I've been coming to the Sweatbox on and off for years. I go for the Bikram style classes- always hot, always super challenging, but the instructors are all really good and the studio is always clean and welcoming. Great location, good value. read more

I'm new to the area and am looking for a new yoga studio. Sweatbox is the first place I tried and they've set a pretty solid standard so far. I was attracted by their focus on accessibility and diversity, and I found them to be true to this. I did the 2 week pass, which I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to check them out. All of the classes I joined were great. The instructors are clearly knowledgeable. I loved that they gave clear guidance around form and shared the intention behind certain elements of the practice. The ladies' room is clean and has lots of cubby space. There are also a couple showers, which is great! My only complaint is that the schedule is a bit limited compared to what I'm used to. If you're sensitive to smell, I recommend that you aim for the first class of the day. After that, it does smell a bit musty (I mean, it is hot yoga). And make sure you bring your own clean towel or wipes for after class. They do have cleaning solution for you to use. I have gone to a variety of hot yoga studios outside of Washington. This one places their emphasis on a high quality practice where all can feel welcome and I think they deliver that well. read more

I'm new to hot yoga and appreciate how welcoming sweatbox is. The instructors are kind and knowledgeable.

I was visiting from Sacramento, CA and needed a studio to practice in for the week while I was visiting. Mary, Simone, and Jess's classes were wonderful and well-paced. I especially loved the Bhakti class and really appreciated Simone's ability to make yoga philosophy so relatable. Loved Mary's stories about Hanuman/Sita/Ram that she incorporated into our asana. Loved the flowy, dynamic movements of Jess's class. My sister and I felt incredibly safe and seen in this space as black women. Thank you SweatBox- I'll be back! :) read more

The traditional hot (Bikram) Yoga - 90 minute class was amazing! Anne Marie is a great instructor and it was easy to follow along her instructions with enough time to get into each pose. The temperature is turned up to 105 and about 40-45 humidity so be prepared for the heat, that adds another level of challenge to a regular yoga class. Make sure to carry a water bottle, towel and mat. They have towels and mats for rent at $3 each otherwise. Would definitely recommend checking this class out. read more

This studio is great. I have taken the traditional 90-minute class with Frani and am encouraged to keep coming back. There is a welcoming environment that suits everyone's needs. The tone of her class invites you to push yourself if you want, but rest if you need...I also like classes to be really hot and her class is not overbearing, but hot enough to really get a good sweat in. This an authentic, genuine and safe place to practice. The only downside is parking, but that has nothing to do with yoga :). read more

I paid for a yoga class, which is not what I got: 0 =# of demonstrated poses 0 =# of movement to breath into physical shapes 3 =# of sales pitches during final shavasana 0=# down dogs, child poses / resting poses 4= # of shavasanas Do you want drills of undemonstrated poses? Breath not to movement for each pose? Total disregard for yoga principles and yes yoga fundaments I've lived and worked in 8 states This is not yoga and it's not even yoga sculpt Owner Frani didn't care AVOID!!! read more

Love, love, love this hot yoga studo! You start sweating just laying on your mat in the studio, then add in some tough yoga poses and I saw some people in the room looking like drenched rats with the sweat pouring off of them like getting caught in a Spring shower. You probably loose weight just from all the sweating you do. Really like the instructors, especially Gary (the first male instructor i've ever had) and Brooke. They give great feedback and it's like they are your personal cheerleaders. Plus, they are so entertaning...I laughed a lot during class. Only reason I didn't give this studio 5 stars is because they have no showers (and you definitely need a shower after you take a class here) and the changing rooms are so small that people are constantly bumping into you as you're changing. The changing rooms are labeled "yogi" and "yogini" which was a bit confusing to me when I first entered and was stressed I might walk into the wrong changing room. Apparently most people must know that yogi is a male and yogini is a female, but I didn't know. They also have the bathrooms right in the studio, which I really like. Great introductory special right now - 10 classes (to be used on 10 consecutive days) for only $10. Since a single class is $17, this is a great deal! read more

