Agni Yoga & Cryotherapy — Attraction in Portland

My hot yoga practice began in 2008 in Portland, many moons ago, and I continued a regular practice since the start. I boomeranged back to Kauai in 2012 and practiced with multiple yogi gurus. I eventually found my home at the Kauai Hot Yoga studio in an almost daily practice.

Happenstance brought me back to Oregon in 2022, and when I returned, it was hard to find a studio that continued to offer the challenge I needed in order to maintain a consistent growth in my practice. I had been taking intermediate courses and began moving into advanced hot yoga practice in Kaua`i. I was surprised to see that Portland didn't really have the same kind of yoga community as I was used to, and to say the least, hot yoga studios with intermediate to advanced courses.

It took me several months to find a hot yoga community that offered me something new to learn, and I truly missed learning something new when I stepped into the hot yoga studio. Agni Yoga school is the only hot studio in Portland that provided the intermediate to advance challenge that I was looking for. I think I'll stay for a while. :) I am glad they restarted(?) offering an unlimited monthly subscription to fit my ever changing and flexible work and personal schedule.

The only honest, truthful, and specific feedback I can give, which is the reason for the four stars rather than five is that one of the instructors in the middle of my hot yoga practice decided to provide me with negative feedback with my practice in the middle of class and in the middle of a posture.

It reminded me of the strictness I experienced when I started in the Bikram series years ago (you must die in the room, and if you aren't dying you're not trying! yikes...), This instructor's novice advice was an unwelcomed and unpleasant experience and immediately took me out of my meditation.

Honestly, I try to avoid the instructor as they seem to be more concerned about the health of the floor rather than the health of my practice. It took me a while to get back into my meditation after the instructor's mistimed lecture, relevant to the good intent.

Least to say, they could have had better tact on delivering necessary and valuable feedback. Rather than in the middle of my meditation and practice, the best time would have been, respectfully, aside and privately between the instructor and student. It really showed that sometimes, instructors have much more to learn, especially interpersonal and relational skills (EQ). It also showed that the studio are full of people in constant practice and bettering of Self. THAT fact, I do support and will continue to attend the courses at Agni...

I've never been to the Hall studio, but the Sellwood studio is truly wonderful. Not only is there fro-yo right around the corner for your post sweat-bath munchies, the people who work there are wonderful. I had never done Bikram and started when I purchased their Groupon (which, by the way, was a FANTASTIC deal). When I told the instructor that this was my first time attempting Bikram, he was so enthusiastic. When class started, he introduced me to everyone in class that day and made me feel extremely comfortable; I didn't feel singled out, but, rather, celebrated for being there in the first place.

Class was very rigorous, which was to be expected, but the instructor kept checking in on me and making sure I was alright. I did a big Bikram no-no and ran for the door about half-way through class, thinking I was for sure going to pass out. As to be expected, I was just experiencing my first "Bikram disco lights" and the woman manning the desk was so nice and understanding and didn't judge me at all for bailing on my first class. She convinced me to go back in after giving me some cold water. When I returned, the instructor smiled and welcomed me back without judging or chastising me, it was a relief! I finished up at pace with everyone else and everyone clapped for me at the end. I've been going back three times a week ever since.

All anecdotes aside, the Sellwood Bikram studio is a really friendly, welcoming and professional studio. I've made many friends since my first visit and I intend to...

I am a total newbie at yoga and not in good shape. I also have some sports injuries. I went for my first class with my friend Courtney, who is a yoga goddess. I was thinking that I would probably just have to sit in the heated room and not do much because I’m not used to the heat and have to kind of take it slow due to my injuries. But much to my delight, the heated room was more of a dry heat and didn’t bother me. It actually helped me get into kind of a very relaxed state. I was able to do all the poses, adjusting them slightly as I was not limber enough to do many of them fully. But I was so surprised at how much I was able to do. I didn’t have to stop and I completed the first class. I used to be a swimmer and have not found any exercise that gets me into that lap swimming meditative space, until now. I’m so excited to go and sign up to try the first month. They give you a reduced trial rate for your first month and it’s unlimited. You can go as much as you like. You will have to rent a mat if you don’t have one. The people there are so kind and full of good vibes. If you’re not sure about it, go early and get a spot by the door in case you need to step out for a minute if the heat bothers you. It totally didn’t bother me at all. I actually liked it. Looking forward to...