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Bikram Yoga Beaches
Category: Active Life Fitness & Instruction Yoga Yoga [Edit]
1911 Queen St EToronto, ON M4L 1H3
Neighbourhood: The Beach
(416) 686-2584
- Hours:
Mon, Wed, Fri 9 am - 7:30 pm
Tue, Thu 6 am - 7:30 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
12 reviews for Bikram Yoga Beaches
12 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
12/21/2010
Could this BE the studio that converts me to Bikram? After visiting Bikram on Bloor http://www.yelp.ca/biz... and Bikram Yoga Centre http://www.yelp.ca/biz... I was surprised at how different this studio was.
** SUPER HELPFUL NOTE ** Bikram Yoga Bloor (by work) and Bikram Yoga Beaches (by home) are owned by the same people AND share class cards. So, if you purchase an unlimited pass or a class card it is interchangeable at each of the two locations. This is definitely a HUGE pro for anyone like me, that works by one location and lives by another.
The front desk staff was seriously the friendliest ever. She was giving me helpful hints, making easy chat ( I arrived super early) and just being great. Set the tone.
Tonights class was the best Bikram class I have ever taken. Not as hot or as busy as any of the other studios, and the instructor was less know it all and ... dare I say... mildly friendly? There was zero attitude, and she made extremely useful suggestions.
She also made Adjustments. Several times. Fantastic. (!!!!!)
The studio is beautiful with skylights, and this great (plastic??) floor that is comfy and looks like it is easy to clean, and easy on the joints. The patrons were all relaxed and easy going, not rushing or grunting or being annoying. Various ages, all my age group or considerably older. (this different attitude/age group is becoming apparent in the east end studios. Loving it)
To be fair to my other reviews..
Bonus Points
- Good Location for Streetcar (If you live near Queen)
- Friendly Check in and no issue with passport
- REALLY good Teacher who really was paying attention and making useful suggestions
- those lines to keep us in line
- large studio space
- Adjustments(!!)
- Unbelievably fantastic that you can use class card across two locations.
Minus Points
- No FREE Filtered Water
- Two Showers only
- No lockers
- No Vinyasa (!!!)
- No Music (i like music!)
For BIKRAM. I give this studio and my experience 5 stars.Listed in: Best of the Best, Yoga Studios
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Review from joice w.
5/9/2012
Great atmosphere, great teachers, great location. Not so nazi-like as the headquarters in LA, lol. Seriously, they're mean there.
Weird floors.. not sure if they're supposed to be like that or the tiles have buckled due to moisture and heat... feels like the latter. No possible way to be quiet while walking.
Only two communal showers and one sink:( IMO, it might have been better to extend the change room and sacrifice some of that open space in the lobby.
But I'm just being picky because my usual studio in Santa Monica was really nice...all in all a great experience! -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2011
I'm giving this a 3.5 deducted mainly because it's quite hard to get here, and the really hot room pipe. (?? ...you'll see)
The awesome reviews are warranted. This studio is better than it's Bloor street counterpart. The lighting is bright, and light beige walls and floor. There is a large seating area, and it's quite comfortable. The change room is small, but narrow and long. Somehow I didn't feel it was small. There is a large Ikea Cubbyhole for you to put your stuffs in and change in front of.
The showers is three big communal showers (a little icky) and they provide a hair dryer.
What I don't get is that both locations wants to charge you $1.50 for filtered water. Is it that hard to get a Brita?!
The studio is big (Bloor is bigger), but still fits at least 35 people comfortable in it. What's different between here and Bloor is that:
a) the floors is lined with this plastic bubble type thing and that makes you sound like you're wearing clogs when you walk around.
b) the room is heated by these two large pipes that are in the front and back of the room. At first I didn't know why the experienced weren't in the front row. I learnt the hard way, because when the heat is on, it gets scorching hot right there.
c) for some reason the room's heating turns off after a while. It's a nice thing to have, but I don't think it's intentional. It was good especially after all the standing poses. However, at one point the room actually got cold. It would be nice to turn the heat off near the end of the class, but I don't know if that's 'allowed' in Bikram
d) I do like the air humidifiers and purifiers around the room. I think that all Hot Yoga should have air purifiers in the room
e) the racks to spray your mat is inside the hot room. It's distracting when you're in savasana, and when you go back to get your mat, you have to disturb others.
There's good and bad, but mostly good. The instructor was good, I'eve head her before, except today I don't think she was paying much attention and missing the 2nd sets on many occasions.
For newbies ot Bikram, please don't complain that it's not relaxing and tough, because bikram is tough!
The location is tough to get to if you don't live in there area. One street east of the place there is free parking across from Kew Beach School (after 6pm closer to queen street, before 12am a little ways down)
However, after all that, if I lived closer, I'd come back and pick it over the the Bloor location.
p.s. it's right beside DUFFLET pastries. mmmm don't need to feel so guilty.Listed in: Om.........Namaste
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
9/17/2010 11 photos
How should I rate Bikram Yoga Beaches??
If I compare that to other Bikram Yoga locations I have been too, this is the best of them all!!
The studio itself is a lot nicer.. the waiting area is large and roomy. The practice room is nice and bright and thanks god! no carpet flooring! Can I use the word spa like to describe the waiting area??
I have Debbie as instructor.. she is the nicest Bikram instructor I ever have. She explained the poses patiently to beginners, greet all newcomers and going around helping us with the poses. There are no yelling.. no stopwatches.. I been to one that the instructor ask why I am lying down.. am I being lazy :( (NO! I am dying! Let me RIP!)
The only complain I have is the room though nice with the skylight it is a little too bright for the final pose.. Savasana which is my favourite pose of them all!!
