Sohot Bikram Yoga – Fitzrovia | Soho

So I am currently a little Bikram obsessed, or so I am told. I am of course reviewing the studio which is one of only two that I have tried so I don’t have a great reference to compare it to, but I really love this place and am spending increasing amounts of time here which must count for something. It is a very small space but I think that they have made really good use of it. The studio itself is a good size and they have helpful lines drawn on the floor to show where to put your mats (if only everyone followed them!). I really love the ramen like floor, it feels more hygienic than alternatives and must contribute to the fact that for a room with a huge amount of, well sweat, it doesn’t really smell. There are nice signs everywhere explaining which mats are new and which ones are used. And that fact that they provide mats is great. I am sure (really hope) that they sanitise them between uses as they also seem pretty odourless. They provide shower gel in the showers and although it gets packed at times the changing room has hairdryers, mirrors, benches, lockers which return your money, and fans. The standard of teaching is excellent, all of the teachers I have had here have been great, giving clear instruction and pushing just enough that you don’t slack off but encouraging whatever you are able to manage.
I am not sure how they manage to find such lovely people to work here but I do know that seeing a friendly smiling face when arriving before 7am makes all the difference. Without fail every staff member that I have met have been lovely and helpful.
The small details of what they provide such as filtered water, plastic bags for wet gear, antibacterial wipes, change for locker or a reusable coin when people forget make a big difference. And they also sell water and coconut water etc at very reasonable prices, and workout clothes and towels and books. You can also rent towels for use, I guess that this is the only thing that I would change as it would be great to have towels included in the membership and yet the reason that this doesn’t affect my scoring is that it probably just isn’t feasible for the size of the studio and number of people that go there. And they make such efforts to reduce energy consumption that is probably another reason that they choose not to.
Bikram yoga is not the cheapest of endeavours but from what I can tell this studio is not significantly more or less costly than others in London. The location (s — any membership is transferable across this and the victoria site) works great for me and so while the postures won’t change across studios there are lots of reasons why this studio contributes to my so called obsession.

I went back and forth between giving this place 1 star or giving it 2 stars. I settled on two but only because my reasons for disliking this place might actually appeal to others. You see, I’m not easily intimidated, which is a good thing, because I don’t like feeling intimidated. That’s probably true of most people. To me, Yoga needn’t be an intimidating practice. Indeed, Yoga actually is (and I’m borrowing from Wikipedia here) «a generic term for the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India with a view to attain a state of permanent peace.» I recognize that there are all different types of Yoga. I’ve tried and experienced a number of them many times, including Bikram.
What I hadn’t experienced in my Bikram practice prior to attending a class at Sohot was being called out and witnessing others being called out for listening to their bodies. Bikram Yoga is no joke, no matter where you take the class. It’s 90 minutes of challenging physical and mental exercise in room heated to at least 105°F. It’s tough enough without having the added pressure of a teacher calling out attendees for needing a drink of water or lowering into child’s pose for a rest. Personally, I think that’s how people get injured. I also think it is the opposite of what the Yoga ethos is all about.
I get a disciplined practice– I really do. But everything about the vibe of this place just left me feeling like the whole things was… forced, for lack of a better way of putting it. Reception wasn’t particularly helpful or welcoming. The place reeked like sweat (and I’ve been to plenty of heated studios that are able to managed that issue), and felt correspondingly dank and depressing.
An earlier reviewer of Sohot said that it is «sweaty, strict, and scripted, [requiring] a fair bit of masochism to enjoy.» Perhaps that is apt. I consider myself an athlete with the ability and «masochism» to master most physical things that I put my mind to. Bikram is certainly no exception. But, as a rule, I’m not into feeling controlled or unnecessarily «strict» leadership. To each their own, I guess.

supposedly lady gaga went to one of their studios? not sure if this was the one…
anyway, they have a 10 day deal for… i think 25pounds? there are certain classes you can’t attend, so check the schedule if you don’t have a lot of availability. you get a nice little card you can just swipe when you get there!
you don’t need a yoga mat (they provide those). i liked the floor they used which was i think made out of recycled material… reminded me of dried instant ramen lol. anyway, some teachers are better than others (will actually do the movements with you etc). man, the place GETS PACKED! and i also noticed they have a «single yogis meet other single yogis» on friday nights class or something? just saaaying… ;)
bikram yoga in general is an amazing workout! their locker rooms have lockers where you can put your stuff for 1pound which you get back when you’re done. they also have showers. the place altogether isn’t huge, but it works!
if you’ve never done bikram and you want an amazing workout that makes you feel incredible after (cuz of all the stretching and detoxing) DO BIKRAM.
bring a towel and lots of water :)!!!

