Bikram Yoga

I will only give this place one star because one of the instructors was fantastic! I wish she was at a different studio!
I’ve been an athlete my entire life; I’m use to brash coaching & being yelled at, called out on/​off the field. But, this is yoga. I find a special connection between mind body and soul by doing Bikram & it’s clearly something I don’t want to be barked at while doing.
Bikram is intense as it is. If you’re serious about completing this entire 90 minute workout you want to come out of it feeling renewed and reinvigorated. The owner, Sonia should reevaluate her role and what she wants to bring to the table. She is not kind, had a cold presence & zero patience for people who are seemingly stepping into the unknown. She called me out various times for my «ego» or whatever she may have perceived. As an athlete, I’ve been fortunate enough to adapt quickly to my environment & she took it as me not «following instruction» & her repeated yelling & scolding made me lose focus various times to the point I suddenly felt anxious & mad to be yelled at again because I wanted to yell back. I was with a friend who was struggling to get through & I was whispering her words of encouragement & Sonia once again barked at me to be quiet & to not talk while she’s talking-​WOW! And that will be my parting words about how I feel about her.
Bikram is great, but not with her negative, nasty energy.

I have gone to the studio a few times and I love it! It’s a great workout for the Mind And Body!

I wish that I had the ability to leave different star rankings for each aspect of this studio. I am leaving an overall 2 star review but for a specific reason, since im averaging my stars. I am not new to yoga, I am new to Bikram style yoga, so I really didn’t know what to expect.
Customer service: ZERO stars. I came for my first Bikram class with a group of people, who were all new. From the second we arrived, we got a terrible vibe from the owner of the studio. She was incredibly uninviting, very rude and has extremely poor customer service. She basically yelled at us about the cost of the class, yelled at us about where we were standing at the desk, yelled at us not to enter the classroom and then yelled at us that we hadn’t gone in yet. At one point, I read a sign behind her head that stated that each student got 1 free towel and each towel thereafter was $ 2 to rent. When I asked her where I picked up my towel, she yelled at me that it was $ 3 dollars. When I pointed out the sign behind her, she yelled back «Electricity costs went up, its $ 2». We considered leaving just based off the way we were being treated, but decided to stick it out, since a few regulars to the studio told us that she treated everyone like that. I don’t know if that makes it better or worse, but I guess at least it wasn’t personal?
Class overall: 3 stars. Like I stated, I have never done a Bikram class before, so this could be the way that all Bikram classes are, and I wouldn’t know. Upon entering the room, there was a pretty strong odor. I understand that this is a room where a lot of sweating happens, so it didn’t really bother me. I don’t know if all Bikram classes have carpet instead of wood/​tile floors, but it doesn’t seem like that is the most hygienic option and kind of creeped me out. The instructor wasn’t bad. He made a few comments that made us feel a little unwelcome at some points, but by the end I was so exhausted that I didn’t really mind. He mentioned that all the first timers did a really good job for staying and even had everyone clap for us, as we completed our first class, which was nice. The class was definitely a butt kicker. It is not a warm inviting atmosphere like a lot of studios, but it is definitely good if you’re looking for a workout.
Overall, given that I don’t know much about Bikram the class was good, the customer service was scary awful. I will not return to this location, based off the way I was treated alone.

I am giving this studio 1 star simply because the customer service really ruined my whole experience. The class itself was not bad but the environment ruined my night.
I have done a lot of yoga in the past but when it came to Bikram I had never practiced it in a hot studio. I was very excited to finally try It!
Upon showing up I lost all excitement whatsoever. The owner was the one to let us into the studio and work the front desk. She was so incredibly rude that we literally almost walked out on the spot! As we came in to the studio she just kept yelling at us over and over repeating her directions and I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t just speak to us. We came in as a group but we didn’t have that many people. It was like every tiny move we made was wrong. :(
She kept yelling at us for where we were standing, for going into the studio (after others had already gone in), and then for not going into the studio yet. I finally just gave up and went into the restroom to get a break from it! Just after we got settled and we’re ready to head in my sister asked for a towel and the owner said she had to pay to borrow one. My sister then pointed out HER sign that said there was one free towel per guest and the owner rudely asked where she saw that sign. My sister pointed right at it, it was one of the first things you see hanging right behind the front desk. The owner said that that was an old sign and that that wasn’t the case anymore. She said that electricity went up and that she had to pay if she wanted a towel.
On top of all of this the instructor made me feel uncomfortable and like I shouldn’t be there. He started out welcoming but as the class went on there were just little comments that built up and caused me to eventually leave the class. I have been to a lot of yoga classes and I have never had a bad experience until last night. It could be due to my inexperience with this particular style but I did try to follow all the rules posted and explained to us. I will NOT return here and would honestly never recommend this place to anyone. There was absolutely zero customer service offered and the owner just puts you in such a bad mood that you just want to leave. It was a really unfortunate experience, and I was looking forward to trying something new! I will not be using my second class that we paid for and would rather pay full price somewhere else and support a more inviting studio.

