Prior to the pandemic I did Baptiste style power yoga for several years, but when my studio closed I fell out on any exercise except dog walking and just couldn't get it back. I started to feel my age, lots of aches and pains. For some reason, this March I decided to purchase an introductory pass to I am Yoga - a studio I had had my eye on for a while, wanting to try 26 & 2 style yoga. Just shy of 4 months later, I can't get enough of this studio or this style of yoga. The studio itself is very nice - I enjoy the setting in the Williamsville village, there is plenty of room to navigate entrances and exits and they have a nice locker room. The hot yoga room is large and comfortable - never feels crowded despite good attendance. You can either choose a dark corner to really settle inward or put yourself near a sunny window. Everyone is very friendly and low key - you never feel any pressure of any kind. The yoga is HOT, but I love that. I know it's not for everyone. I was surprised how much I like the regularity of the 26 & 2 sequence - strangely I never get bored as there just seems to be an infinite journey in each move - hard to explain. I can't believe how much I have strengthened - old injuries (knee surgeries) seem to be healing, aches and pains disappearing, feeling younger and with increased body positivity. The best result is in the area of mental health - my anxiety is much better. This style of yoga I find very meditative. Teachers are great - I take most of the classes from Madeline, but they're all great - they transmit the traditional dialogue, but oddly it never feels scripted. I LOVE that they have 6am classes - really a game changer for getting me there as I have trouble making it after work. I enjoy the Forrest Flow class on Tuesday nights but have trouble getting there regularly. Another factor - the participants are very diverse - from age, to gender, to "ability" level, everybody can be on their own journey, but together! Highly recommend trying out this studio! read more

Yoga changed my life and I'm happy to say that my journey started in this studio. If this is your first time I have some recommendations for you: 1) Everyone is different, but I suggest not eating anything two hours prior class (just to avoid felling sick while in class). They offer 60, 75 and 90 min classes. If feeling uncertain about hot yoga go for the 60 min class and work your body to the 90 min. They also do a 5$ Friday class, just in case you want to try the practice without breaking the bank. 2) On your first day, come early there is a waiver to sign (I think you can also do it online). You'll need a mat and towel, you can borrow them for the first class. On the following class they can be rented. Also there are separate locker rooms for males and females. Inside there is a place for storing clothes, a shower and bathroom. 3) Make sure to bring water into the hot room. I typically bring a 1L bottle of cold water (not frozen). If you forget, bottles of water can be purchased at the studio. 4) Get yourself sometime to settle. I like to get inside the hot room 5-10min before class. Just to get my body use to the heat. If you are not sure about how to do some of the posses I would recommend staying at the back of the room and look upon others. ***Brikram is taught without the instructor making the poses. 5) Don't overdo the postures. Learn to understand your body and give yourself some time to get there. It might take you, weeks, months or years to fully do a pose and that is okay. Go at your own pace. 6) Don't hold your breath. When I started, I used to hold my breath in during certain poses and that made me dizzy halfway through the class. If that happens, lay on your mat (death body pose), take deep breaths until you feel better. Try not to go outside, unless is absolutely necessary. It is very distracting and disrespectful to your classmates. 7) Take advantage of their intro special (39$ for one month of unlimited classes). The first couple of days are tough but within a month you will start to feel and see how your body changes. Lastly, I read previous comments about the smell in the studio. I'm happy to report that the old stinky carpet was changed last year. The new wood flooring looks great and the studio nowadays smells like lavender. read more

