Atlanta Hot Yoga

I’m beyond devastated that this location has closed. I’ve been coming here for about 7 years and really learned a lot from the instructors, especially Meredith and Jason. This studio was minutes from my home, so it was very convenient.
Unfortunately, going to their Buckhead studio will probably not be an option for me. I really hope to find a similarly good studio in the Vinings area again.
I will greatly miss coming here. I found so much joy at peace at this studio.

I love Atlanta Hot Yoga,
however, I was very sad on Sunday, 01/​25/​2015 to learn that the Vining studio location will be closing in 5-​days, on Friday, 01/​30/​2015. I have been a member for six years.
I can honestly answer that I absolutely loved all the teachers at the Vining’s studio. Especially, Meredith and Jason, who are excellent teachers to practice with as yogi mentors. As a 12 year practicing yogi, I can honestly say their classes are some of the best I have ever experience.
Feeling Sad but looking for forward to finding a new great yoga studio in the Vining’s area.
Wishing atlhotyoga the best at their Buckhead/​Midtown studio.

This is probably the worst run business in Atlanta. Cannot contact anyone — no website that works. Terrible service. And don’t even try to cancel — takes an act of congress!!!

Vinings studio is still [ open. I was visiting the area and staying at a hotel nearby and took a few classes there. They were hot and challenging. The hot yoga is not and does not claim to be bikram. It’s similar but not as hot, standing series is 1x per pose, floor series is out of order of bikram, there are inversions and modifications/​props are allowed throughout.
Regarding the phone at the studio, on two occasions, the instructor was also signing students in, so there wasn’t a separate receptionist to answer the phone. It’s a small studio with showers, rental mats, rental towels and water for sale. Parking lot for the strip mall is not that big.

It wasn’t until today, 8 months after my first visit to Atlanta Hot Yoga that i realized how good they are.
I attended a Bikram yoga class in Tampa this morning that was down right terrible and a joke. I wish i still lived in Atlanta for many reasons and Atlanta Hot Yoga just became another.
I love that AHY’s teachers teach the class in a very mindful and educated way, making suggestions for modifications and form correction along the way.
I love how AHY provides a relaxing, thoughtful environment to perform this strenuous type of yoga.

I would consider myself as an intermediate yogi, if you will. However, this was my first experience with hot yoga. Not a fan of this studio. I actually enjoyed sweating, but the yoga poses were not very challenging. Drink loads of water before you go or you might pass out. I found it hard to go after work due to the fact that it’s difficult to pound like three gallons of water while you’re working. It’s also packed during the 6:00 classes. When you’re that hot and sweaty, you really don’t want some stranger dripping on you and your mat. The smell was pretty bad too. The staff seemed to be a little full of themselves. I understand that yoga is a practice and that some people are really into the spiritual side, but if I fall on my ass in the middle of class, you can expect me to laugh. Please don’t scold me. I hear the Buckhead location is better.

I just finished the 10:00 AM Hot Yoga class with Aba and even though I’m totally out of shape (but working on it) and have like 0 flexibility (but working on that too), I had a great time. You don’t have to be some yoga guru to join the class and get a good workout. I’d never done yoga before and I was able to follow along with the positions (for the most part; somethings my body just won’t do; at least not yet). Aba did an excellent job of modifying the position and instructions to fit the various skill levels (there was me and then there was one fabulous little chick that could have been teaching the class!). During the 90 minutes, I did get very hot and sweaty, even got a little nauseous but I left the class feeling energized and lighter. I brought the 10 day pass and I definitely plan on going back.

I decided to try this studio as part of my 2010 Action Plan to bring more adventure and variety into my health and fitness régime. I practice Bikram Yoga regularly and or run, and I was getting a little bored. The studio’s introductory package was very attractive. Thirty dollars for ten days of unlimited practice. That would give me plenty of time to check the vibes, the classes and the instructors. My first class at Atlanta Hot Yoga was a 10am Hot Yoga class at the Vinnings studio. I got there early so I could get signed in and have a few minutes in the heat before the class started. I was a little put-​off by the studio lay-​out and my initial reception. You step in off the street into a small area with a reception desk, two benches and cubby holes for your stuff. It being winter, I had on a lot of layers and felt awkward trying to strip down to my yoga gear as people came in and tried to get themselves situated. The studio does have showers and a bathroom, but they are on the other side of the yoga room and you have to keep your stuff in the cubby-​holes. When I did get to the desk, the instructor pointed to a short form i needed to fill out, took my payment, but didn’t bother to ask about my experience level or give me an idea of what I could expect during class.
But about the yoga, the hot yoga class was a little disappointing. I described it to my partner later that day as «bootleg Bikram.» Honestly, I’d rather do the real thing. I went back later that same day for the Pilates class at 5. This was a nice 50-​minute core work-​out.
I took a Power Yoga class my third visit. I really liked this class. It was not trying to NOT be a Bikram class and I worked up a pretty good sweat. The instructor was interactive and demonstrated the sequences such that it was easy for me to catch on.
Tomorrow I’m headed to Buckhead for the 9:30 a. m Power class. Another plus for Atlanta Hot Yoga is that the studios are linked, so you can practice at either location, and if you buy a single class, it’s considered a day pass shoud you fancy coming back for a second practice in one day. Like that!