Love going to Bikram !! I’ve attended about seven classes now and feel great! I did their two week unlimited deal for $ 75 and then I found out they were doing a deal if you signed up for unlimited for three months on auto pay its only $ 109 a month. Awesome!
** I do suggest eating lots of extra proteins, I started craving it and a lot more water after my first class. I now drink about two liters of water per day. As well as a liter of coconut water per day to put things back in. :) Wear yoga shorts, take a towel and yoga mat with you. :)
Have fun! And be ready to feel so refreshed! :)

I have practiced in this studio for 4.5 years and it is wonderful: hot, clean, very motivational. Sonia the owner is extremely dedicated and never canceled a class no matter what. If an instructor could not make it, she would teach it herself. A great studio a great addition to have!

Bonita Bikram Yoga is a wonderful, wonderful place to practice. I am so grateful that I found it. And you will be grateful, too, as you begin and move through your Yoga journey. I think people make way to much of the heat — hydrate before and eat sparingly no later than 3 hours before your class. It is a challenging workout AND you will feel so awesome after the class. I so enjoy all of the very informed instructors — each of them I have come to appreciate because they bring themselves fully to the class. I have made it a point not to attach myself to any one of them but it is no use — THEY ARE ALL AWESOME EACH IN THEIR OWN WAY! It will be your lucky day when you go to here for your Yoga.

This Studio is absolutely amazing! The teachers are all really great, everyone has their own style but I am still to find one that doesn’t make the class enjoyable and helps you push yourself.
The room does not smell and the bathrooms are always clean and working! From day one everyone was really nice and inviting and if you show up early they are all willing to give you advice when you ask.
The classroom (torture room) opens 15 min before class starts which I absolutely love so that I can get in there and relax before class starts.
Sonya is fabulous, she’s encouraging and helps you stay strong while still having a nice balance of warm mama bear.
If you are looking for an intense workout that will make you feel like you are going to die but ultimately make you feel more alive than ever! This is the place to go to!

First timer doing Bikram, but have done hot yoga many times before.
The front staff was very friendly, I arrived late and they let me in no problem. I like that, made me feel at ease.
Studio is ok, might need a teeny bit of renovations here and there, but it’s clean and does the job. I felt welcomed.
The class was challenging and perfect for a Saturday sweat session.
The ONLY thing I am not used to is the pace of the instructor, and her teaching style. I don’t mind going fast but I felt a bit like a drill instructor was teaching me. I actually got scolded when I didn’t do a position correct. I couldn’t because I had a wrist fracture as a child.
The experience was interesting and I want to try a couple of instructors to find the one for me.
I enjoy hard, butt-​kicking work outs and I wanna keep going back.

My first time doing Bikram yoga was today for the $ 10 drop in class. I normally do cardio and weightlifting as my choice of exercise. This was intense! I pushed through and made to to the end of the rigorous 90 minute class. The gentleman at the front desk was inviting, professional and friendly as well as the instructor. This is real yoga nothing like the classes offered at the gym chains you may be used to. The facility is clean and inviting. Make sure to bring a towel, yoga pad, lock for the lockers, and come wearing as little as possible. The 105 degree room does not make well for cotton cutoff leggings and tank-​top. Five stars all the way!!!

I am new to Bikram and yoga in general. I was made to feel welcome and like a part of the family from the first moment I walked in. I have only attended 5 classes but I can already see a lot of progress. By progress, I mean that I no longer feel the need to run for the nearest exit, throw open the door and breathe in the cool air. I can even touch my toes again.
All of the instructors have been wonderful. I love that each of them have slightly different teaching styles which shows their own personality. I am looking forward to continuing classes here and progressing even further than I thought possible. Thanks for making me feel like a part of the family.

Love this place now… I used to dread coming here if the instructor was the Asian male-;(sorry… I know that’s what you are paid to do BUT I pay to come and be «tortured» there so calling me out because i’m taking it easy is NOT ok… it’s emabrassing…
I’m glad Sonya got rid of him -:)

Love this studio! Great instructors who motivate you by giving corrections, super clean studio+locker rooms, no funky smells. .. Staff is always helpful. Highly recommend this studio.

This place is nice, I never took a class like this before and went in for a consultation with sonya. She was nice and helpful with the rates and benefits. If your looking to burn fat and slim up without the crucial workouts like cross fit and kick boxing, this is a great way without putting so much stress on your body.

