Some Like It Hot Yoga& Wellness — Attraction in New York

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Gem in Staten Island: Some Like It Hot Yoga

This review is long overdue because my experience here was nothing short of amazing. As active-duty military who has lived overseas for almost 15 years, I only come home to NY during the holidays. I reside in South-East Asia. In the past two years, I’ve developed a deep love for yoga. Having been a trained dancer since the age of 2 and holding group fitness and Zumba certifications, yoga is still a relatively new journey for me. Becoming a yoga instructor in Southeast Asia over the last two years has been one of the highlights of my life. But as an introverted and shy student, I know I have so much more to learn in the yoga world.

Recently, I returned to Staten Island for personal reasons, staying for about a month. I didn’t want to stop my yoga practice, so I searched for a local hot yoga studio for the first time. In my home region in Southeast Asia, I practice Radi8, but I’ve heard of styles like Hot26 and Bikram and had never taken those classes before. I’d only ever attended one yoga studio before—the one where I started as a student and eventually earned my yoga certification.

One lesson my guru taught me is to never enter a studio announcing yourself as a teacher because you are always a student first. Following that wisdom, I walked into Some Like It Hot Yoga feeling shy and anxious. I’d signed up online, and as soon as I arrived, the instructor immediately recognized me as a new face. This was such a relief because it showed me they knew their regulars and noticed when someone new needed help. She kindly guided me through check-in and explained what to do, making me feel at ease.

I settled onto my mat in the most packed yoga class I’d ever attended. The class was challenging and, of course, hot—which I was used to—but the community was so welcoming. Signing up for my next class was simple with their app, and I quickly began connecting with other students. Eventually, the studio owner, Nicole, even invited me to her 10-year anniversary dinner. I was shocked but honored!

Attending that dinner was such a special experience. I sat with a room full of strangers who poured out stories of how much the studio meant to them. Nicole gave out prizes, and the entire evening was filled with joy. I had a chance to chat with instructors and students, which helped ease my shyness even more. If I didn’t live halfway across the world, this would be my new yoga home.

As a Black woman, the yoga world can sometimes feel intimidating, but here, I felt nothing but acceptance. The community Nicole has built is the true meaning of yoga. The studio offers challenge, education, and warmth to anyone—no matter your skill level. I learned new modifications, gained confidence, and felt completely embraced.

During my time there, I even attended Glow Night—something I never expected to enjoy so much! Imagine doing traditional Pilates in a heated room with glow-in-the-dark lights—it was so much fun!

If I ever return home to Staten Island, I’d love to be a permanent fixture at this studio. I highly recommend Some Like It Hot Yoga to anyone looking for a yoga community that embodies acceptance, learning, and challenge. This studio is truly a gem—right there in Staten Island...

AHHH Some Like It Hot, where do I begin? You know when you have a restaurant that you just adore...or a secret store you find all of your cute stuff...and you simultaneously want to tell everyone how wonderful it is, but also pray it doesn't get too crowded that it changes everything you love about the place...so you're like hmm should i keep this gem a secret? That is how I feel about SLIH Yoga + Wellness, but the good always outweighs the bad, and everyone should know about what a fabulous place it is and what a fabulous person Nicole, the owner, is.

About two years ago, I came on a friend's whim with a groupon to try classes. She didn't finish our package, and now, I come myself as much as possible...usually about 4 days a week. I've bopped around from workout to workout before and never found anything that challenged my body and mind every time, and, without fail, makes me feel better than before I came.

Bikram (26+2 here) is HARD; make no mistake about that, but once you learn that you can do it, you can enjoy all of the intricacies and the rewards of the practice. It is a unique practice though, and if you aren't properly prepared before your first class, it can be overwhelming...read about it, educate yourself, hydrate, ditch the phone, embrace the no-talking, understand that your first class will be totally overwhelming...and then, go with it!

Over the last year or so, Nicole has added Inferno Pilates (a fun low impact HIIT workout in slightly lesser heat), 60 minute versions of the 26+2 (vs the normal bikram approved 90), and Kick Your Asana (a power flow kind of yoga practice that always changes vs. the routine of Bikram style)... each of them are a great compliment and make SLIH a place where I truly feel like I can get everything I need. You can rent what you need (and it's just yoga, mat and towel) if you are a newbie (or when you forget or get behind on laundry like me.)

Nicole herself is great...she teaches many of the classes (all of the teachers there are excellent but have different styles which I appreciate; Nicole's standards are high), and she keeps the studio pristine (especially when you keep in mind that this is a studio where people sweat more than they knew was possible). The studio itself, the locker rooms and showers, the lobby -- everything is perfect and improving at all times. On top of running a fabulous business, Nicole is a great person and beautifully brings this amazing yoga community of wonderful people together. I am so incredibly happy to have found SLIH, and feel so lucky that it has become such a big part of my life. I have truly never ever been so addicted to anything so good...

I’ve never wrote a bad review before so for me to go out of my way to write one, you know it’s bad. Unfortunately the owner of this studio had a horrible attitude with me. Long story short, you must arrive at the studio 5 minutes early. At the time of my class, New Dorp lane was a mess so with traffic so unfortunately I could not get there 5 minutes early, however I ended up arriving 1 minute early and was locked out. I texted the owner that I would still be arriving early just not 5 minutes early and once I arrived I was locked out, and no one would answer the phone. I was standing outside hoping that someone would at least come to the door to turn me away. I truly do understand there are strict rules at the studio put in place, regarding meditation being apart of the practice which is why they don’t take “late arrivals”. However, after the class I called the owner hoping I would at least get credit for the class I was locked out of (being it’s an expensive package- $105 for just 4 classes.) and I was understanding even after she told me she couldn’t give me credit for the class. But then I asked about the late fee charge and she told me that she would be charging me $50 for a “late fee” when I was in fact EARLY to the class. Her attitude was atrocious through this entire conversation and she told me “I don’t actually care whether you understand or not. I am the owner of this studio and you will not be getting credit and you will be charged for the late fee!” She was extremely aggressive when explaining this to me, as I was genuinely trying to understand how I could be charged $50 when I wasn’t late. To make matters worse, as I was replying to her over the phone she cut me off and hung up on me. I don’t believe that an owner should act like that. She didn’t hear my frustration, she didn’t empathize, she didn’t apologize and she didn’t even try to resolve a situation that I believed to be a conflict. As I told my friends the story, more and more stories came out about how this owner has been extremely rude to them as well, which is why they don’t go to this studio any more. I wish I would’ve asked around before. Save your money and your time and try Club Pilates instead. The owner there has been very understanding and empathetic and you get similar health benefits. (Mind you, Club Pilates late fee is only $15 and I’ve watched many people come to class late or be turned away but never get charged the late fee and even get credit so they can attend a different class) I hope this owner starts to be more kind to the people who...