed by this studio and felt very welcome during my very first bikram class.
Michelle, the instructor for my first class, was great at helping us push through poses and was very interactive in our extremely full class. She called out individuals to help us modify our postures. I always assumed that instructors favor (for lack of a better word) in way regulars, but she remembered my name and that I have experience with yoga and made me feel so welcome when she called me out by name to help me with my posture. It sounds like a strange thing to note, but the attention was nice.
There were a handful of other newcomers in the class and Michelle was very understanding. She even left to grab a can of coconut water for a student who apparently wasn’t doing too hot (hah).
Though the class was full, there was plenty of room to move and there were absolutely no strange smells.
Everyone was really helpful and encouraging, and there was a pretty wide range of ages and skill-​level in the class.

I live in Los Gatos and wanted re-​start my practice in Bikram… I started Bikram for a few months a couple years ago and left the practice due to work obligations (excuse :-) got in the way. I’m committed to getting back into Bikram and the Branham Meridian location is great! Highly recommended to all — especially to beginners who want to try the most physically demanding exercise that has huge physical and mental rewards. I would suggest to any beginner to try for a solid week and then make up your mind if this is for you. It’s very difficult to assess the benefits from a single class.

Love their instructors, great customer services.
At the same time they want you to relax and benefit from the class, but strict enough to not let us slack too much.
Love the environment and the people there, everyone’s so positive and work hard for their health :)

I live in the neighborhood so I’ve been watching their progress for the last couple of months with great interest as they’ve been building out their space. The studio has been built from the inside out specifically for Bikram. The ventilation system is brand new and highly effective, the floors are laminate so there won’t be any stank, and the walls are glass so easy to clean. They also have new showers and lockers as well as complimentary filtered water.
The owner and the instructor who taught the class were both very genuine people who took an interest in everyone’s well being and satisfaction. The instructor explained things very well and definitely encouraged people to push themselves. I liked that approach, but for beginner students or students with poor fitness levels, more alternative suggestions for simplified poses would be helpful.
The class was very mixed level but for Bikram that works fine since it’s the same routine. After living in San Francisco where yoga can be pretty aggro, I actually felt much much more comfortable in a class where not everyone was a 28 year old size 4 with the flexibility of a rubber band. Real people. Some rubber bands.
Since this is the first real yoga studio in the neighborhood, they really have the opportunity to make a difference to people who are just starting their practice and they seem to be very aware of that fact as they intentionally connect with people across a wide variety of abilities. I was also very happy to see them add some 8PM classes so I don’t have to forfeit waking time with my kid. The sitter can come at bedtime and I can go out without missing anything.

This beautiful new studio is filled with positive vibes and friendly, very welcoming staff. I would absolutely recommend this location for every aspiring yogi/​yogini that I meet. Not only do the instructors ensure that your first experience is unforgettable but they also work with you to make sure every experience that follows is even better. By far the best studio in the area! 5 stars! :))

This is an awesome addition of authentic Bikram Yoga to San Jose. Many of Unilocalers may know their sister studio has been serving Santa Clara location for the past 12 years. I used to attend the class there, but I so welcome this new location as it is closer to my home!
Received an email about their grand opening free classes for this weekend (July 12^th and 13^th, 2014). I signed up the one Abhi is teaching. He’s an amazing teacher who motivates you to go farther. After one year of blank, I was not able to do some postures like I was able to before. However I stayed in the class throughout the 90 minutes and that was my accomplishment of the day :-)
The facility is really nice. Those of you who are not a big fan because of the odor/​smell that comes from carpet, fear no more! The studio has the laminating floor and it is cleaned between sessions, so you know you’re practicing on top of clean surface each time you are there.
The studio is really equipped with changing area for both female male students. They do have lockers so bring your own lock. It is also conveniently located next to CVS if you need to buy a bottle of water. You can also rent towel and yoga mat for a small fee.