Bikram Yoga Beaches will be the studio to go to if you do want to try out Bikram Yoga! -
Review from Steph L.
9/15/2010
My first experience with hot yoga...I expected it to be...hot.
And hot it was.
Hot.
Damn hot.
Hot like an oven. I was tempted to stand on the spot and rotate like a chicken in a rotisserie oven.
There are a lot of poses.
Poses repeated.
And when you think that you might be done...
Nope! More poses.
It's an intense 90 minute class.
I'm pretty sure I've never sweat that much in my life.
I didn't even know my kneecaps could sweat!
I can see the benefits of hot yoga.
The staff was very friendly and even call you the next day to make sure you are okay and offer you special intro pricing.
I'll probably go again, but not an activity I would do regularly.
But your skin looks great after! -
Review from Roma M.
4/6/2010 ROTD 6/8/2010
For anyone looking to introduce themselves to Bootcamp Bikram, the most intensive of all the yoga classes available in Toronto, they *must* make their start here.
Bikram Beaches may not be the spa-like yoga sanctuary you spoiled yogis have come to expect from your privileged lifestyle-like studios. At Bikram Beaches they'll even tell mortified faces that a water bottle is a luxury. No straps, blocks, bolsters will touch the studio boundaries with a ten-foot pole (I know, I was disappointed, too). If you're looking to relax, Bikram isn't the place. If you're looking for stress-relief, better luck elsewhere (I liked YogaSpace http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). Bikram is for those who have the endurance to last through 90 minutes of sweaty, intensive hell, so proceed with caution. 'Hell now, heaven later', as I prefer to tell myself during class as you'll likely get as much benefit as a 3-hour cardio session.
I prefer this studio for an entry as they seem to be a little more welcoming to beginners than other Bikram locations in the GTA, Bikram Yoga Canada (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) is also good for beginners. This studio was almost full on an early Sunday morning, and it's spacious, as was the practice room.
Give it a shot, if you dare. You might really love it!Listed in: Yoga Fire!, OK... I'll brag.
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Review from Abby R.
Toronto, ON
7/1/2009
This will be my first review in a slew of yoga studio reviews as I tour the city as a funemployed person masked as a yogi.
It's a little hard for me to review this place since I am not a hot yoga convert. That being said I'd definitely go back - here's why.
1) cute space
2) nice teacher
3) clean and cozy facility
4) they offer a work for classes set-up - you volunteer and get free yoga in return
5) felt great after
6) friendly students
Overall, I liked it here. I was glad no one else came with me because I spent about half the class splayed out on the floor. If you've been a yoga practitioner in the past this can be pretty annoying (as it was for me). I found the yoga postures to be a nice level of challenging, however, every time I stood up I felt dizzy and nauseous. It was SO HOT. That sucked. I felt like a yoga loser. Seriously. But the teacher was really sweet and before I even entered the studio she said "first time? your goal is to STAY IN THE ROOM." And so every time I thought about walking out I thought to myself "my goal is to stay in the room" and I knew it was doable.
I wish they had a clock in the studio, boy would that have helped. I did drink water all day long in anticipation for the class. I think next time I might also pre-freeze a bottle of water so I could have an ice-cold water.
4 stars for the studio, 1 star off for the freakin' heat.Listed in: The Beach
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Review from Greg P.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2011
I've done some tough things in my life (multi-pitch rock climbing. Sport class MTB racing...etc) I seriously underestimated my first experience with Bikram yoga and I am happy to say, I deserved it. This is very tough work, but you feel completely cleansed afterward. Do yourself a favour and attend a class. You will not regret it.
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Review from Evan H.
Toronto, ON
11/16/2011
Love this studio because of the great instructors. They have a wide variety of them and without fail they are all amazing in different ways. The instructors are very supportive of newcomers and don't hound them when they need to rest. I find the culture at this studio to be very nurturing and supportive. The heat is rather intense but they do try to moderate it by opening the door a crack, I feel as though I must be in hell for sure but there is something about how this yoga makes me feel afterward that leaves me craving more. This is not a "posh" studio, nor do I want it to be. It is clean, modern and bright and you instantly feel at home in it.
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Review from Starr W.
Scarborough, ON
2/5/2010
First thing - this is the BEST studio to go to if you are looking specifically for bikram classes.
I went for a Sunday midday class and the studio was completely filled to the max! The practice room was spacious and large but because of the large number of people there, everyone had their yoga mats quite close to one another. (Not a pleasant sight when two topless older men are in front of you, sweating like mad.) But, because I am a huge fan of hot yoga in general, I loved the class. All the poses were done twice, the first was held longer than the second. I loved the teacher particularly because she was very patient towards the newer students. I really felt like I got a workout after the class. The only thing is that it lasted for an hour and a half, in an heated room so that can be unbearable for some. The washrooms were well sized with a few stalls and some showers. Not a large space especially when it's busy (aka on the weekend). Also, the studio is slightly hidden in between two bigger buildings so it may be difficult to see when driving by. Other than that, I loved the class!
After my Passport to Prana expires, I will definitely be looking forward to coming back to this studio again! -
Review from JM L.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2011
Tried Birkam on Bloor but personally preferred this location. The staff was friendly and appreciated the phone call the next day to see how I was feeling. Found the floor in the practice room to be a bit odd...tended to bubble in places and could tell when people were walking in due to reverberation..maybe just me. Good vibe and good workout but a little far from home.
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Review from fred f.
ON
4/29/2010
you will never feel better or worse than after or during a class here.
this is the ultimate in passive-aggresive learning.
do what the teacher says, and there is not a problem.
clean rooms, sun-lit studio, some humorless instructors make this my haven from the busy life.
go.
go later.