I liked this studio but after my last experience I won't be coming back. I felt nauseous and lightheaded and the instructor, Briah Gillspae, wouldn't let me leave the room. She said either i lay back down or go she would lock me outside the building (in my sweat drenched clothes in 45 degree weather without retrieving my items from the locker) while I wait for the class to be done. So...I had no choice but to stay in the room for another 30 minutes in 105 degree room feeling like I was going to vomit while having a headache. When the class was done she didn't care to ask how I was feeling. I didn't feel welcomed. If this is their policy I am extremely disappointed. I am an allied healthcare professional and I would think they'd have better precautions or policies to ensure client safety and prevent things like possible heatstrokes. read more

I wish I liked this place. I used to be really into Bikram yoga and I live ~5 minutes from this studio. I will never get over the use of carpet in hot yoga, no matter how many times you renovate and change it out. Most of the instructors I've had at this studio are good for Bikram instructors, but I just find the 26 pose practice and the type of instruction/correction (straighten your leg! keep going!) to be incredibly uninspiring. Case in point: I think I still have 20 classes here and I can never bring myself to go, even though I practice yoga 5-6 times/week. Having said all of that, the owners of this studio seem lovely and amazing. I think if you like Bikram yoga, this would be a great place to go. Maybe you could use up my classes for me... read more

In the past, I've really enjoyed the 8am 60 minute vinyasa class and instructor. The flows are always thoughtful with a great sweat. However, I now do not feel welcomed in this studio. I travel very frequently for work (almost once a week) which makes my workout schedule when I'm home very limited. Today I am flying to Atlanta and couldn't stay in the class the whole 60 min (rather 50 min). I thought I was being respectful by giving Reva a heads up saying that I will need to leave class early and I will be near the door to make it an easy and quiet exit. She told me that this is not acceptable as it disrupts her and the rest of the class, and in the future if I can't stay the entire class, I just shouldn't come and should find one where I could. I felt very un-welcomed and uncomfortable after that to the point where I should've just left. But instead, I stayed in class for the 50 min while not feeling safe. I am 200YTT certified and the most important thing we were taught was to make sure everyone practicing yoga feels safe, welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately this experience has caused me to not go to this studio anymore. read more

Wonderful atmosphere! Amazing effort to keep everyone safe and healthy. Fabulous instruction! This is the place/family to belong to on your journey for health, happiness and mindfulness. read more

This yoga studio 90 minute class was an awful experience. There was no actual attention paid to strengthening your body, all just drawn out stretching. Not really a work out. Just 90 minutes of repeatedly stretching in 100 degrees. Kind of dull. This would have been fine if the instructor had not been so outright rude. At one point my overheated friend, who was new to hot yoga, laid down to recoup and I used my towel to gently fan her to make her feel better. To my shock, instructor snapped at me in front of the class for being disruptive. She was also just generally a poor instructor who gave instructions like commanding a disobedient dog and paid no focus on following breathing techniques. Also need to mention the general lack of cleanliness. The place smelled intensely of sweat, the towel the instructor gave me did not look clean, the floor was covered with sweat on arrival and the bathroom is dirty with no lockers. read more

Tried out a class here with ClassPass, and it was a-ok. The instructor, Frani, was 5-stars. She was super positive and motivating and passionate, and her knowledge about the postures we worked through was commendable. She knew that I was new and checked on me several times throughout the class--both to see how I was doing and to correct some of the movements I was making. She spent good time encouraging self-reflection and mindfulness and reminded us to be conscious of our breathing. Minus one star because there are no lockers. Despite the promise that the doors would be locked, I just didn't feel comfortable leaving a bag, laptop, cell phone and wallet out in the open. The studio is not located in a great part of town. The changing room was also too small and got crowded too quick. I needed to change out of work clothes, and it was hard to carve out some space to do that. There's bottled water for sale, but it's those small containers of boxed water, which is disappointing. I also wished that Frani would have demonstrated more the moves. She described them in-depth, but didn't do them. All in all, it's a no-frills studio, but the class and the instructor were quite good. There's lots of room for improvement, though. I was torn between 3 and 4 stars but, because of the instructor, I'm going with 4 in the end. read more

Funky Capitol Hill location for this Bikram yoga studio. Yes, it is quite the sweatbox -- hotter than most. Instructors are good. They rarely make physical contact to correct your postures but rather talk you through changes. It's clean, but then how clean can a sweatbox be? If you like Bikram though, give it a try! Oh, and don't be late for class because they lock the exterior door. read more

