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Funky Door Yoga
Rating Details »
Neighborhoods: Cole Valley, Haight-Ashbury
1749 Waller St
(between Shrader St & Stanyan St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 668-2227
1749 Waller St
(between Shrader St & Stanyan St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 668-2227
- Good for Kids:
- No
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55 reviews for Funky Door Yoga
Not overpriced compared to other places. Sometimes a bit hotter than other bikram studios, but that just makes me that much happier a girl when the instructor cracks the door or window open a bit, it's pathetic how much enjoyment I get from that tiny little breeze.
Might take a while to get used to the heat and the industrial carpet is a little gross, but no grosser than when it's crowded and the stinky man next to you flings sweat on you or when accidently touch someone's feet when you reach behind you to do a sit up.
extra bonus, if you overdo it during camel and feel quesy later, skipping a heavy meal every once a while is probably good for me.
I would not typically try the Bikram yoga because I don't like to be in a slight odorous room full of sweaty people - ever.
However, thanks to the awesome-ness of KUSF I had a free trial and decided my over-worked body could use some free yoga goodness.
The place is cute, reminds me a little of Osento, it's clean but homey and nicely organized. I do so like an outdoor shower!
The yoga itself is pretty good, I'm still not quite used to it and I feel like I'm going to have to run to fresh air about 10 minutes before class ends, but I stick it out and lo and behold...I do feel like a million bucks later. It's exhausting, likely the detoxing, and the rest of the night I'm sort of puttied. Most of the class are dudes who get to wear tiny little shorty shorts while I am dealing with titty sweats, but there are plenty of girls and people of all capabilities so you don't feel bad about needing to take a sit.
Sadie taught my first bikram class and was supportive and even sent a 'hang in there' card to encourage me in this endeavor.
Overall Funky Door is a place everyone should try at least once, I mean if I did it, anyone can.
c'mon. too many people hating on bikram yoga here. don't blame the studio itself. it's small, it gets busy, and hey, guess what, it gets HOT! that's the practice, not the studio.
this place is great. don't hate.
It's hard to understand someone complaining that this place is "hot" or "smelly." Would you go to Burger King and then complain that the menu is mostly burgers? Of course this place is hot as hell and smelly as 40 people sweating in a heated room--that's the idea. Regarding the yoga itself I say this: try it. Personally I feel AMAZING when I walk out of a class. You may too. If not, move on. I agree that some instructors are more intense than others. One is a bona fide Heat Meiser. I call her the "sandstorm." But the solution is simple: go to classes with instructors you like. Not hard to figure out. As to the staff generally? I find them very nice and cool to newbies. No attitude etc.
After reading all the awful reviews on Yelp, I was truly frightened to try this place, especially having never done Bikram Yoga before. But i had a friend in another state who loves Bikram and kept pushing me to go, so i figured might as well try. Tonight was my first class.
First of all, the smell is not bad at all. I noticed it when i walked in, but it's mild, just what would be expected in a building where people sweat profusely wearing almost nothing. Didn't bother me during class at all. In fact I couldn't smell anything probably b/c of the thick heat - just very neutral. And I don't know if I just came on a good night or what, but the instructor (Christine) was fantastic. Very straightforward, upbeat, encouraging, and perfectly nice. The times she corrected me, she just told me plainly what to change, and that was that. No harassment in the least. Same for everyone else she corrected.
The hardest part was the first 45 minutes, because you're standing up, so your head is up higher in the heat. A couple of times i felt overwhelmed by the heat, but you just walk to the cracked window and inhale a couple of times, and breathe more slowly in the heat, and you calm down. But after that you go to the floor, where it's slightly cooler, for the rest of the class. I truly enjoyed all of the floor work - the redness in my face subsided, my heart stopped pounding (as much), and the stretching poses just felt awesome. Also, some people (including me) couldn't quite do every pose the right way b/c of flexibility or whatever, so Christine would suggest an alternative, like in a spine twist if you can't reach your knee just touch the floor, for example.
And lastly, she would go through the room several times during the class and open windows, or open the door, ever so briefly just to give some relief, and it worked. Helped me a ton just getting a gasp of cool air.
The only warning I'd give: Buy your own mat. Naturally, the ones they have for rent are pretty smelly. However, you honestly don't smell it through your towel, and they clean the used mats after each class.