I have a love hate relationship with yoga in general. It was trending towards the hate until I tried Bikram in NYC about 15 years ago. I don't know what got me in the first time. May have been as simple as a place opened on one of my regular walking routes. Not sure. But back then they offered unlimited classes for a few weeks for "newbies" for a very reasonable price. That studio was small and cramped, it's NYC after all. The changing rooms were sparse and not very nice, have to say. So I did the yoga for the time I had bought, and even got a few friends hooked with me. It was hard work, but so is living in NYC, so we were ready for the challenge. I didn't re-up when my trial ran out for a few reasons. Not the least of which was I heard about Bikrams behavior even back then. And I just didn't want to support that. But flash forward 15 years. And I'm looking for something to help me stretch more as I clearly need to do. With a shoulder that's been bothering me for ages now I remembered that Bikram had made me stronger for sure, even in the short time I did it. So I came here to try them out for a month. It's a friendly place. The ladies locker room is ok, certainly better than NYC. They have showers. I think you can rent towels too. Bring your own mat or use one of theirs for $2. They have bags in the locker rooms for your wet sweaty clothes after class. Bikram is done in over 100 degrees. It's 90 min. They really ask that you try to stay in the room the whole time. Especially your first few visits. But if you are feeling the heat, you can sit out a pose. This location offers 75 and 60 min hot classes too, which I was not familiar with. I like the 75 but find the 60 min a little fast paced for me. But remember, I find yoga very difficult. The yoga studio is huge. There are some posts that do disrupt views in the room. The mirrors are not aligned with each other so make sure you are aware of that when picking a spot, since the mirrors are important in Bikram classes. This is not a place that's easily accessible for the disabled - up a long flight of stairs to the second floor. They sell various types of water and EmergencE etc. all for reasonable prices. But you can also just bring your own. If there were things to think about - the ceiling lights are harsh to look at, and you are supposed to have your eyes open for the class, and you spend time looking at the ceiling. Another reviewer said it didn't have that "Bikram scent" - but it does. Just be prepared for it. I'm giving 5 stars because the environment is just so welcoming. And the "newbies" month unlimited is a great price. If you haven't tried Bikram, you need more than one class to really "get" it. If you've tried but not here, come try it. Great studio. Street parking, but watch the signs. Or there's a lot in back. read more

I was visiting Buffalo from San Diego for two weeks and was lucky enough to get referred to I am Yoga Buffalo via my sister (long time member). This Yoga spot has a family feel when you walk in and every instructor brings something a little different to the table. I got a kick out of the instructor doing a jingle bells melody while taking us through one of the poses. There are mats, towels and water for sale. Clean showers and locker rooms. Flexible scheduling through the mindbody app and extremely affordable. All in all this is exactly what I needed to keep my sanity during the holidays read more

This studio came highly recommended by a friend who also lives out of the area, but practices here when in town. I've had the pleasure of taking a few classes here so far, and have found this studio to be very welcoming to visitors. I like how the instructor called out to her regular students by name during the class. I'm also a big fan of how she encouraged, complimented and corrected her guests, calling out to us perhaps by color and article of clothing ("Purple tank, I forgot your name; green headband, fingers to big toe" etc...) Simple gesture that reaches out to us and makes you feel at home. It is also nice to receive feedback from another instructor who perhaps can teach you something new, or allow you to understand the posture in a different light. I was not particularly fond of what I consider excessive talking during the poses. Some might disagree with me, but when you are focused on the pose, or laying still in savasana, silence is what helps me focus on my breathing, and my mind. As my sister said to me, "when someone tells you to let all your thoughts go, to not think about work.... all of a sudden, you're now thinking about work". Again, for a beginner class (which this was, apparently), perhaps these things are said so the beginners can understand where their minds should be focused. The studio is comfortable, clean, and has a very homey vibe. Even though I foresee myself coming here a few times a year, I can consider it my new yoga studio, home away from home. read more

I am so grateful for such a lovely studio to practice at when I'm in Buffalo! BYW is as clean & professional as they are caring & friendly. I even took my 11 & 12 year old nephew & niece who were treated like celebrities which made them love it even more. I have been to many many Bikram studios all over including; headquarters in Los Angeles, Lynn Whittlow's in Northern California, several in NYC, & my home studio is Global Yoga which is Mary Jarvis's (The angel of healing pain with yoga, google her if you don't know who she is) studio in San Francisco. So when I give out 5 stars to a Bikram Yoga studio they actually really deserve it. Thank you Kitty, Becky, Kathy, & Gina from "bones to skin, head to toe, inside & out" we all enjoyed each & every one of your classes. The only time I wasn't freezing while in Buffalo, was the time I spent with you! read more

I Am Yoga Buffalo - Bikram Yoga is great for kids too! - Yoga Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I bought a ten pack of classes ($180) the class I chose said beginner friendly. I get there, and cannot even figure out how to get in the building, wish I had left then. Finally the instructor comes down, and apologized, she was taking a shower. I told her I was new, and she seemed really bothered by it. She told me to go to the back of the class, which I understand, but she put me right next to the heater blowing out, at 110 nobody should be next to that heater! The worst part was I could not understand a word she was saying , and then because of where she put me I couldn't even see her. I ended up leaving in the middle out of frustration. I never want to go back, so I guess I just lose $180. read more