Sweatbox Yoga - Yoga Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Snobby staff that do not make you feel very welcome. Carpeted, so the gym-socks smell is extra strong. read more

Working out on vacation can be challenging, so was pleased to find this conveniently located studio listed on ClassPass, as well as a boyfriend willing to try out hot yoga. Emily, who also taught the class, was welcoming and gave us a quick tour of the studio when we arrived for an 8 am session. The bathrooms and locker rooms looked a little outdated but clean, and the main room was nice and didn't smell the way some hot rooms can. The class itself was challenging but not ridiculous. It was less intense than other hot yoga classes I've taken and was more about working out kinks than pushing your body. The heat is solid. I could've gone a little harder, but it was still a good workout. Emily walked us through the flow well, focusing on the hips and giving good alignment tips. This compared favorably to classes I've taken in New York. A welcome break from gorging myself all weekend. My boyfriend now knows hot yoga is nothing to fear (though his sweat was considerable). read more

I went to the Sweatbox for my first hot yoga class in years. The place is really clean, very toasty, the happy community feel was obvious and Frani is an amazing instructor. There was a point where she assured the class it was fine if we felt dizzy, nauseous, angry, etc.... I started laughing to myself because I felt all of them. Despite counting the minutes to the end of class I have felt energized and fantastic ever since I left class this morning. What is really enticing are the upcoming workshops- a masters Bikram class Frani is teaching, an Inversion class and a Partners Thai Massage class taught by the lead therapist at Drift Mobile Massage, I hear he's a great LMT :) I'm really interested in getting a pass, especially during these winter months, even though I already have a gym membership. read more

I have never been other bikram yoga studios but I really enjoyed Sweatbox each time I came. I have done 3 classes with Emily, she is great, friendly and attentive. The studio is very clean, simple and nicely decorated. The change room is a little small but still not too bad. I never use the shower room there though, so I can't comment on that. Another good thing is that you don't need to make reservation in advance, you can just show up to the class before it starts, which is nice. You can rent yoga mat and towel at extra charge if you don't bring your own. read more

So a lot of these reviews complain about the smell of the studio... I believe those reviews are outdated (a lot of them are from years ago). There is no longer carpet in the studio and the smell did not bother me. I had a really awesome experience at this studio. I was visiting Seattle for a few days, freezing my ass off (I'm from California), so finding a Bikram studio in walking distance was heaven sent. Alissa, Rachel and Emily were awesome teachers as well as super kind and welcoming to me as a Yoga tourist. The vibes are high. If it's your first class here I would recommend trying a flow class before the traditional 26 bikram series. Ease your way into it and enjoy, it is no easy feat at all to do the hot 26. The room isn't as hot in the flow classes which allows your body to acclimate. The flow classes incorporate the Bikram postures so there's still that strong concentration and focus, while the flow adds lightness and fun to the practice. Loved it, walked out into the crisp Seattle air blissed out AF every time, wish there was a studio like this where I live! read more

I needed to be way more naked than I was for this. Long pants were a really bad idea. I left completely drenched. Sweaty Betty. That said - I loved it. I had a bit of an attitude about Yoga as someone who covers great distances in her regular routine - standing still as a form of exercise didn't really compute for me. Neither does sitting, which is why you will never see me on a bike (that and I FUCKING HATE bikes as a driver and a runner.) The "hot" part made it seem more badass, but also inspired a little anxiety as I have some history with passing out in high heat/humidity situations and then some history of peeing my pants when I pass out. :\ Thankfully, there was no passing out or peeing my pants. I did find out that I'm not nearly as flexible as I used to be, and that I am far more crooked than I could have imagined. Also, I am very tippy. But I knew that. Was I embarrassed that I had to lie down a couple of times to stave off the passing out/pants peeing? No. Was I embarrassed that my lack of balance had me falling out of most of the standing positions? Sort of. Did the bendy little gay behind me make me feel like a big fat, stiff, elderly Yoga loser and inflame my deeply rooted competitive nature? Yes. Therefore, I will be back. And I will continue to come back until I can give myself head, just like that showoff pipsqueak of a twink. (In all honesty, I'll be back because it was a challenging, cathartic experience that also managed to kick my ass and relieved my runner's pains in short order. I'm really excited about the long-term effects of sticking with it.) read more