I have no complaints whatsoever about Funky Door. I walked home after class in the cool air, feeling amazing. I bought the $29 intro month and plan to be back in class tomorrow.
Comical: Staring at illustrations of Monica Lewinsky sucking Bill Clinton's toe whilst in a back bend.
Not so comical: The "funk". The naked men sweating men.
However, 5 stars for making me so bendy. Being super flexible physically seeps into other parts of my life. My personal and professional life. And that makes the sweat and pain so worth it.
I never feel like going to my bikram classes. I get this exhausted feeling every time I wake up in the morning and realize that there is a class I should be attending. And yet... I go.
Bikram yoga is difficult. That's all there is to it. If you are sensitive to temperature changes, particularly the heat, this is not for you. If you are new to yoga, like I am, then this will be an ongoing challenge. Unless you are a quick study, unless you are pre-existingly in good shape in some way, then you will not immediately "get it". Nevermind the standard of 5 classes, which some of the staff and instructors have casually mentioned in passing as a kind of barometer. You must keep trying. You must practice. Then, amidst the exhaustion, you suddenly and inexplicably realize that this is pretty good stuff.
I am adaptive, so I am not bothered by the environment of this particular Funky Door location. If you are used to being in a locker room of any sort, then this place is like that. If you are as fond of hosteling as I am, then this will be a similarly satisfying experience. My only real quibble --- and it is significant --- was once during a class when the heating system generated an enormous release of turpentine. The entire workout was filled with this ungainly smell, and I have no idea why no one else complained. Well, I didn't complain either. I just kind of went with it, and plus my mind was actually quite focused on those damned poses, but the smell was horrendous. And, from what I understand, can be potentially lethal. I hope the studio makes note of this.
The instructors are dependable. I do not particularly like the teaching style of one instructor, who is otherwise a pleasant person, and to remedy that I will simply have to attend another class. Other instructors are generally quite welcoming, and some are even entertainingly peppy. Both the staff and instructors don't necessarily go out of their way to create an inclusive atmosphere, but they're not dismissive, either.
65 percent of why I go here is out of convenience. The remaining percentage entails a respectable amount of genuine satisfaction.
Nice folks
Curteous
Difficult
Rejuvinating
First 5 times here I hated EVERY minute, except for the fact that I felt WONDERFUL when I left.
Since then I have been maybe 15 times and I look forward to it. I SWEAT and SWEAT! I stretch every muscle in my body and I relax. I am noticeably more toned just after 3 times a week for the last few weeks.
It is hot. It is stinky. It can get crowded, which makes it hotter and stinkier. But its definitely one of the best things I have done for my health in a LONG time.
The STAFF IS FABULOUS! I recommend it!
I don't dislike this place. I love yoga, but Bikram isn't for me. For the novice, I believe you have to be in the mood for this place.
Yes, it's hot. It can get crowded (esp. 6PM class). You will sweat. The staff was great and it really appears as though they do their best in keeping things sanitary and neat.
The only part that I couldn't quite shake was the smell (as mentioned in many reviews here) and the fact that when I had to do the warrior pose, as I stepped forward, my foot landed in puddle of wet carpet. (blech!) The person next to me sweated like crazy and I was the lucky bastard to now be stepping in his sweat.
Because it was my first class, I had to play along like I wasn't feeling nauseated, that I wasn't grossed out, or that I just wanted to leave after the first 10 minutes. I really tried to get into it, but I think I'll sick to Hatha.
Props to those who can hang here. It's quite challenging!
I went to my first class a couple of days ago, and it was definitely an experience! I'm new to bikram, and it showed..haa
I thought I was a pretty flexible bitch, but compared to the pretzel shaped people around me I was as stiff as a tree...haa actually the tree was the only position I was good at. The heat was intense, and I thought I was going to pass out about 75% of the time.
The tequila I had the night before also seemed to creep back during the hour and a half session. I felt tequila come out of every pore in body. I'm telling you my sweat tasted like pure Patron. An alcoholic would have been tempted to lick my body...mmm?
It was then that I swore that I would never drink tequila again...
...yeaaaaaa right : )
The instructor was really nice and let me go at my own "stiff" pace. The smell was not the best, but it's bikram yoga...what do you expect...
