Sweatbox Yoga – Shoreline

I have only taken 6 classes and already this practice is changing my life! I highly recommend it! I feel so good when I’m doing this yoga. The Sweatbox is a really great studio with high quality teachers. It’s very clean and the people are friendly. Do it!

I love this studio! 6:45 PM classes are perfect for my weekday schedule, and the hot room is very spacious. The fullest class I’ve been to was about 15 people, but that was very unusual since it was right before the studio was closed for a few days for deep cleaning. I’d say on average there are about 10 – 12 people per class, which means you have plenty of space.
There is plenty of parking and all of the instructors are awesome, and will guide you through poses by your name if you need it!

Why are there only 5 stars? The studio is very roomy, I’ve never had trouble parking and every instructor I have had has been wonderful. Bikram is a sweaty mental/​emotional/​physical challenge but every time I finish a class I lay there for a few minutes being grateful for this gift I was able to give myself. It feels so good to work so hard and know I gave it my all for those 90 minutes. I’ve been to many studios and tried many types of yoga, but I am happy to have finally found a Bikram home.
Specifics about the studio: plenty of bathrooms (including 2 in the yoga room), great lighting in the studio, and very even heat. Yes, there is carpet but they must clean it very well as the smell is noticeable but not overwhelming. I imagine that at the end of the day it smells stronger than at the beginning but it doesn’t bother me. The instructors are approachable and kind. They give specific corrections and encouragement.
After a few months here I feel like I have my life back. I sleep better, I lost weight, my skin cleared up and my anxiety levels have gone way down. Thanks, Sweatbox!

I LOVE the sweat box shoreline! I’ve been practicing consistently since February and have noticed a huge difference in my strength, flexibility, and balance. The instructors are knowledgable and kind. Anytime I’m feeling discouraged about my practice (hey, it happens!) they are always available with a word of encouragement or some helpful advice. The entire community is welcoming and friendly. Do yourself a favor and try bikram– at least twice!

I’m so happy I found this place. It is one of the best thing I have ever done for myself and the teachers are amazing.

An amazing place to go. The instructors are very kind, patient, encouraging, and helpful. If you are a beginner (such as myself) and you can’t hold a pose or you get too hot, you can simply lie on your back and still sweat! I love going on when I can and the feeling after the session is rewarding!

I’m not a fan of carpet in a hot yoga studio and one of the hotter places I’ve been to. Instructors are great though. It’s hard to get used to the smell of the carpet. I’ve been to many studios, some carpeted and they all smell the same — not pleasant.

I know it’s hot yoga but it’s too darn hot when you are trying to do Ardra-​Chandrasana and get first degree burns on your fingertips from the heater blowing down on you. Honestly I had to pull back from the pose, it felt like I came too close to the stove!
I have been doing hot yoga without problem somewhere else for about a year now but now I am geographically challanged due to a move and thought I would try this place. I spent most of the class on the floor with my head pounding, breathing rather rapidly and could not get up though I tried twice. No one asked me if I was okay but it doesn’t seem they do anywhere anymore so not sure if they can be dinged for that.
The facility itself seemed clean. As far as the smell that others have reported I did not notice it until we were well in the class and that very well could have been me ;-)
A little crowded in changing room but hey your not supposed to hang out in there.
The teacher seemed very approachable when I told her my limitations prior to class which is nice since at other places I have had less than welcoming response.

The Sweatbox Shoreline was my intro to Hot yoga, and I loved it. Great schedule, straight up Bikram, large room with even heat and nice if not huge dressing rooms, good rates and a friendly staff. Parking was never a problem, and it may be the least crowded Hot yoga in the N-​end.
Very open and accessible to someone new to Bikram. I always felt at home.
Two issues —
Yeah, the carpet smells a little. It’s not dirty, and I got used to it pretty quick.
It’s a big square room with hard surfaces — the echo can make it hard to hear the instructor.
On the plus side, it is right next door to the Love Pantry…

Those of you who have given the Sweatbox such great reviews have obviously never been anywhere that is any good, or you have extremely low expectations! Either way, you should check out some other places before you buy a membership here. A carpeted hot yoga studio is absolutely unacceptable, no matter what the owner’s ridiculous responses are… Even if you could magically clean that carpet EVERY SINGLE DAY, it wouldn’t be sanitary. And when someone is having to lay down because of how unbelievably hot you have it in there, then they are certain to get extremely nauseous… even if they ARE NOT beginners. I couldn’t believe how bad the carpet smelled, I am trying to relax and enjoy the spine strengthening series and all I can think about is the smell of throw up, dirty feet, and expired sweat. No wonder it’s called the Sweatbox! Because it smells like someone who has been sweating after not showering for a month, eating an onion and rubbing themselves with a baby diaper.
Yeah sure, the teacher was okay and the staff was friendly… but none of that even matters if you cannot finish your yoga, the intended purpose of why you went there.
I really do apologize to the owner (s) for this very rude review, but I am very disappointed that I now have 9 of my 10 bought classes that I WILL NOT be using… just spend a little money to get new floors and I’m certain you guys would be great! Until then… you will not see me or ANYONE I care even a little about!