Sweatbox Yoga has updated their studio space! They ripped out the old carpet and replaced it with wooden floors. No more stinky wet carpet smell that has become all too common at bikram studios. The new routine is to mop up any water/sweat spills you may have left with the mop that's provided at the end of class. Paintings have been replaced too. There's no longer a teacher platform and there's now a divider between the restroom and the practice floor, which I believe creates more mat space and more privacy for the yogis! I've always had a love/hate relationship with bikram yoga, but Sweatbox Yoga and its instructors have really helped me fall back into it. I especially enjoy the "Power Hour" class that's basically a condensed version of the 26 postures and two breathing exercises. It has more of a cohesive flow AND you still sweat bricks, plus you're done with your yoga session much sooner! Definitely give it a try! read more

Bikram Yoga, it's hot, oh so very hawt! I came here to try out Bikram Yoga for my first time ever, actually it was my first time doing any kind of Yoga ever. A good friend of mine had suggested giving yoga a try and I went for it. I was accompanied by 2 lovely ladies and I think that definitely made it a great first experience! We all got our mats, towels, water and Emergen-C. Then we stripped down to the bare essentials and I mean bare and entered the "hot room of yoga death." Ok it wasn't that bad, but it was quite warm, around 105º and I immediately started to sweat. As we started to stretch the sweat really began to pour and didn't stop till 90 mins later when we were finally done. The instructor was a very nice lady, though I can't remember her name, I'm really bad about that, sorry, she seemed to remember every ones name though and didn't hesitate to call you out or give you some praise when appropriate. She was very instructional and went over the instructions for each pose multiple times so you could figure it out. I have to say it really kicked my ass but I did enjoy it. Maybe I'm crazy, but I love the feeling of sweating so much you soak any clothing you happen to be wearing and the immediate area around you, don't worry I had a large towel, thanks Sarah, so I kept my sweat pool contained. It's a great workout and I'm sure this yoga could get you into killer shape, something I strive for! It's a bit pricey, but I'm sure I'll be back to sweat my ass off again! :) read more

About an hour into the class I think to myself, "Why the fuck did I come back?" P.S. To everyone adjacent to me, I'll bring snorkels next time so you can swim out of my sweat. read more

Sweatbox as a studio is good - the instructor/manager (Frani) was very friendly and welcoming, and walked me through all the steps and how to breathe. I appreciated her guidance, and found her very helpful. The heat of the studio was quite high, but not unexpected for a hot yoga studio - I did have to stop a few times to take a breath, but perhaps because I simply wasn't used to it yet. It's been well over a year since my last hot yoga class, so this was a good challenge. The air was quite still though, so for newer students to the practice, do be ready for that. Facilities-wise, everything is okay. The studio is very conveniently located near Neumos, but this also means that it is harder to find parking if you drive, and harder to spot between buildings. I kind of liked the hole in the wall feeling, although I was a little bit creeped out as well after getting used to all of the new studios filled with natural light. The layout is a bit weird - the women's changing room/bathroom is very easy to get to, but you have to walk through the studio to get to the men's. Everything was a bit older as well, so the bathrooms and showers, while I'm sure clean, were not my favorites. I was a bit concerned that my stuff would not be locked away, but the studio did assure me that the front door would be locked upon class start. All in all - this was an okay studio. I'd go back to see Frani sometime, or try a similarly helpful instructor. However, not my favorite of all the studios I've been to. I would be okay putting a bit more time between my last visit and my next one. read more

Ugh. It stinks. It's dark and dank like a basement and it's closed off. The entry is tiny, chaotic and cramped. So is the changing room. It stinks!!! Even the mat that I rented smelled. Plus, there's a picture of some shirtless Indian guy sitting on a dead tiger blanket. I mean, WTF is this? He's not doing any yoga pose! I came to relax and focus but end up feeling stressed like some bad energy shit chased me away. I don't want to see a dead fucking tiger head staring at me every time I turn around. The teacher, I liked. She was energetic and knowledgeable. I think some extra options/modifications for people who are new to Bikram or who have injuries or limitations would have been helpful though. The other lady who was there was super friendly and helpful also. But the space itself...nope. read more