The only issue I had was the guy next to be who kept talking and asking me questions. He was also a beginner, and would not shut up. He kept asking me if I was feeling it, and if I was surviving. The instructor had to tell him to be quiet several times.
..Oh and if you're reading this buddy...I totally caught you checking out by ass, and it's cool I get it you're a man, but come on now it's pretty lame if you have to go to yoga to pick up girls...that's what bars are for...!
Anyways go try this, but I warn you it's not for everyone. It's really hard, but well worth it!
You'll feel sexy and clearminded after your lesson...promise!
SWEAT SWEAT SWEAT!
haa enjoy : )
THIS PLACE IS HOT AS HELL.
The room is only supposed to be heated to 105 degrees F. This Funky Door location goes way over that. The combination of heat and humidity allows for greater flexibility in joints and muscles and helps to encourage the flow of body fluids to benefit your practice. Heat is supposed to be your friend in Bikram Yoga. Heat is not supposed to be an enemy, taunting you with unconsciousness as heaters relentlessly bombard you with the breath of Hades.
It wasn't even humid. It was just unbearably hot. The sweat dried as soon as it came out. This is what it must be like to take a ride in a commercial dryer at the local laundromat. Not exactly conducive to the union of mind, body, and soul.
The only people who could possibly benefit from this place are those who have done Bikram Yoga for many, many years and really understand the depth of each of their asana (posture). Otherwise, the drill sergeant approach the instructors take here will just annoy or offend you. If you are new to Bikram or to Yoga in general, this approach should annoy AND offend you.
This is definitely not a place to casually take a gander at Bikram Yoga for the first time. This place is reserved for the Bikram elite who, through rigorous practice, have gained an inhuman immunity to heat.
Bottom Line - Bikram is just not for everyone. If you like Bikram, or want to try Bikram there is no better place in the area than Funky Door. If you don't enjoy Bikram, well of course your not going to like the Funky Door - youre not going to like ANY Bikram studio..
Funky Door deserves a high rating for its incredibly welcoming and friendly staff and instructors - they maintain a personal and hospitable demeanor and in classes offer personal assistance and attention (more than I can say for a lot of other Yoga studios i have frequented). It is downright affordable compared to any studio I have ever been ($30 month unlimited for first time?! unheard of... except for SF Bikram) and the location is very convenient for commuting.
Sure, it is stinky, and HOT of course! its Bikram yoga! but, they also have outdoor showers and locker rooms (something I have never seen in a Bikram studio)... its all part of a proper Bikram experience. And yes, sometimes some instructors keep it hotter and others are more lenient (this usually depends on the skill level of the classroom).. they are human too.. So to those that have trashed this place because it is hot or stinky, they need to remember Context.
I love Bikram Yoga, but I give Funky Door in the Haight two stars. The reason: Some of their teachers create an unsafe environment. They have some teachers who do a great job (the only reason I'm not going one-star), but some of their teachers are truly awful, and upon reading many other posters having the same experience as me, I think it's important to write about it.
Last night I had a teacher named Christie that represented everything I don't like about aggressive Bikram teachers. She got in my face several times during class and pushed me so hard that I almost injured myself. I tried to ignore her and just safely follow my own practice, but then she kept calling me out, getting right up in my personal space, and I felt was even mocking me at points.
Christie at one point came right next to me and said "you've got big, muscular legs, you should be right here" and put her hand out low to show the line of where she thought I should be pushing myself. I ignored her, because I wasn't ready to go that far, and she repeated herself three times until she said tersely "I guess not." I didn't want to disrupt her class with a conversation about why I wasn't going to push myself, (I had been sick all week and was taking it slow the first day back to Yoga), but it got increasingly hard as she singled me out in class and got in my personal space more than five times to push me harder. She finally called me out across the room and said "Sir, is there a reason you aren't reaching all the way back to get the full extension of this posture?" I felt embarrassed for being singled out, yet again, because I couldn't stretch as far as some of the other classmates. I sighed and replied "- I'm very tight right now, I've been sick all week..." and she cut me off and said "well then, you can do it this way..." and "Did you get that... I said, did you get that?" and "Well, we'll see if you got it when you do your next posture." I was now a bit emotional from being badgered by her and, so, in my next posture I reached farther than I had before, at her urging, and suddenly felt a twang of muscle being pulled. Exactly what I didn't want to do - push myself in a moment of frustration and pull a muscle.