It took me a whole year so I would not walk out in the middle of class! Now that I have been consistent… at least 2 – 3 times a week, I have lost all my baby weight and I fit into all my clothes. :) I have also changed my eating habits of course and stay hydrated. All the teachers are great and I highly recommend Bikram to everyone! Your skin will look better, your back will be strong, and you will feel better overall. I have been active all my life and use to run a lot, but I don’t want to pound on my knees anymore! I’ve heard every excuse: I can’t handle the heat, I have vertigo, blah blah blah. It is hard and it costs money, but I guess we all have to look at our priorities every now and then.

Great Yoga, great place to do it. Sonya, the instructor was like a mother
bulldog– tough but loving.
She gave us 3 seconds to get into savasana, loud counting «3! 2! 1! Ok, Maria, what are you doing and why are you not in savasana! You can play with your hair later!»
The place is clean and did not smell bad. Their heat was intense but not extreme. I do not know how that instructor checked every posture on every student and corrected even the tiniest detail. «Do it the right way» is taken seriously.
This is among the best Bikram studios I have ever been to. Challenging but supportive and great energy from the regulars.
I only wish there were a 6:30am class every day, I would bet it would be filled.

This Bikram yoga is my favorite studio in San Diego. This business
is well run and I’m so impressed after having trained at other studios
all over the country and in San Diego.
I’ve been training for at least 3 years and go a min. of 5 times a week. Thanks to Bikram yoga I have lost 30 pounds. Burning up to 1000
calories per class is so amazing.
I rate this studio the best so far because the owner believes in quality rather than quantity and has not gone to extremes to routinely lure in new customers through Groupon and Livingsocial month after month. An overcrowded room can be harmful to mind/​body/​soul if people are stepping on each other.
Upon entering the studio, the owner gives every new comer information about what to expect at the studio. This info is also posted inside of the locker rooms. The new comers should be relieved to see it. During class we are unable to talk so a short tutorial before class
benefits everyone.
What really surprised me was that the owner asks new comers to sign
their initials after they read the rules of etiquette. Why is this important you ask? Well… if you become a regular and treat this as your medicinal workout/​meditation routine, it is very important to meditate at least 5 min. before class begins, during savasana, and after class in a quiet room.
In this studio you won’t hear people talking or laughing while you are trying to meditate. I’m not sure that people realize that this is a true gift that the owner provides to her patrons.
The bathroom is very nice. The shower room is clean and there are at least 8 showers (if not more) to choose from. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait in line while freezing my rear off.
I totally agree w/​the other reviews that there is no «Bikram dogma or instructors that preach and have self-​absorbed discussions during class». I’ve heard it all before
and it is very annoying (especially during savasana). You would think that the instructors would know that savasana is suppose to be a silent moment of meditation between poses.
Cons: I wish I could go every day but it is too far from my home. Also I prefer a rubber mat floor to smelly carpet, although my husband prefers the carpet since it is hotter & better for his spine!

Close to home and has a nice large yoga room. it’s not too smelly as they seem to keep it nice and clean.
instructors are great at helping you out, just wished that they would explain the poses and the good things that it does to your body. The Bikram’s on E St. did that all the time whether the class was full of beginners or repeat offenders.
The only con is the price. it’s has gone up so much over the years, but in the end if you want to do it, you have to pay.
I’ll keep going back as long as I live in the area, but I’m sure I’ll move onto another studio near my next place of residence.

I recently returned to Bikram Yoga after a years-​long hiatus. Even after only a handful of classes at this South Bay studio, I am pretty confident in saying that this is a well-​run studio with excellent instructors.
As a previous poster mentioned, the teachers don’t have quite that level of showmanship dogma that some studios are full of. Yes, the dialogue is more or less the standard, Bikram verbatim, but the teachers usually deliver it with their own flair. The owner is tough yet understanding; you won’t get yelled at and stopped from leaving the room if you have to vomit or calm down from a panic attack, as happens in other places ;-) The teachers are happy to patiently talk after or before class about your concerns.
On a more personal note, this practice has had a perceptible transformation of my outlook on life – I’m more contented, fulfilled, and able to simply be. If you’re looking for a more effective workout routine (or especially if you’ve got just the hint of a masochist lurking in you ;-), check this yoga out. It helps with not only your strength, flexibility, and all the standard yoga perks, but there’s something about this particular species of yoga that can improve quality of life in other areas.

Best Bikram in San Diego. One of the hardest classes I have ever taken.
Pros: Fantastic instructor. Able to give corrections without singling out people. Very positive. Very focused on the yoga. Unlike other studios, this place has no «Bikram dogma», preaching or self-​absorbed discussions in class. Also, the studio embraces people for who. Very supportive yet very challenging class. CLEAN, SMELLS GOOD, NICE SHOWERS!!!
Cons: In Bonita… far from where I live. Otherwise I would go everyday.