I am by no means a Bikram yoga expert, but after one class here I sincerely question whether (and how long ago) the instructors were certified or trained in the style. Passionless, bored, even actual dead-serious admonishments of students in the class - I was surprised at the lack of spirituality and professionalism. But now I'm rambling. Let's back up to the beginning. It was my first class; I came with my roommate. Intro special is $20 for a week unlimited classes - a great deal since individual classes are $17 each. They have cards and monthly options also. The space is very small. At my last Bikram studio (Bikram Yoga in Bellingham), they not only lock the door at class time but strictly limit the number of students per class so there's enough space for everyone to practice comfortably. At the Sweatbox, we were crammed in like sardines and I was hardly able to stretch out properly. No shower. I seriously don't even get that. You're sweaty and smelly and you can't even really towel off? The dressing room is super small and I actually felt bad that I was taking too long to get ready afterwards. The practice. I've done Bikram before and truly enjoyed it, not only for pushing myself physically but the mind-body spiritual connection. At my last studio when the original owners moved on, the new owners brought in quite a few new instructors who were basically aerobics instructors. The place became super trendy and to be avoided save for a few instructors. The Sweatbox reminded me of the disappointment I'd felt after the change: The recitation was conversational rather than calming, the instruction was rote and "physical trainer-ish" vs yogi-like. The whole thing just rubbed me the wrong way. Lastly, I haven't done a Bikram class in a long time. At one point my lower back became tight and sore, so I opted to stretch a bit with downward dog and child's pose so I could continue on. Shortly after the instructor announces that we shouldn't bring other poses into the Bikram class, and actually name checked what I was doing! I was pretty appalled because A.) she acted like I was personally insulting her as an instructor B.) it's unheard of not to listen to your body and rest when it needs it vs risking injury C.) I was a first time student at the Sweatbox and she knew it. Why not check in and make sure I was okay instead of calling me out? The worst part is that I while I felt great after class, liked I'd worked out - I wasn't *wrecked* like I should have been. I totally could have swam laps afterwards. My legs were sore a couple days later, but I got a better workout from the yoga class at 24 Hour Fitness (no slam on them but seriously?! come on)! I definitely love Bikram, so I'll finish out my intro week and see how it goes. read more

I've done a fair amount of yoga in my day. I've been to gym yoga classes, yoga studios, and have even taken private sessions. I have never once walked out of a yoga class. You better believe I walked out of Sweatbox. The person that met me at the desk failed to welcome me warmly. I look for this in a yoga teacher. Hell, I look for this in a Zumba teacher. She didn't engage in conversation or offer any sort of sympathy or understanding when I told her that I had recently moved to Seattle from the other side of the country and had been feeling anxious while settling into a new city and a new job. She didn't even mention that she was the teacher! She also took her time responding as I spun in circles in search of the changing room. I felt like a babbling, lost little girl. Not a good feeling before entering into a new yoga studio. I open the door and holy CRAP. I have never in my life practiced on carpet. It smelled like a mixture of wet dog, uncleaned genitalia, and dirty, stinky feet. There wasn't enough room for me to lay my mat down and stretch out properly. Now, I tend to prefer Ashtanga with some optional Vinyasa flows mixed in, whether I'm practicing hot yoga or not. I like a mellow, slow voiced teacher who is friendly and helpful and focuses on the depth of the poses while keeping a flow. This teacher started incorporating a breathing/pose straight off the bat, talking incessantly and quickly. Pose, stop. Pose, stop. That was the "flow" of the class. There were kids laughing, crying, and running around just outside of the class. You could feel the vibrations of their little running feet. Also, the heater vents were loud, loud, loud. The cherry on the cake? The teacher had us turn so our feet were off the mats. We were slipping on nasty, sweat-soaked carpet when we could have just turned to stay on our mats. When I took the liberty of turning, the teacher called me out by name and said, "We don't turn in this class." This was after she said several times that we can do what's comfortable for us as individuals. I didn't feel relaxed or comfortable with the poses. The teacher made me extremely uncomfortable in her presence and her teaching. I didn't feel like there was any connectivity whatsoever between body and spirit. It was so bad that after one hour, I walked out. She had the nerve to come up and ask me to "just lie down" until class was over. No thanks. My advice? Find another studio. There has *got* to be better than Sweatbox Yoga. read more