I appreciate encouragement from a teacher to push me. I even appreciate a teacher calling me out in front of other students, if it's for my safety. But if I am not responding once, twice, several times to your repeated efforts to push me harder, maybe it's time for the teacher to BACK OFF. I am the one who will leave this class and deal with any injuries I have from the class. My body is where it is right now, and I am the ultimate judge of if I'm ready to push further. You can INVITE me to push harder, but mocking me, repeatedly prodding me, pointing out my muscular legs and getting into what a guy like me should be capable of, is disrespectful and makes me never want to come back to this school.
And for the school, I would say that they need to get a handle on what their teachers are teaching. There are a lot of Yelpers here saying the same thing. The teachers are consistently badgering individual students to the point of risking their safety. When something becomes a consistent theme like this, it's the school itself that bears responsibility.
At this point, I'm thinking I will finish my month pass at Funky Door trying to stick to the good teachers, and then head back over to Mission Yoga next month. It's on the other side of the City from where I live now, but the owners of the school have created a very supportive environment for the students. Maybe Funky Door will get their act together some day and foster the same kind of supportive environment.
If you like Bikram yoga, which is not def not for everyone, then this is the place for you --and you can't beat the outdoor showers; they are awesome no matter how cold it is outside!
Unfortunately this place is not only incuring the wrath of my experience but bikram as a whole.
The first step into this place and I was immediately wrapped in the stench of B.O. and dirty wet towels. I've done beginner yoga before so my friend was certain bikram would be fine. I was instructed to "dress like youre going to the beach." This came to be a issue when i wanted a shield against the stench of the provided mat....which by the way had the word FUNKY written on each mat. Me, being completely taken aback by the stench and coincidental label, did not put 2 and 2 together and continued to search through their basket of "FUNKY" mats....duuh FUNKY DOOR!!
Anyway...back to the stench...the whole experience was grotesque. From being forced to take off my flip flops onto the damp cold (and then hot in the studio) floor, to fighting with the bf to get the spot by the window, to holding my breath while yoga posing in 100 degree heat for over an hour - not to mention the smell of dirty feet and hot hairy armpits...it was all bad.
+1 star for their awesomely friendly service and welcoming demeanor. They did try their best to keep us informed of what to expect and what to do during different situations while in the studio.
+ 1 star for the amazing feeling leaving this spot. If I never came here, I would never really appreciate the smell of fresh air and moderate temperatures.
I'm soooo not a Yogi, but decided to go along with my girl Amy one night (post boyfriend argument) to "relax" and de-stress. Bikram yoga.. sure.. I can handle stretching in a 104 degree room. Uhhh, yeah I was able to handle it, while sweating like a disgusting pig. But really, you do feel so relaxed afterwards.
I've heard that the instructors can sometimes be hard asses and push you until you feel like you're going to drop dead, but my first time with Crystal was good.. challenging, but good. She was kind enough to open the doors and windows a few times to get some air circulation (for us newbies).
The only down side to this place is that it smells like a dirty twat.. excuse my language, but literally.. that's what it smells like.
I'm not going to lie - I am not a fan of Bikram Yoga. I find the heat pretty miserable and the people who practice Bikram on a regular basis kind of remind me of Stepford Wives in their unquestioning devotion to the word of Mr. Bikram. Somehow though, a friend convinced me to try a month pass to this studio.
Am I the only one that finds it kind of scary that newcomers are told that feeling nauseated and dizzy is "normal" at this studio? Maybe they call it normal - I call it my body telling me that something is very very wrong. Should yoga instructors really be dispensing medical advice?
I will only mention the stinkiness in passing because so many have already gone into great detail. I will, however, mention that I was pretty shocked by what passed as appropriate attire at this place. Men in their cotton underwear that become loose and hanging when they sweat - seriously - I saw testicles. It was not pretty.
Two stars only because the staff were really nice.
I almost died here.
Yup, its true. I turned purple and couldn't breathe.
However, the speedo-clad Nazi instructor with the tiny a-la-Madonna microphone affixed to his mid-80s Bolton do continued to "encourage" me to get up and continue torturing myself. "I think I am dying" I whispered as I collapsed on my mat.