Atlanta Hot Yoga is like a Frada Bag! It’s fake, if you are going to do hot yoga, then do Bikram, in a Bikram certified studio, where you are doing it the way it was intended to be done. I went to a few classes here, poses are altered significantly to a much less challenging, almost americanized position. The poses are not held as long as they should be. the heat, is not as hot as it should be, and the trainers, leave me wondering if I roll on my neck and break it because I’m doing the position wrong, would the trainer know how to come and correct my position? I think not. Try the real thing, go to a Bikram studio.

Some tips:
* Bring ice cold water to hydrate yourself.
* Wear a compression shirt to help keep you cool.
* Bring a large towel to wipe off your sweat.
* Get ready to sweat.
The first time I went, I took a bottle of warm water (I was an idiot). And I almost got heat exhaustion. So the second time I went, I came prepared with compression shirt and ice water. That helped a lot. (I only went a second time so I can redeem myself almost passing out from the heat)
The class all depends on the teacher. Some are good, some are bad. But it’s hard to know who will be good and who will be bad. This is a flow based yoga so they’ll go pretty fast. The bad teachers would go through the poses with little correction. The good teachers will take time to correct your alignment. It’ll be good if you know something about yoga before you come here. If you don’t have good alignment, you can end up hurting yourself.
The space is cramped and popular. It’s hard to «claim your territory» with your mat when there are 50 billion people in a small room. With the 100+ degree heat and all those people crammed in there, it gets hot and humid.
The drop in class is pretty expensive. So save up if you wanna come here for one lesson.
To me, it isn’t a strenuous workout. But the heat made it harder than it is. It will make you sweat, and the heat is hot enough to tire you out even if you just sit there.
I would’ve liked it more if it was a larger space, the temperature dropped a few degrees, and the instructors took a slower pace. But hey, that’s what I get for going to a place called «HOT» yoga.

Immediately after my first Saturday morning class, I was somewhat skeptical of the level of exercise that I’d gotten. Sure, I’d sweated like crazy, but I didn’t feel that I’d stretched all that much. However, by the next day, I was feeling that weird soreness in muscles that I didn’t know that I had, indicating that I had indeed gotten a good stretch after all. By the next visit, a week later, I was quite looking forward to the class, even if it wasn’t the type of yoga that I’m most comfortable with (vinyasa? The breathing and moving and series of connected poses kind).
I think $ 17 is a bit steep for the drop-​in class, but let’s be honest, I can’t commit to a month at this time, and it’s just nice to have a drop in option. Also, there’s a 10-​day pass for $ 30 that allows you to do as many classes as you’d like at both locations for the 10 days, but again, I haven’t had 10 days in a row to try it out…
They can also rent you mats and towels for a nominal fee and sell you your own mats and towels. Sure, you can get better deals on amazon, but it’s nice to have the option. The only water they offer is SmartWater, so if you’re not willing to pay $ 3 for a bottle, then make sure to bring your own.
Speaking of which, make sure to drink lots of water before attending the hot class, particularly if you’ve done any drinking in the 24 hours leading up to it! One of my good friends had been at Friday happy hour, and her experience was challenging to say the least.
The hot class was quite popular the two Saturday mornings that I was there — the first time it was completely packed, such that I was much closer to strangers’ feet and butts than I would have liked, and sweaty feet and butts at that. So I suggest you get there early and stake out a wall and corner space if you appreciate privacy as much as I do. Also, all these people make the room VERY hot. Even the instructor has commented on how much she sweats just standing there, so wear comfortable and absorbent clothing!
I will be going back, hopefully when I find the time to try out the 10-​day pass or commit to a whole month.