I'm not here to complain about the heat, or the instructors: both were fine. My problem is the SMELL. No seriously, the room is carpeted. Carpeted. CARPETED. Sweat+ Heat+carpet=mildew and wet dog smell. I suggest you Bikram somewhere with hardwood or rubber floors if you want olfactory survival. read more

Probably my favorite yoga spot on the hill. I've been coming here for just about a month and all the instructors have been extremely nice and encouraging. Every one of them made a point to learn my name and use it during practice from day one. In fact, just today my instructor Reva complimented three of my poses; super motivating! She's great; they all are. The space is small, but not too small; hot, but not too hot (although it does take a couple classes to get used to). All in all, it gets my "Goldilocks Award" for being just right. As far as price goes, it's the best I've found around town if you sign up for auto-billing after your two week new student package. Also, their app is super useful for pre-registering for classes which comes in handy for the really crowded classes. To recap: Great instructors, great space, great price. read more

The bottom line is that the instructors are hit or miss, and that greatly affects the experience especially for a beginner. Gary is GREAT! Super positive energy and just has a great time. He doesn't keep the room as hot either. He teaches at bad times for me though, so I won't continue to go to sweatbox. If his times are convenient for you JOIN SWEATBOX!! Frani is ok, her energy is not as positive as Gary but he is exceptional. Unfortunately, there is another female instructor that I just don't enjoy and she teaches at the best times for me. She was obviously in a bad mood and doesn't want to be there. She berated people for leaving and entering (really? who cares???) I don't leave the room and it doesn't bother me. The way she corrects your poses is not discrete and feels embarrassing. This is my first time with Bikram yoga, and I can't say I'll be returning. The classes are too long - 90 minutes is TOO MUCH. I like it warm but I don't like pouring sweat it's gross and slippery and is just unnecessary. I don't like doing the same poses every time, let's shake things up! I still get their emails, and the emails have lowered my opinion of Sweatbox too. One email was talking about how the author/instructor said to people who go to the bathroom "there's no magic in the bathroom! The magic happens on your mat!" I don't possibly see how this could be encouraging, and I just don't want to be at a studio that has that kind of rude, obnoxious attitude. If someone wants to go to the bathroom and take a break, that's their business. Another email was soliciting money, because their business has suffered. That would be fine, but they don't seem to have a plan as to how their business will improve. You can't not change anything and just expect business to magically get better. There's no magic in fundraising, the magic happens from improving your business and listening to customers! Get rid of the carpet and get hard wood floors already - it stinks. read more

I went into the sweat box and bought the $10 for 10 Sessions. It wasn't that the teacher or the program was bad but I have NEVER been into a stinkier more unhygienic studio in my life! The Sweatbox is a great name. Yuk:( It smelt absolutely horrifc! I had to leave before the class was over because I couldn't handle the smell when we finished the end of the class was on the floor... I actually started to feel sick to my stomach because of the fumes of the carpet and had to leave, It was wet and nasty! (I would never go back unless they changed their flooring) :-P There is definitely bacteria and god knows what else growing in this carpet. It was a total turnoff and Im glad I only wasted $10... Some facts I fould about the harmful things carpets hold amongst the many I found: A. Scientists believe that more than 43 million tons of dust falls over the U.S. every year. Indoor air usually contains about twice as much dust as the air outside. That's a million microscopic particles in a cubic inch of air. About 2,000 dust mites can live happily on one ounce of carpet dust. B. All-to-wall carpeting is less healthy than smaller rugs because wall-to-wall carpets tend to be more permanent and harder-to-clean endpoints for moisture, chemicals, liquids, crumbs, and other spills that provide molds, mildew, yeasts, and bacteria (such as e-coli) with a rich and nearly continuous supply of nutrients. References: A. Alphin, Elaine Marie. 1997. Vacuum Cleaners. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, Inc. C. American Lung Association. "Your Carpet and Indoor Air Quality." Accessed: July 30, 2009. read more