What's next? A train ride to a "special" destination? They forbid sex in a sauna for a reason. Its called heart attack.
I have no idea how this particular Funky Door got a reputation for being snarky, because I've gotten nothing but sweetness from these people (and tons of gift certificates, special discounts, holla). Yes, the instructors have enviable bodies and tend to quickly issue instructions, but a) just as I don't like buying food from skinny people, I'm not sure that John Travolta's physique is going to inspire me in my own personal battle of the bulge, and b) if they stop talking I will stop moving, and possibly fall asleep. Or faint.
They are very cool about beginners and not pushing you to do every single exercise right off the bat. My first instructor stressed that more than anything, I should simply try to stay in the room for the duration of the class (1.5 hours). And seriously, just doing that you will feel like you've lost about 5 pounds by the end of class. I was happy to find that I was able to do most everything, or at least, a floppy rudimentary version, without completely feeling like I wanted to die. Oh, but you will sweat so much that you will fail to recognize your own smell. You bypass stinky and go straight to foreign substance. It's quite intriguing.
Definitely sign up for the very thrifty first month of unlimited classes. I wish I could force myself to go to Bikram three times a week or more, because I do genuinely feel good (and almost lively) after taking a class, but I am realistically going to try and do 1-2 times a week once my crazy traveling schedule subsides.
Ummm... This place smells like baking homeless people, or a crowded MUNI train on a hot day... or someone who crapped their pants and sat in it all day and rolled in onions prior to doing yoga.
I have been to several Bikram studios in the city, and the smell in this place made me want to vomit. Seriously, I had to talk myself out of it. Funky Door made me not want to touch anything in the entire building for fear of catching some type of fungus.
The instructor was good. If I concentrated on her instruction, the smells became less.
How I wish I could still afford to go. This place really got my ass into shape, and that's saying a lot- 6 months ago I couldn't even touch my toes much less stand on one leg.
it does smell funky, but you stop smelling it once you become it...within the first 30 seconds of class. however im kinda creeped out by carpeted floors- how often are the cleaned, I wonder?
the people who make me happy when i walk through the door:
INSTRUCTORS:
for the most part are all good, some classes take forever to finish versus the ones i take from the following, my favorites:
all the sarah's:
sarah barca - got to love her red hair and easygoing attitude
sarah w - great smiley energy throughout class
sarah b - so beautiful and her kick ass body is so inspiring
shu lin - when i think i'm getting away with doing a pose half assed in my corner she comes and checks me! atta girl!
matthew's got flava
steve can be goofy
tammy could be a little scary at times but she kicks ASS.
tadgh and all the cute girls that help out behind the counter!
and christine (downtown studio) the cutest tattooed bellydancer.
the outdoor showers on waller are the bomb.
the downtown studio isn't as hot, humid or smelly.
I'm over my Bikram Yoga binge (was it the smell? the militaristic barking? I dunno...) and have gone back to good old hatha flow, but I tried nearly every Bikram Yoga studio in the city, including all the Funky Doors. I have to say that Sara, the owner of this one, creates a far better vibe than the owners of the other Funky Doors do, without being grannyish at all.
And uh... I don't need someone to push me. I push myself hard enough. If I'm not pointing my toe in the right direction, it' s because I have a birth defect! It's DEFORMED! Do I have to tell you more than once? Get off me already.
If I go back to any Funky Door, I would only go to this one. Love the outdoor showers.
The staff is great and the place itself is quirky. Some instructors will push you more than others, but other than that it's pretty consistent. However, there is an odor when you walk in the studio that can get pretty distracting.
After a many-year hiatus from Bikram yoga, I returned and realized that after leaving my husband, I missed having someone around to nag at me.
Yes, it is hot and smelly and hard and you have to get practically naked. But the euphoria that kicks in right around Rabbit Pose and the bragging rights make it all worth while...
This is my go to place when I have ANYTHING WRONG: sick, muscle sore, muscle pull, tendon ache, over use, bad mood, tired, hung over and or bored. Its a healing yoga and it works..
Haight street location is the hottest and most humid. Some teachers are tougher than other...
It is the grossest and grimiest environment ever..so shower right after cause its a breading ground for bacteria and infections..smells like funky stuff ..so i understand the name..