It definitely kicks butt. I remember the first time coming here and vowing to never return. However, life is funny, and brought me back full circle.(Some years later). I thought i’d give it one more go.
I did surprisingly well, didn’t need to lay down; and wasn’t feeling nauseous or dizzy. I did all the poses… but near the end. I wanted to punch the instructor in the face, because I was starting to really feel the heat.
The smell isn’t too bad considering how many people come and literally sweat their butts off.
Don’t eat about 3 hours before, and make sure to drink alot of water. Not enough to make your belly slushy– I can imagine that being bad too.
Overall, fun 2^nd experience…
–1 star for the weird parking/​getting on to the freeway.

Wow. I can see how people can get crazy into yoga, I really can. Not like Eat Pray Love kind of crazy, but dedicated to it. I think Bikram, out of all the different types of yoga, is the most rewarding.
I just recently started back into it and I have to say, it does take an adjustment to get used to it. Here are some tips:
–Do not eat ANYTHING 3 hours before class. Feel like you’re going to puke? Shouldn’t have eaten.
–Drink COPIOUS amounts of water throughout the way. Feel lightheaded and faint? Should have drank more water.
–Wear NOTHING. Okay okay, not nekkid (wouldn’t that be fun…) but dress appropriately for the heat. Some woman decided she’d wear a turtleneck and track pants. Needless to say, she left. I’m surprised she didn’t die. Wear running shorts and a sports bra. And no, no one is looking at you.
–Concentrate. The more you put into your breathing and your mindset, the better you feel when you’re all finished.
Bikram yoga improved my mental health, my flexibility (my partner thanks you too ;) and oh, it cleared up my skin. Sold.
–1 star for the price and the location.

Thank you, Unilocalers, for recommending this place! In my search for a Bikram yoga studio, this place seemed like the best fit. After work yesterday I drove up to Shoreline and got some great instruction before class from Penny. She was friendly, welcoming, and remembered all of us newcomers names.
There is no pretense and no attitude in this studio. Instead, there are a lot of stinky (duh) hardworking yogis who give it their all for an hour and a half in temperatures that would make you schvitz just thinking about it.
I got a little dizzy, being that this was my first time doing Bikram, but I’ll be back for another ass kicking soon, because it really does feel great.
And for $ 10 for an introductory ten sessions, I am a happy little twisted pretzel.

I’ve been doing yoga here for a couple months now and I’m definitely sold. I’ve been to both Capitol Hill and Shoreline and definitely like Shoreline better. It seems a little bigger and there aren’t those big columns in the middle of the room. It also smells … better? less bad?
The classes tend to not be over-​crowded unlike some other places I’ve been to. Even in a crowded-​ish class, we aren’t totally on top of one another. Also, the nice high ceilings help with any of the claustrophobic panciky feelings that can sometimes accompany Bikram Hatha Yoga.
My only issue I’ve had is that one particular instructor is not great at keeping proper tabs on the temperature and also tends to start class late because this person is continuing to let people into the studio after class should have started. This same instructor also spends too much time talking and doesn’t really properly time the poses and will leave us is savasana or another pose too long or not long enough. Luckily, this instructor doesn’t teach at shoreline too often so it’s not too much of an issue.

I have been to a few different bikram studios and this has been my fav thus far. The room is large (though it can get crowded), there are plenty of bathrooms (4 to be exact), cubbies for your belongings, and SHOWERS!
I also like that the instructors try hard to learn your name. It makes me feel like an actual person and not just one of the hundreds of students.
I would suggest coming early to score a parking spot. Otherwise, you have to find street parking around the block/​behind the studio.

If anyone has noticed my tagline. «my butt it mad I turned into a foodie,» you know why I had to start working on working all of these restaurant reviews off.
Hello, sweatbox!
The first day, I didn’t drink enough water and I wentr into the bathroom and threw up. Not pretty at all! I also had to talk myself down because I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
It became much easier after that. I am now completely addicted. I make sure to drink a TON of water before each class and go on an empty stomach. I can now stretch and bend in ways that I never thought possible. Take THAT, my jerk of an ex!!!
I highly recommend Sweatbox in Shoreline. The instructors are fantastic!