Having been to Bikram studios elsewhere outside the UK, I do believe the studios at Soho and Victoria leave much to be desired. The showers rooms are ridiculous, with the prices they charge for membership, buying shower curtains would have been a wise investment. When it is a busy class, the shower area is cramped and open showers are not GREAT! I spoke with the lady at the reception in Victoria about this, she says that they are «open» and everythign is «communal». Not with that price, no you are not!!! The practice itself is alright, I’ve had better instructors, who’ve actually helped me focus on the posture and breathing. I took the introductory offer, and was planning on extending my membership, but definitely won’t after having been inside the studio and shower rooms myself.

Great place to practice your Bikram Yoga. The facilities are clean and well organized the whole operation was very professional. The instructors are serious about their practice while still being very genial. You do have to pay for towels and membership isn’t cheap!

Oh how I wish I was in my yoga studio in HK. Where labour is cheap, so you get «free» towels, «free» water, «free» happy receptionists who knows about yoga, the wooden floor disinfected with dettol between classes, the studios smells clean (or free of sweat at least) and many types of hot and non hot yoga classes. Oh and yoga teachers who asks you what you want to do at the beginning of the class and tailoring it to your needs.
I knew I’d hate bikram, I am a flowy kinda girl and the whole «26 positions, no variations» thing just sounds boring, dogmatic and unproductive. But you know what, after a month of no hot yoga; I am going to do it, vinyasa or not. Surely this would be better than doing it at home? Urm… no. As predicted I was bored out of my brains by position 5 and after 90 minutes of sweating, I arrived home and thinking I need to do more yoga practice to meditate properly and to stretch out all the stuff that I didn’t get to stretch out (or put in the wrong place thanks to the no variation rule).
Anyhow, if you do like bikram, this is why the studio still only deserves 2 stars:
DIRTY FLOOR– if you have a no shoes policy, make sure your floor is clean. I don’t want any moistness. Hot and moist environment is heaven for bacterial, viral, fungal growth. I don’t have verrucas and I’d like to keep it that way, thanks.
SMELLY ROOM– the room smelt strongly of sweat and ammonia. Jesus be jesus, clean it, clean it, clean it!
Then you look down and see the reason why: fixed, variegated plastic astro turf like tiles. OMG how are you EVER, EVER, EVER going to clean and disinfect that properly? The answer is no, hence the strong smell of sweat and ammonia in the studio. Puketronic. If the yoga is not going to make you puke; I swear that damn floor is.
The receptionists were not particularly friendly and you know what? anyone can call out 26 names and tell other people to look at the students in the front row. Anyone. (though the girl did thankfully seem to know what she was going)
So, Bikram. Yes, the body sweated and is detoxed, but did it nourish the mind and soul? I think not. What a waste of a practice and money.

I’ve only tried a couple of Bikram classes in the past. When I was thinner and fitter. But a friend and I tottered off to a Sunday morning class this weekend and I was pleasantly surprised. Not at my lack of fitness, but I did like this studio a lot. Why?
1. the floor. The last studio I went to had carpet. Imagine — fifty sweaty bodies a 40 degree room, five times a day. Sohot has some kind of technical-​looking extruded plastic stuff. I don’t know what it is but I prefer it.
2. The equipment — there are mats to borrow, which are decent quality. Towels can be hired, and water bought too.
3. The changing rooms — spacious and light and clean.
4. The teacher — pleasant, helpful, with individual attention even in a big group (although admittedly the class was only half full, early on a Sunday)
Yes, there’s an «odour» when you go into the studio itself but you get used to it. Overall it’s a lovely calm practice space. They offer 10 days for £25 as a taster, along with other seasonal offers.
Just make sure you heed the long list of rules, some of which may be slightly tongue in cheek — apart from «No whingeing or complaining»…