Regardless of the funk it s a challenging, resotorative and energizing/calming practice..
it can be whatever you need it to b
If you know anything about me, you know that I like to talk about hair. I especially like to discuss my hair and how awesome it looks. Sometimes I'm forced to have this discussion with the Compy and The Cat because everyone else has left the premises. Anyway, I've determined that three things will give you a bomb-ass batch of protein outgrowth:
1) Really amazing sex. Too much? Just sayin'. All that sweat and pheromones, not to mention the mussing motions, combine to form the perfect chemical reaction. The results? Awesome hair.
2) A smart, experienced hairdresser who knows your locks, appreciates your style, and doesn't talk your ear off about her boyfriend as she works.
3) Taking your hair down from the ponytail or bun after a class of bikram yoga.
Now, this is not a review about sex. I share, but not all. And this is not a review for a barber or salon. In truth, my last session at my regular place disappointed me. This is a review about Funky Door on (actually, just off) the Haight. If you've ever tried bikram yoga, you're aware of the 90-minute blast of heat and the poses you're expected to hold in this temperature. If you're not familiar with this, be VERY aware when you try it. Bikram isn't for everyone, but man do you feel like a warrior princess after you've done a whole class. You may be sprawled out on the floor, mat drenched and water bottle tapped out, but you feel invincible.
And yes, the smell of the collective sweat of dozens of strangers is off-putting. The overcrowded classes in the late afternoons won't put you in the best mood to conquer the triangle pose. But the staff at this Funky Door is very considerate of its patrons, quietly encouraging without making you feel bad because you partied at Murio's last night and have an army of toxins to flush out. I once saw a guy carry a Big Mac from the McDonald's next door into the studio and tear into it minutes before he walked into class. Not advisable, to say the least. The instructor's only reaction? "You're not gonna feel good." I appreciate tact so I have nothing but appreciation for Funky Door. Since moving to Portland, I have yet to tackle a bikram class again. But once I find it in me to play the triangle man again, I hope the people in charge are the class acts they were on (actually, just off) the Haight. I need my hair to be awesome, after all.
Oh my god. Bikram yoga is just not for me. I felt like I was going to die. I was gasping for air, and all I got was heat. I drank water, but my water was hot too. I was so sweaty. I will admit that I felt good when I finally walked out of the classroom and took a breath of fresh air. The teacher was not at all what I was expecting. She seemed more like an aerobics or spinning class instructor than a yogi. She kept yelling into her headset microphone, "kick! kick! push! push! c'mon!" it was really annoying, and not at all meditative like yoga is supposed to be. My roommate really loves it though, she goes here a few times a week. I don't know how she does it! Then she asks me why her nose is bleeding all the time. Hmm, I wonder.
Aw, c'mon you guys, Bikram Yoga isn't for everyone, that's obvious, but Funky Door has a great spirit and my practice here for the last 5 years has made all the difference in my level of fitness and flexibility - I'm stronger, fitter and more flexible at age 40 than I was at age 30.
I went through stages where it was torment to go, but the instructors at Funky Door kept me going, even though I have the same reservations about Bikram himself as everyone, including them.
As for the odor... it is called Funky Door, is it not? Truth in advertising?
So don't let snarky Yelp comments to keep you away from what could be the best fitness routine around, especially if you cycle to class. Just leave the manatee at home.
Be prepared. This place gets HOT! No joke. I honestly love the heat, but sometimes it got so hot to the point where I couldn't even focus on my postures and I'd have sweat stinging my eyes. This place gets incredibly PACKED unless you come in late morning. Otherwise this place was fun. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the funky interior design, and SOME of the instructors. I never had a problem coming here so this place is all good with me:)
i am a Bikram Wuss.
i'm not sure why i thought i would dig Bikram when i know that i typically like to be in a comfortable 72 degree-type environment. otherwise, i'll admit, i get a little cranky. and a little cranky i did indeed get the few times i tried to make it through an entire Bikram class. i felt like i was being punished! it sucked. but i understand that people enjoy it, so, i think if you're interested you should try it out and just know in advance that it smells like an old towel in there, and that you just might keel over mid-class.
the staff at Funky Door is really nice, and sympathetic if you just can't stand the heat and need a breather in the lobby. i hear that you can swap class fees for doing some bathroom-cleaning a few hours a week, which i think is a-ok.
