Red Dragon Yoga

 

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Damon S.

Sausalito, CA

Previous reviews of the Red Dragon are right on and in my opinion generous.  I will admit my first class was great, fun instructor made the class a pleasure.  If I could go only to his classes I would probably give the place 3 stars.  But my second instructor there was the "Yoga Nazi" !  I actually got kicked out of the class for excessive whispering.  My friend and I laughed so hard later that night after class that we were both crying.  What a classic Mill Valley picture, getting kicked out of a Yoga class!  Well one thing for sure is I will never forget the Red Dragon.  I guess I was a Yoga delinquent amongst the Yoga "Zen-terrorists".  Would not return, probably not allowed to.

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Elite '08

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jill j.

Mill Valley, CA

Instructors: I've been to several different instructors, and they run the gamut from one we call the "yoga nazi", whose pacing seems way too fast and who actually berates students in the class ... to our favorite, who actually makes us all laugh and really seems to get the "chill" aspect of yoga.  All seem quite competent, though - just very different styles.

Room:  Beware of the U-shaped heating-vent system on the ceiling!  It's hard to get out of the direct path of the heat, but many instructors do occasionally crack open the windows at the back for a few seconds.  (Beware of she who doesn't crack the window until the temperature reaches 115 degress (not exaggerating)!)  And bring plenty of water!

Dressing room: TEEENY tiny, with no little thoughtful amenities.  I showered here once and realized there was more space to move around IN the shower stall than out in the dressing room.  

Price: 10-days for $10 is a bargain introduction.  After that, it's a bit steep at $20/class.  (monthly = $99, 5-class card = $95, 10-class = $170, 20-class = $280, 50-class = $600)  I mention all this because it is NOT to be found anywhere on their website.  Is there some reason it's such a secret?

Store:  There seems to be a disproportionate amount of space dedicated to yoga-wear and CD sales.  Huh???  Maybe they actually sell a lot of $100 hoodies --I've only ever seen one clothing purchase there-- but I'd much rather be able to turn around in the dressing room without having to step outside.

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Roxanne T.

San Francisco, CA

Yoga people kind of scare me.

Some are super-chill, which scares me because they're so non-reactionary you imagine a world where everyone goes screaming through red lights, causing head-on collisions and there the yoga people are, standing on the corner in their flip flops and Tootsie-Rolled mats slung over their backs and they're all like, "Whatever will be, man."

Then there are some that are borderline Zen-terrorist. "Get out of your Hummer or I'll put a choke hold on you!!!" Red Dragon is this kind of yoga, people. (http://seattletimes.nw...) Personally, I found a few things about my 6+ months here disconcerting:

-When I nearly passed out twice during their EXTENSIVE, SWELTERING BIKRAM classes, the instructor frowned at me like I was being a wimp, and said in a condescending voice, "Whatever your level is, push yourself to do more." Eff you lady. Wanna pay my ER admittance fee?

-During said exhaustion, I prefaced the class by telling her that I was recovering from a flu and "may not be 100% today." The last spot in the room was right under the heat duct, of which I was totally unaware, causing my near-fainting spells. She told me with about 15 minutes left to go in the class, "Oh, you may want to move to the other side of the room. You're standing right below the heat duct." Thanks, teacher.

-My old instructor in Detroit, who was phenomenal, used to always say if things were getting a little too challenging, to always come back to our breath. That would be the gauge to measure if we were overdoing it -- keep the breath steady, as it is the first tenet of ANY yoga practice, even Marin-style, feminazi, valet-park-your-high-horse-right-here practice. I don't remember a single instructor saying this, nor stressing this. Again, if you recoiled to child's pose or a simpler form of the pose, most instructors here will shoot you darts with their eyes or avert their gaze to a more sadomasochistic, bring-on-the-pain student.

Ps. I think it's funny no one's written a review of this place yet. For $90 a month and a changing room smaller than my closet, they sure seem to think they're the bees' knees.
Pps. Truthfully, I give it 2.5 stars. I'd only go back if I went through a nasty breakup--or ate a whole box of donuts--and wanted to torture myself to work it out.

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