Ive been doing bikram since 2009 at multiple studios. This is my home though for the last few years. I like the consistency of the poses and the temperature. It's real bikram. Alot of studios cheat where its not as hot, or the time in each pose is haphazard and variable. I like the discipline of bikram and that Sweatbox reinforces it. It's my time to be locked in a room for 90 minutes. It's MY time! It's not pretentious and beginners are welcomed. The teachers are really fantastic. I usually go to Frani's class which I love. I like that she reinforces bikram etiquette, thank gawd.... that you shouldnt get up and leave the room during a practice... aka poor bikram etiquette. Other tips: hydrate well before and after, bring towel and water bottle, dont talk in the yoga studio, lay down if you are getting dizzy or overheated, arrive early (at least 10 min prior) to get your spot, prelearn about the poses before your first class if you haven't done bikram before, but it really easy to follow and you'll pick it up very quickly. Dont come in if you are sick! Gary is great too. Room for improvement: - They've reduced the number of classes making it difficult to make it though I've paid for a crap load of classes that are expiring. :( that's annoying. - Parking is very difficult, but not their fault. - the 2nd row of the room is not level...there's a ridge - the smell, yes it's terrible but after years I've gotten used to it. The floor is waterproof and they clean it every night. I've never gotten any infection after coming here for years. read more

Let's just put this out there from the get-go...today was my first time doing hot yoga. Also, before today, I had never done yoga at all. This review is written specifically for other people interested in trying hot yoga. For weeks, I searched Yelp hard-core for reviews and suggestions for hot yoga beginners and today I took the hot yoga plunge at The Sweatbox. It was everything I expected. It was hot, it was stinky, I was drenched in sweat and I couldn't do every single pose just right. Yet, I felt great afterwards. If you want to get into hot yoga, The Sweatbox is the place to go. They offer a $10 for 10 days special for all new students. Most important to me, the instructor (Laura) was extremely discrete in correcting my poses. She described each pose in detail and then praised and corrected her students. Here are some helpful hints for beginners: get there early and get a spot along the back wall, drink a lot of water before coming to class, bring a mat (or rent one for $2) and a large towel. Don't have anxiety about doing everything right. I didn't feel like anyone was watching me (except for the instructor) and I just focused on improving my poses each sequence. read more

I've been to just about every Bikram place around town, and while they all have their pluses and minuses, Sweatbox is my favorite. I started going because its my neighborhood yoga place, but I keep going because I love it. Note that I'm not reviewing the style of yoga here; it's Bikram so you're either on the bus or you're not. It's hot and sweaty and makes you feel like you're dying, and if not then they've got the heat turned down too low. The main plus here is the instructors. They aren't as monotonous or overly serious as some Bikram instructors can be, and I have gotten some incredibly helpful posture corrections from Frani and Gary in particular. They also have the most consistent heat and humidity of Seattle area studios. There is generally a good vibe there and a good mix of people in the class. The main and unavoidable complaint here is that it smells bad. I mean, I suppose it could be worse, and you do get used to it, but I ain't gonna lie, it's kind of gross. I really hope that next time they replace the flooring, they go for linoleum. I gave them five stars anyways because GARY and his SPEEDOS make up for the bad smell. Gary has many different delightful Speedos, but my favorite ones are the pink ones with palm trees. read more

I'm thinking maybe instead of calling this the Sweatbox they should call it the Sweetbox, because the people that work there are so nice, and because lots of the folks there have sweet bodies. This was my first bikram experience, and certainly it was intense, but its hard to imagine a more comfortable first place to try it. Our lovely instructor remembered all of the newbies names, and wasn't shy about calling us out when we were doing a pose wrong. I found it so easy to find, right next to Neumo's, and with a really pretty sign out front. read more

All I can say is: THE SMELL. I have yet to try a morning class, but I bought a groupon, and can't bring myself to go back to the place without calling and asking about the stench level first. The 5:30 is by far better than the 7:00 in terms of smell. I just don't understand how a HOT yoga place can have a rug for a floor when people are dripping all over it. Unless the rugs are shampoo'd every night- there is NO WAY THAT THIS IS SANITARY!!!!!! If I could possibly ask for a refund, I would. read more