Professional all-around. The front desk staff was welcoming and quick. Crystal taught my first class there, and made me feel at-home. She welcomes new faces, asks their names, and makes sure to lead the class in a round of applause for them.
About the smell: if you're serious about yoga and practicing deeply, the last thing on your mind is smell.
About the heat: it's hot. No two ways to slice it. Either you see it as a challenge to overcome, or not. The upsides to the heat far outweigh the momentary discomfort during the class. Dizziness subsides, and it's an opportunity to practice breathing, anyway.
The outdoor showers are the best reward after class.
$29 introductory, all-you-can-practice rate. I've taken four classes in one week and I'm hooked. I'll end up paying more per month to take yoga here than at Club One, but it's around the corner from my house and I'll go much more often. A win-win.
I like Bikram, it is a time committment though. Funky door is the only studio I have been to so I can't compare it to the practices of any other, but there were still things that I am thinking were Funky Door specific, not a Bikram problem.
1. The heat varied dramatically depending on the instructor and none of them were very good at regulating it throughout each class.
2. Some of the instructors were a little militant. I didn't find that they listened very well and some were just downright rude. I went to one class with a sore back. I came out of the pose and stretched my back out on the floor (during a floor exercise) and the instructor publicly scolded me not once but twice. That's just not cool anywhere.
3. I didn't feel there was a lot of build up to hard poses or intermediate steps. I am very flexible and didn't have a problem with many poses in that aspect but needed to work on building my leg strength. I brought up the issue several times with instructors asking for suggestions or modifications for poses and no one was able to give me an answer except "push yourself" in the final pose. Again, not cool.
Bikram Yoga is neither annoying nor hippie dippy. It is fucking hot and hard and nobody talks to you about your center or your pattern of spiritual evolving...at least not at Funky Door. The people that work there are nice and smart and not up in your business.
It smells gross, but there is a lot of sweating going on so what can they do
It can be a little rigid and competitive, but I like that.
It is a little too close to Upper Haight, but what can you do? Wring out your shorts on a shitty squatter?
Try it if you like a little pain and have enjoy being dizzy.
It smells and it's pretty nasty, but I love it. I practice down in Orange County, and I was in the area. The instructors are mellow and truly hospitable. Greatest part? the outdoor shower and the walk back in the park.
The people who work here are really nice, but having taken different kinds of yoga at different studios, I have to say this was the worst. I tried their intro package for a month and went for about 3 weeks and quit. I couldn't stand the odor of the studio- the foul stench of old sweat that circulates through the air ducts and steams out from the carpets. Carpets, can you believe they would have carpets in a place where people drip sweat and where it's constantly being re-heated? Can we say great breeding ground for bacteria and germs? Gross. That's what smells. Bikram in general, while it has a loyal following, is extreme and I would not recommend it to anyone.
4 stars for Funky Door - professional and friendly front desk. no pretense.
0 stars for Bikram Yoga - I felt like I was going to die....I guess it's just not for people like me who just donate money to the gym every month. My hardcore friend invited me to go and I ended up purchasing the monthly pass for an extra $10. Little did I know what I was getting into....
100 degree heat
20 sweaty people dripping sweat
10 unattainable yoga postures
5 different funky smells
1 small room
...and dinky little me laying helplessly on her mat gasping for air and lifelessly reaching for her water....
Hats off to all those hardcore Bikram Yogaites...you sure have obtained a new level of exercise enlightment...
This is as good as it gets for Bikram. Small room, meaning a lot of HEAT. The absolute hottest yoga studio I've ever been in. As many reviewers noted, there is a smell... what do you expect! It's a small, HOT room filled with at least 10-20 sweating individuals and it only has one small window leading out to the lobby so no fresh air can be let in. The instructors are supposed to be tough, it's their job to make you work. I go there often and I have never once considered any of the instructors to be rude and/or disrespectful. Okay, some of them might have the wit of Simon Cowell, but COME on, grow a thicker skin already! Not everyone who you meet in the (tough) outside world is going to baby you like your parents will! No pain, no gain right?
I had to wake up at 5pm to pick up the manatee here. I am tired and cranky. Besides this place already has a crappy rating.