I've been doing Bikram yoga for about three months, and have never been to any other studio than this one. I agree with Kelly S. that the facility is very nice. The women's locker room, though crowded, is always clean and fresh. I was surprised to read that anyone thought the instructors were "snobbish." I think they're superb. Personally, what I'm looking for is not a cheerleader, but a coach, who can be very encouraging and yet at the same time stay critical. I don't want to be always told I'm doing GREAT!!! I like learning how to correct my posture by making this or that adjustment. Occasionally some instructors venture claims which have little basis in science, and I would like them to recognize that wiping sweat and rehydrating are good normal things to be doing, provided there's no disruption to the class. Other than that, I really like them a lot and am very grateful to them. The only other reservation is that I would like to see the carpet in the studio steam-cleaned on a daily basis. Overall I'm a huge fan of the people and the place, and grateful for the changes in my life they have helped bring about! read more

I Am Back! i told you i love coming here. New name, vinyasa and forrest class added, workshops and events every now and then so you gotta stay in the loop, check their website or instagram for announcements. Instructors are friendly, inspiring and just plain awesome. Also no more carpet floor ‍ read more

Nice clean studio, (trust me not smelly at all compared to others I've been too). The staff here is amazingly helpful, very nice and welcoming, great workout! You will not be disappointed! read more

Top notch Bikram studio! I visited this studio when I was visiting family over the winter holidays. They gave me the introductory week class which they did not have to do. I was new to the pratice and they were more concerned about encouraging me to come to class than to just take money for the drop in. I will definitely go back everytime I'm visiting which is about 6 weeks out of the year. I've been to 8 different studios around the US and this studio ranks at the top of my list! read more

Used to be a great studio and true to Bikram. I travel and practice around the country. However, I practiced recently while on vacation and the studio has changed. There are barely any real bikram classes offered and the instructors are too "lax" and let people talk in class, do postures wrong, leave the room constantly, and keep the heat at a much lower temperature. This is not true Bikram yoga, more of a fun vinyasa mix yoga now. The teachers don't push you or correct anyone like they used to. I was appalled to see so many people doing postures completely wrong and the teachers just saying "take it easy, relax, do what you can", that is how other forms of yoga are, but that is not what Bikram is. It seems as though this studio is not a bikram yoga studio anymore. They also changed the name. I almost thought the studio was closed and they reopened a new one, but realized they just changed the name. Don't go here if you are looking for bikram yoga. read more

I travel a fair amount and practice wherever I go, so when in Buffalo, I practice at Bikram Yoga Williamsville and am super grateful for this studio. It is super clean and inviting. The instructors are caring, knowledgeable and engaged. I give Becky and her staff a ton of credit for being sooooo patient with their clients who are quite possibly the brattiest practitioners I have ever seen. I'm talking NAUGHTY: coming in room late, drinking water in between postures, walking in and out of the room, sitting out several postures, or laying down for most the class, in the front row, no less. Drama! But, I digress...Anyway, for anyone thinking about trying Bikram for the first time, I encourage you to do so! Remember everyone has had their first class, you have nothing to prove, listen to the words (really listen) and follow along. Let go, don't compare yourself or your practice to anyone one else's, and if you get tired or overwhelmed, sit down on your mat, stay in the room, breath, stay calm, and get back up when your ready. Challenge yourself, it is your time to work on YOU. There are no prerequisites and you don't have to be flexible or strong, you Just have to bring YOUR personal best with the body and mind you have each day you practice and you will feel and see amazing results with your body and mind both inside and outside the room. Remember to be well hydrated, with a fairly empty stomach, dress lightly, avoid heavy, baggy cotton clothing, bring water, mat, a towel to lay on your mat, plus an extra towel if you plan on showering there or you can buy water/rent towels, mats. Also, bring an extra change of clothes because you will sweat...a lot, and that's a good thing. Namaste. read more

I've been to studios all over the United States. I have to say this is cleanest, most homely studio I have been to thus far. Becky taught a very challenging, but enjoyable class. The instruction at this studio is fantastic. The instructors here take a personal interest in developing their students. Thank you for the excellent class and instruction. Keep up the great work! read more

I love this studio! I was new to Bikram and decided to purchase a new student package which was a great deal! I really like all the instructors- they take the time to correct new students like me so that you are doing each posture correctly. Everyone is really friendly. I agree with other reviewers about the great facilities. I highly recommend this studio! read more