Pretty poorly ventilated room, the smell everyone else here has described is not in any way exaggerated. I've been to several other Bikram studios that do not smell like this. They never clean the carpets here it seems...kind of the number one prerequisite for a Bikram studio. Also -- some of the teachers are very hit or miss. Some are nice, and some are the totalitarian-esque Bikram instructors ( you know the kind -- berate you when you seem like you need to cool off or breathe for a second, or freak out when you go to get water). There is also a lack of consistency across quality of instructors. Some allow you to meditate and work on your practice in peace, others ramble on and on and on about their tiny dogs or their tiny dog's weekend plans or whatever the heck else I really don't care about. Another problem, that is just a personal pet peeve, is when a Bikram instructor is out of shape and clearly doesn't practice regularly and then berates me for not holding the pose for the entire time. It just doesn't motivate me to be berated by someone who cannot even do it themselves. Oh, and the bathroom in the studio thing is super weird. It feels like everyone can hear you peeing. The yogi/yogini signs are redundant since everyone uses both anyway. Also since they are the only place to refill your water since the sinks in the changing rooms are awkwardly shaped so if you're on one side of the classroom furthest away from the bathrooms, and it's crowded, it's quite awkward getting to the other side of the room. A final caveat, I greatly dislike it when instructors won't get water for you (but fine, you're not a waiter, I get that (I've actually had someone in NYC Bikram say that to me on the UWS but that's a separate review)), but then berate you for leaving the room. Yes - I understand we're not supposed to, and I don't want to! But your policy of not getting water for me precludes you from being nasty to me for having to go get more water. It's quite hot in there (they don't baby you in any way - which is a positive in some respects) and if I only have a normal sized water bottle (because let's say, I can't afford the $5 giant water bottles you sell) and haven't practiced in a while I'm going to be quite thirsty. Overall, if you live in Capitol Hill and are a Bikram devotee -- you're kinda stuck here I'm afraid. It's bearable, but by no means should you kid yourself into thinking it's a high-quality studio. It's very meh, and that's because they can be since they are the only one in a convenient location. read more

I have been doing hot yoga for about 6 years all together, and never previously had been a huge fan of the Bikram style... That is all changing with the Sweatbox in my life now. The instructors at Sweatbox are awesome, the temperature is kept perfectly hot, and they have mats, towels and a variety of water for you to purchase. For city yoga, parking is pretty easy to find too. I formerly thought Bikram's style was too rigid and was bored with only doing 26 postures, but more and moreso I find myself really digging Bikram. Furthermore, the instructors seem more lighthearted than at other Bikram studios I have tried (in West Seattle, Maui, and Atlanta). Notably, Gary Smith is an awesome teacher and he has a really good energy about him during the class. Frani is also one of my faves there. Lastly, the studio is really a nice, clean place and although it took me a little while to get used to the feeling of carpet, I am fine with it now. However, people have to realize that there is a lot of sweating and hard work going on, so it may have some of that smell. This shouldn't be abnormal for any sort of exercise facility, and I feel as though the reviewers who complain about the "smell" maybe are not cut out for working out at all indoors. It is a workout place, get over it. My only complaint about it are the pics of Bikram sitting on real tiger skin... As an avid animal lover, it pains me to look at those and I really really don't like them... I am surprised others haven't mentioned them as well. Anyhow, my two cents: Rock on Sweatbox! I will be renewing my membership for months to come! read more

I love this place! I have never considered myself a 'yoga' type of person...I read somewhere that Bikram Yoga is similar cardiovascularly (sp?) to a 4 mile run. After years of abusing my knees and joints from jogging, aerobics and skiing, I decided to give Bikram Yoga a try. Now where to go? I noticed there was a Sweatbox studio newly opened up in the northend by my house so I gave it a try. That was two years ago and not to be over dramatic or anything, but Bikram Yoga has changed my life. It is truly the BEST WORKOUT I HAVE EVER DONE. It is so nice to finally do a form of exercise that doesn't work against my joints and body! Now let me take a moment to mention the AMAZING staff of instructors here. Frankie and Laura (owners) are wonderful. It is obvious they live, eat, breathe Bikram yoga and they have surrounded themselves with the best staff...doesn't matter which class on whatever day you attend class, you will be well taken care of. I highly recommend doing Bikram Yoga at Sweatbox at either Capital Hill or up in Shoreline, you won't be dissapointed...just know it will be the hardest workout you have ever done...ps-a quick word on Bikram...there are certified Bikram Studios and there are copy cat 'hot yoga' studios. To be safe if you are trying Bikram for the first time, make sure they are certified Bikram...otherwise you could get hurt...for real. read more