Michelle R.
Yelp
I've been practicing Bikram yoga (aka 26-and-2) for several years, but have not been to class since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when my old studio permanently closed. (I tried practicing at home with Zoom classes, but it just wasn't the same without the heat and I had trouble sticking with it.)
With vaccine mandates now in place, I finally feel comfortable dragging my butt (which is somewhat larger and lazier than it was 18 months ago) back to in-person classes, and decided to try Hot Yoga Chelsea.
I really enjoyed my first visit and class (traditional 90-minute with Richard). The entire space is well-designed, fresh, and clean, and the owner, Neil, is really friendly. The studio itself has great, even heat and humidity and those modern cushy yoga floors. I am sort of a Bikram yoga purist, but not enough of a purist to be a fan of the old-school carpet mandate- yuck. (On that note, my only purist comment so far is that I wish there were more 90-minute classes on the schedule.)
I really like that this place has a warm, community feel as opposed to the snooty-boutique-fitness feel that some yoga studios are leaning toward these days. The vibe here is both welcoming to veteran hot yogis and unintimidating to newcomers. I look forward to continuing to attend classes here. If you haven't tried this life-changing practice yet, Hot Yoga Chelsea would be a perfect place to start.