Hot Yoga at Yoga Plus Makati
Ever since I watched the Netflix documentary on Bikram Yoga’s founder, Bikram Choudhury called “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator“, I’ve been having a hard time reconciling how such a great practice with so many positive effects on my health could be born from such a bad man.
I’ve been torn about going back to Bikram Yoga Manila for a while now, mostly because I always have such a meditative experience when I am there and I could already feel my body craving for the heated stretches. On the other hand, I also don’t want to knowingly contribute to the empire of a sexual predator and abuser if I can help it. So then begins my quest to find the best alternative heated yoga experience in Metro Manila.
Searching for Hot Yoga Experiences in Metro Manila
Back when I was still working at in a telco in BGC, I’ve tried Hot Yoga before at the now LiFE Yoga BGC at Forbestown Road and Yoga Plus BGC at the Fort Legend Tower a couple of times, but never really committed to the practice. But now that I’ve been working out more regularly, I see yoga as a necessarily supplementary fitness activity in between other more intense classes as a way of active recovery.
How is it different from Bikram Yoga?
There are several key differences between Hot Yoga and Bikram Yoga, but the most stark is that Bikram Yoga is a patented heated yoga experience you need to be certified by Bikram’s group to teach it and it entails the same 26 poses in 3 intervals within 90 minutes. While Hot Yoga can be practiced by any trained yoga professional and can be taught in multiple ways, wherein in the same studio like Yoga Plus can have several instructors with different Hot Yoga styles that have different poses, times and even music.
What is Yoga Plus Philippines?
Since 2011, Yoga Plus has been one of Metro Manila’s premier Yoga studios. They are a diverse community of people who believe in the impact of creating positive changes within one’s self and commit their best to guiding you through a transformative journey by empowering mind-body wellness through the practice of yoga and mindfulness one class at a time.
They also do teacher trainings for Vinyasa and Yin Yoga, integrated wellness classes targeted towards those who need therapy or the elderly and private bookings. If you want to experience what it’s like in their community, you can join their events as well.
What are the Yoga Plus Makati Facilities?
For both regular customers and ClassPass users, the use of mats and towels to be used during the Hot Yoga experience are inclusive with the class rates. They have lockers but you will need to bring your own padlock. I had a bit of a difficult time because my backpack was too big to fit the locker and I had to leave it at a shelf area during the class. They also have a water dispenser where you can refill your tumbler. You will need it!
They have a cozy waiting area where students relax before class. Shampoo and body wash are available. While towels can be borrowed for free to shower, they do have a Php 100 peso deposit incase you damage them. The shower area is spacious, cool with air conditioning and comfortable.
They have two studios – one big and one small. We had our class in their big studio lined with mirrors. The heaters are a bit different from what I’m used to as it generates dry heat and not like the humid heat that I am used to in Bikram Yoga.
My Hot Yoga Experience at Yoga Plus Makati
The staff were some of the most polite front of house staff I’ve ever met. The girl in charge of the towels was even kind enough to give me advice where to sit to best observe my classmates and if I would like to feel the most heat in class.
Before the class started, the instructor Mae, came up to me, asked me my previous experience and gave me the rundown on her particular Hot Yoga class was done – 15 poses with varying number of repetitions from 1 to 3 times per pose, without music and in a dry heated room. She also wouldn’t be opening the windows for that class as Metro Manila was still reeling from the recent eruption of Taal Volcano. She also mentioned that among all the Yoga Plus Metro Manila branches, the Makati one was the hottest!
I was lucky, perhaps, that since I took a 4pm class there were few people. There were only about 6 people in the class. Hot Yoga is one of those experiences that are better done in smaller groups when you are not used to it. The body heat generated by people makes it harder to breathe in general.
Mae was very good in checking up on each and every one of us to see if our forms were correct. She was also kind enough to give alternatives to the poses when she noticed some of us were struggling, without singling anyone out. I found her a great teacher who moved at a good pace that was enough to challenge you but not to rush you.
There were some distracting moments when the honking from cars in traffic would seep into the tranquility of the studio and admittedly took me out of it for a bit, but over all he class was the right amount of difficult for me. It gave me the signature Hot Yoga glow from my skin getting rid of all the sweat.
Would I come back?
I think among yoga studios in Metro Manila, Yoga Plus Makati has got to be one of my favorites. Overall, their studio is very well-maintained and has everything you need apart from yourself and your workout wear. Through the months of using ClassPass, I’ve become so much more attentive about hidden charges a lot of the studios don’t disclose on the app.
Yoga isn’t my main workout on the basis of preference. But it’s classes like these that remind me why cross-training across different practices will always be beneficial. There are so many mental and spiritual benefits that come with regular Yoga workouts and I’m happy to say this class hit the right notes for me.
How to try it
Currently, they offer an unlimited free trial for one week for all first timers. Depending on how many classes you buy, each class can cost anywhere from Php 349 to Php 699 per session. They also have Senior Citizen and PWD Discount. You can also join me and book them through ClassPass!