They must be doing something right when you see the regulars in the front of class with their lean bodies and making it look like sitting in a 105 degree room for 90 minutes without panting for breath is a piece of cake.
This is a great yoga studio! I feel like the instructors understand exactly what students both old and new need. For instance, one main important thing about finding your center in this class is to have very few to no distractions. Some students think that they could not handle the heat or some students may try to show up to class late, but here at the Sweatbox, no one is allowed in or out of the room during the 90-​minute class. I mean, they even locked the front doors! So once you’re committed to sitting through a class, there’s no turning back and you’re going to be trapped and sweating with everyone else for the whole hour-​and-​a-​half.
And that’s not to say that these instructors do not understand their students. In fact, I felt like the last couple of times I was here, the instructors took the time to learn the names of students with an unfamiliar face. If they didn’t recognize your face when you check in, they’ll make sure to say hello. And during class, they would sometimes call out to students by first name to either demonstrate or to give them modifications for certain postures.
So is it your first time taking a class here?
If it’s your first time ever attending a hot yoga class, the heat may take a little getting used to, but you shouldn’t be too intimidated by the class itself. This is because learning the poses and breathing exercises may be new to you in the first class, but afterward, there will really be no more surprises. This is because each class, no matter who the instructor is or what time, is the same 2 breathing exercises and the same 26 poses in the same order. Also, the instructors are very good about describing where you should feel the stretch and what parts of your body should be locked (it’s usually the knees and elbows). Oh, and HINT: when you get to the spinal twist stretch where you can also feel it in your glutes and back thigh, you’re almost at the end of class! So just push through it!
This is the first hot yoga studio I went to that had carpeted floors. I thought I would be grossed out from thinking about all the people that sweat on it, but the studio actually feels very clean. They have showers, changing rooms, and restrooms in the back. And they ALWAYS require you to bring a towel.
One thing I find funny about this place is that when you call their number to find out where they’re located, they say that they are located across the street from Costco. But really, it would have been a lot easier to find them if they would just admit that they are right next door to Lover’s Package…
Anyway, I have always heard a lot of great things about the Sweatbox and now I understand why. Love the name, too! I’ll have to go and check out their studio at Capitol Hill sometime.

This is the first place for me to ever experience hot yoga, so I am biased.
Thanks to livingsocial.com’s amazing deal on 20 sessions for $ 20 I have had a chance to experience hot yoga (at $ 17 a session or $ 140 for unlimited month, it’s hard for a college student to afford).
So you spend 90 minutes doing 26 poses and 2 breathing exercise in a 105 F room.
They recommend coming half an hour early for new students to fill out paperwork. My friends and I were running late so we were really worried that when we came 5 minutes before class time we would be able to do it (which would suck because we came all the way from Bellevue). They were very friendly and allowed us to participate. The instruct was very nice and explained the poses well.
Make sure to bring a yoga mat and large towel (you can rent them for $ 2 if you want, but the idea to me is gross) and a large bottle of water. I would recommend having your water iced because just a fridge cold bottle of water will be warm by the end of the session.

The thing about bikram yoga is that it does not fit the mold of what one would expect when doing yoga. It is not meditative or dimly lit. Fans are blowing hot air and humidity and the instructor talks incessantly. You are to hold and push and stretch your body in a way that feels more athletic than peaceful. You walk into the room and you are assaulted by the heat. When I tell friends about the heat, the response is either, «that sounds like hell» or «that sounds awesome!» It just depends on how you feel about being super hot. And mostly naked. So there is that.
The actual class is 90 minutes long with exercises that range from the mildly hard (like putting your head to your knee) to the anxiety-​inducing camel pose (which is basically a back-​bend). You bend and fold your body in ways you didn’t know you could. After some experience with bikram I’ve come to realize that if the pose feels «easy,» you aren’t doing it right.
So thats bikram. What do I like about the Sweatbox? Well, I like Frankie. I like the other instructors as well, but Frankie is supportive and funny and when she is teaching you want to do better. I like sweating. I like that even though the verdict is out medically about whether sweating in this way gets rid of toxins, you sweat so much that it at least feeeels like you must be sweating something out. I also like that the Sweatbox is a cell-​phone and television free space.
Things I don’t like: the dude that blows his snot into his hand and wipes it on his speedo. The occasional heat/​stress induced anxiety attack. The camel pose. The occasional oblivious teens that do not realize that the time before class is «quiet time.»
If you drink a lot of coffee and/​or are prone to anxiety attacks, it is possible that you will have one during class. I have and its horrible. But there is something about bikram, something in the way that you stretch and bend and pull and challenge your body that keeps you wanting more.

***Update***
It’s been 4 years and this is still my favorite Bikram Yoga studio. Parking can be a challenge sometimes, but you can usually find spot if you arrive early enough. I’ve practiced here with almost all their instructors and have had a good experience. It is a good place for a beginner or an expert.
This is by far the best Bikram Yoga studio. I practiced Bikram Yoga all throughout my pregnancy. When I returned to the studio, 6 weeks post-​partum, I was greeted warmly by Nina and Frankie. At first I was surprised they remembered me! It was heartwarming. Now, I recognize the friendly interaction they have with a lot of the other regulars and how they embrace all the new students. This is a great place to start or continue your Bikram Yoga practice.
Each time I came back those first few weeks, I felt they expressed care and encouragement. I really appreciated and needed it as I faced the mental and physical challenge of getting back into it. I love how each time I finish a session, I feel so relaxed yet energized. Yeah!
The studio is located across from the big Costco on Aurora Ave North. The yoga area is large with great heat (forced air) ventilation. The floor is carpeted (note to those who prefer wood floors) with a large area to spread out and not feel like you will be tripping on your neighbor. It is always very clean in there. There are changing rooms with showers and lots of restrooms. There is usually ample parking, but when it does get crowded, you need to park on the street. It’s also nice that the main reception area is large so it doesn’t feel like a big bottleneck before and after class. You can buy water and/​or rent a towel or mat if you forget to bring your own.