Since Chris’s review, the introductory offer’s price has risen to £25 for 10 days which, although good value (compared to £15 for a drop-​in or £12 for a 10-​pack), doesn’t compete with BikramYoga North/West’s 30 for 30. And no, I don’t work for them.
Having started my ten-​day intro course at sohotbikramyoga’s Victoria studio, I was just a little less impressed with the ‘Soho’ branch (and yes, it IS in Fitzrovia). The lobby’s a little smaller, the yoga studio perhaps a little less spacious, and the general experience just a little less ‘wow’. But that said, it’s still a spotlessly clean, friendly and welcoming environment.
To second Chris again — yes, it’s a bit out of the way. Not quite ‘around the corner’ from Great Portland St, Warren St or Oxford Circus. But it’s hardly really far.
I’d recommend Bikram Yoga to anyone, and both the Victoria and ‘Soho’ studios of this company. But shop around before signing up — there are now around 9 studios run by three companies. All offer the same formulaic classes based on 26 postures performed in 109-​degree heat for a total of 90 minutes.
Give yourself three sessions before jacking it in out of exhaustion and pain, and you’ll start to love it. If you can make it through 10 classes, you’ll be hooked.

Bikram to me is a religion and I practice regularly. I live near Bikram Yoga City and haven’t tried another studio in town, but Bikram Sohotyoga was open on Boxing Day so I decided to try it out. Nothing more and nothing less than Bikram Yoga city. It is a small studio so I imagine that you need to book ahead on peak hours. Also it is £15 for a drop in (and Bikram City is £14) so I’ll save my pound. A good place to go practice if it is convenient to you… also has a location near Victoria/​St. James.

I still can’t touch my toes, but I’m getting closer.
My sister recommended that I try this Bikram stuff, so I gave it a shot. Being gainfully unemployed, I was able to make the most of the 10-​day all-​you-​can-​yoga entry deal, going 8 times in that span.
The yoga itself is pleasantly torturous. Sweaty, strict, and scripted, it requires a fair bit of masochism to enjoy it. By the end of a 90-​minute class, my heart is pounding and I am slippery all over, but I feel good.
There is plenty of controversy around Bikram in the yoga world, much of which is likely deserved, but that doesn’t really matter to me. All I care about is limbering up, and I have already seen massive results in a short time.
Now that my entry deal is over, I plan to go occasionally, but will be mixing it in with some other types of yoga as well. If this time next year I can reach my feet, then it will all have been worthwhile.

I’ve been here a couple of times (in addition to doing Bikram a few times at another London location) and to be honest I kinda hate it. But I love the reinvigorated way I feel afterward.
Bikram Yoga Soho is a clean and pleasant place. I had a different instructor each of my two visits (one was a guy, one was a girl). They were both helpful and total pros.
Despite the Soho title, this studio is more Marylebone or Fitzrovia. I’d be glad to go back, but the location isn’t really convenient for me. Still, I can recommend it to anybody living or working around Great Portland Street.
I thought their introductory offer was very good value (£20 for as many visits as you can make within a ten day period).
And for those of you that don’t know what Bikram yoga is well it’s hot yoga as in you’re doing yoga in a very hot room. There’s a lot of sweat. A lot of sweat. It’s intense and not for everybody but worth checking out.

Bikram yoga is a very popular form of yoga brought to the UK by Michele Pernetta. She has three studios in London and all her instructors have trained under the founder of the style Bikram Choudhury.
The classes take place in a room that is heated to 95 – 100 degrees. In class you have to perform twenty-​six postures and two pranayama. The 90min class produces intense sweating and it is hard work at first. You absolutely must take water with you and don’t be afraid to rest during the session.
If you want to try yoga I recommend Bikram. It is tough at first but afterwards you feel so euphoric.

Yoga is meant to be peaceful. Yoga in sweltering temperatures adds a new dimension to the practice. Every sweat pore in your body will be utilised when you participate in a session at Bikram Yoga. Your ear drums will be sweating. The classes aren’t too expensive here and you can get good deals if you buy one of their packages. If you just want to test out whether or not this place is for you, you can buy a £15 ten day unlimited trial pass. If you’re into yoga and you want to try something new then you’ll appreciate this place. You are guaranteed to get a full mind, body and soul workout here.