This was the place where I popped my Yoga cherry…read more Inside, the set up is very inviting and helps set the mood of whats about to come. Kick off your shoes, find yourself a mat and spend the next hour or so with your body stretched out or tied all kind of knots. The lady in charge was great, and managed to cater for her regulars aswell as us blow ins. The session covers a heap of different poses and stretches that left me with a warm feeling all over. I also woke the next day to find that my usual backache was gone. I enjoyed the experience, and found the end of session 'relax time' great. This stage had the group all lying back on their mats with covers over our eyes, slowly stretching out the kinks we'd tied ourselves in as the teacher spoke in her hushed tones about us all being 'a tree in a field'. Sounds odd, but through all the clunky music and earthy talk, it was nice to lie back and space out for a while.

I'll start with the same thing I said in my review of the Fitzroy studio: I think it's tempting…read morewhen writing reviews of places like this to review the activity rather than the facilities and their suitability for that activity. That's not quite fair, though. Make no mistake, Bikram Yoga is not for everyone. It's hot. It's sweaty. And frankly, it's kind of gross. (Among other things, it has to be done in a carpeted room. (Carpeting with all that sweat??? Yeah. Kind of gross.) You can't really hold that against a Bikram studio, though. It'd be like rating a brewery based on its crappy wine list. Bottom line for the Richmond studio, as for Fitzroy: if Bikram is your thing, or you haven't ruled it out yet and want to give it a go, then this is a great studio. The Good: The main thing I prefer about this studio is that it tends to be less "sceney", and the students are a bit more polite about chatting before/after class. I also like that the lockers are free, and that the teachers (on average) tend to do a bit better about looking after new students and making corrections (though there are still those who are pretty slack in this department, something you'll find anywhere you practice). The Bad: My main gripes are that the heating/air system is pretty darn inconsistent, and the locker room a bit cramped (only three showers, there's usually a queue). I was also pretty unhappy when I bought a 50 class pass and wasn't told that there was a 20% off sale on passes in a few weeks, since I definitely would have held off and saved myself $100; if the owners were more of a presence, that might not have happened. That'd be another difference from the Fitzroy studio. I'll throw in my tidbit of first-timer advice here, too: go at least three times before deciding whether it's for you -- try not to judge right away. If I hadn't gotten that advice when I went the first time, I probably would have never gone back. The first time or two are the hardest because you don't know what the hell is going on and all you can think about is the heat. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself. And do your very best to listen and follow the teacher's instructions.

All of my Bikram practice occurs at the Richmond studio. It has a really convenient location, close…read moreto trams and train (about a 10 minute walk). Some other reviews of the studio mention the carpet. A couple of months ago, the studio introduced carpets that don't absorb the moisture associated with the practice. I find that the studio doesn't maintain that mustiness as much as it used to. Given the popularity of the studio, it's facilities are quite small (2 bathroom stalls and 3 showers for the girls) and do struggle to cope with the influx of eager students. Lockers are free and there is free mat storage for regulars. Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday are definitely the busiest days, most likely repenting for the weekend but don't let that put you off. Bikram is tough work, but don't give up on the practice. The more you go, honestly the better you feel. Suitable for all skill levels it's quite a workout aided by the lovely (although you may not think it at the time) instructors. A fan.

Unlike any yoga class I've ever taken, or studio I've ever been to - to understand Humming Puppy…read moreyou've got to try it for yourself! Well worth the per class price.

Woah, I was hummed right into a state of utter relaxation! We opted for their most relaxing class…read moreand were not disappointed. A mix of yin and other less dynamic styles of yoga, and finishing with some meditation activities, I left feeling about five years younger! The interior is very chic and set-up much like a day spa, including free hairbands, towels for use and coconut water and tea on arrival. They even have lockers with phone chargers in them, hello 2016! Wish I lived in Melbourne so I could attend this studio's classes regularly.

This is the best place in Melbourne for to start and maintain your fitness through both Pilates and…read moreYoga. Don't miss the reformer classes, I can't even say how much working out on a reformer has increased my core strength and helped me reconnect my self to my body after too long not being fit. Jodie, one of the instructors will make you feel right at home. My other favourite teacher, Mel, always knows exactly how to correct my form when I am off balance. I highly recommend this Studio to anyone wishing to find a place where they feel right at home. NO PRETENTIOUSNESS, Just FITNESS!

The relationship with my sessions at Fitlife was definitely a love/hate kind of a thing. I'd hate…read morethe night before each 6am session and dream about the pain I was going to endure. Upon waking up I would lecture myself about the benefits of bootcamp and nine times out of ten I would roll out of bed and somehow manage to drive my way there. After the session was over however, my feelings changed dramatically. The moment Tommy gave the sign to get a drink a smile the size of the equator would break out on my face. Who knew I was such an amazing athlete? The feeling of satisfaction at my efforts always tended to end up with some arrogant over-praise in my mind. But who really cares, right?! I got up at 6am and made it through an hour of exercise hell and I deserve to smile, dammit! I have done so many classes with Tommy that it's hard to remember them all. But I can definitely recommend his boxing sessions if you want to get trim, fast. He is a slave-driver but he gets results. I've also done his bootcamp program, which was just as hard, if not harder. This involved a variety of activities including running across the oval near the small training room. A rather difficult variation on this run was dragging a massive chain with us as a group - now that is something I never want to do again! At only $15 a session it is great value!

Yoga real is an excellent yoga studio that ensures you are learning about the meaning of yoga not…read morejust stretching. There is a mixture of classes for all levels of yogis. If you're a beginner fear not one of the lovely helpers will make sure you know the routine and how to get into positions. The volunteers are all very friendly and welcoming and rob is an excellent teacher. I found that his style of teaching was very beneficial and it has had a big impact on finding inner peace. Having said that some of my friends have attended the class and not found this aspect useful preferring to stretch more and do less meditation and self reflection. I definitely think it's worth trying out especially if you find yourself stressed or anxious. Rob is very approachable and always happy to help you out with tips and techniques for what to do at home if you need extra work.

Nice and small gym. Conviently located at the heart of Glen Waverley. Easy train, food and parking…read moreaccess.

Thank you so much to the team at Back In Motion Blackburn for their continual care and support for…read moreboth mine and my families injuries. A special mention has to go to Andrew who after multiple disappointments with other health professionals was able to correctly diagnose and treat my condition within a few sessions! I now have a plan that I can complete independently and would highly recommend any of the physios at this clinic.

I started coming here because of chronic back pain from pregnancy. After a rushed examination, and…read moremore than 4 months of expensive weekly massage 'treatments', they still had not moved me on to pilates. The only exercises suggested were stretches and no strengthening and endless weekly appointments. I did not see how I was going to improve and I was not improving. They even pushed me to do 2x a week appointments, claiming I would get better quickly! The pain wasn't going away, I was merely paying them to massage my back for 20 minutes. I started to feel they were merely getting me in meet their KPI and to make as much money as they could from me, with no real goal for improvement for my back. I stopped going and went to another place. They promptly did a wide range of examinations and diagnosed me correctly. They also encouraged strengthening exercises at home and pilates, and fortnightly appts, not 2x a week! What a difference. In conclusion, I would not recommend back in motion at all for those with chronic back pain.