The Yoga Lounge

I went from July until October 2013 when I slipped a disc in my lower back. I paid £160 up front for the hot 20 pass, which gives 20 hot classes at a slightly reduced rate. You get 6 months to use the classes up or else they go void.
I had paid for the 20 classes on a Friday and my back went on the Monday. I rang on the Tuesday to ask if I could put a hold on my 20 classes as I was unsure when I would be returning. I was told that this was something that the yoga lounge couldn’t do as if they did this with all customers they would go bankrupt. I was told to get a letter from a doctor to state my injuries. I explained that my doctor charges £25 for such letters and I didn’t really want to spend this. The owner told this was nonsense as she had been to her doctor with daughter and hadn’t had to pay for a letter.
I was then told I didn’t need a doctors letter but if I got proof from the a and e at the hospital that would suffice. I was unable to get this. All the hospital would provide was a time in and a time out. Not good enough.
On my doctors advice I sought a chiropractor out to help with my back rehabilitation. I asked my chiropractor to please send a letter to the owner of the yoga lounge to better explain my injuries. He happily obliged. The owner then started an email interrogation of my chiropractor stating that she dealt with premiership footballers and she knew how best to deal with such injuries.
This all left a very bad taste in my mouth. I thought of myself as a good customer, I always paid up front and was in credit. I always generally spent around £5/​6 per session on water etc. and was looking to become a full monthly member.
The experience with the owner left me feeing like a commodity not a person or a valued customer. I was shocked and saddened at all the hoops I was requested to jump through and embarrassed when my chiropractors experience was questioned.
I returned in January as I have 19 classes left to take but just didn’t feel comfortable with my back. I still have 17 classes left on my account but I wont be returning to use them. I wont be treated that way.
I have had further rehabilitation on my back and am awaiting results of an mri scan. My consultant there questioned whether the hot yoga had something to do with this. I don’t know about that.
I did enjoy the yoga and it is a nice venue with good teachers but I believe the owners need to have a look at their policies regarding customers and treating them not as commodities.
Very Poor.

I used to think yoga was placid, laid-​back stretching which didn’t require much physical strain. How wrong I was. When I first gave it a go, it was very frustrating because many of the poses require far more strength, balance and flexibility than you would assume. But as with anything else, practice makes perfect. And after a few years, I was quite proud of my flexible prowess from regular yoga practice.
Alas, as time became limited in my busy life and the lust for a strong body was less at the forefront of my priorities, I fell out of practice. And I fell hard. If I wasn’t out partying with friends, I sat idle at a desk with a computer or lethargic in front of the television. Oh, and I gained about 25 pounds.
Then I heard about a 10 day challenge at The Yoga Lounge, a hot yoga studio comprising of three studios that offer yoga, Pilates and a workshop for everything from martial arts, performing arts and exhibitions. It’s a state of the art facility on Deansgate that uses radiant heat to warm your body, a gentle heat similar to that used in incubators for babies. Don’t get me wrong, it get hot. Real hot. A few minutes into the first class, I thought ‘this is waaaay out of my league’ but I kept going… bending, twisting and balancing (or wobbling, if I’m honest) as the sweat poured off my body. I was perspiring in places I didn’t even know were on my body. But this sweat was detoxing my insides, which is exactly what I needed. As class came to an end, I felt like I had accomplished something important for my health. And so I came back. As each class passed, my strength and flexibility improved ever so slightly much to my delight.
By the fifth class, people started asking what I was doing different to my skin. Others were saying I was looking slimmed down. I have to admit, I suspected there was difference in my skin and body shape, only to poo-​poo the idea as wishful thinking. But clearly, others were seeing what I was seeing.
7 days into the challenge, I found I was able to participate in virtually the entire class, doing some of the poses that I couldn’t even attempt in the first few sessions. I was sleeping like a baby at night, and actually started to give a toss about what I was eating and making sure I drank enough water.
And so that brings us to today, the 10^th day of my challenge. I’ve lost 5 lbs and 3% body fat. My clothes feel much looser, and I’m starting to fit back in to my ‘skinny clothes’. There seems to be a naughty glint in hubby’s eyes when he looks at me lately, which is always a bonus. All this after only 10 days is remarkable. But the most important thing is it’s gotten back on track to taking care of myself… mostly because I want to look really good in my ‘skinny clothes’.

‘I hate exercise, I don’t wanna loose weight so I am not going to any gym or Yoga Class’ — this was my common statement when anyone suggested me to start working out! But Amy W, Dionne B and Gemma B convinced me to try out The Yoga Lounge, to be fair after reading their reviews I was kind of sold on the idea too. So I decided to go for my first ever Yoga class (any sort of exercise class besides dancing) yesterday.
Before going I bought myself a Yoga gear as I thought that would motivate me to go more than anything else. I went in completely UN-​prepared without a towel, mat or even a bottle of water (yeah silly me), but thankfully this place was fully quipped with everything I guess for people like me. You need to pay a pound each for every item (yes its expensive but a good learning lesson). Till this point I was all confident and excited but the minute I walked in the hot room I knew it was not going to be easy. The room was very quiet with Indian classical music playing in the background (reminded me of my mum’s music room, she is a classical musician) and the people inside looked like they were in for some serious business and not fooling around. I sat down quietly and within minutes started sweating like a pig, and drinking loads of water (don’t do that) while waiting for the instructor. She came in and welcomed everyone and started with the exercises, it seemed simple in the beginning (may be because of my classical dancing background) but then it started getting intense! It was an hour long class and I almost felt like I was dying by the end of it. I walked out 5 minutes before it ended as I felt like I was blacking out but when I walked out it felt ridiculously good and refreshing! My skin felt so clean and glowing like I just had a facial or something and I felt extremely good for the rest of the evening. I also have no body ache the next day (today) like i have had previously after doing any kind of exercise. My arms are a bit sore but besides that I am fine and I do feel great and recharged! It is like having a whole hour of ‘me’ time which we all need i guess with our busy lives!
Verdict: Definitely going back again to get a good de-​tox!

The yoga lounge is an amazing place and I recommend anyone to visit!
Despite having grade ¾ Spondylisthesis of the lumber spine, my flexibility and core strength has excelled to the point that people are surprised at my performance when I go to the gym. I also feel much more in touch with my body. My fitness and core strength has also improved massively. My skin is clearer too.
I put all this down to the regular practice I did at the yoga lounge studio. They offer a great rate for newbies, that I took advantage of.
There is always clean fresh air flowing through to ease breathing in the heat and the variation of yoga styles and Pilates seems to help strengthen the body from all different angles.
Because I have seen the benefits I will hopefully be investing in another month’s membership. :-)

I’ve never done any kind of yoga before coming to The Yoga Lounge. When you first walk in you immediately know you’re in a great space for learning how to connect mind, body and spirit. You can tell they’ve spared no cost, everything is top quality– the radiant heat panels, the studios, the changing rooms… A wonderful atmosphere and the teachers are warm and friendly, so even the newest yogi won’t feel intimidated.
I was looking for something to fit in with my life in recovery. As an ex-​addict following a 12 step programme, spirituality and meditation are fundamental to my life, as well as keeping some kind of balance which is hard in ‘normal life’. I struggle to concentrate in normal meditation, and find the self discipline. My first four weeks attending The Yoga Lounge have had a massively positive impact on my life and my mental well being.
I’ve found my place and my thing in life here. The teachers are great, all with their own style and pace, and every week I’ve felt an improvement in my yoga though their amazing guidance in classes.
Everybody needs to try this. I hope to progress and commit to yoga now, and couldn’t think of anywhere better.

The beauty of The Yoga Lounge is that they are offering something slightly different from bikram yoga — as the classes don’t follow the traditional 26 poses. I feel as though classes are lot more organic, allowing the teachers to really work with the class — I swear I’m making progress already in my first two weeks!
The teachers are really great, I love the variety, as each practitioner has their own flows and style of teaching. Everyone is super friendly and happy to give tips and advice after classes too.
Specialising in hot yoga, the classes last between 60 – 75 minutes and at the moment they have three classes per day with two a day at the weekends.
They also offer hot pilates, which is a great workout for your core. And plan to open a full pilates studio in the next month or so with Stott pilates, reformer and GYROTONIC® classes.
It’s a great set up, really well designed space and the hot room itself is a nifty piece of kit — using heat panels on the roof that allows for continual fresh air and a germ free environment to practice in (or I’ve been told it’s something along these lines).
There’s an online booking system to ensure you get onto the class you want. The evening practices book up pretty quickly, but the lunchtime hour always has a few free spaces. Each class has a waiting list and for every wait list I have been on so far, I’ve been offered a space in the class.
This is a more modern yoga alternative that fits really easily into a busy lifestyle, uniquely balanced to help improve both your fitness and inner calm.