Hot 8 Yoga — Local services in Culver City

Worst yoga experience I've ever had. It was my first time there. I went in the room labeled "Power" as my class was called "Hot Power Fusion." I waited until five minutes after the class and there was only one other mat, so I ducked my head out to see if I was in the wrong room. I found another room labeled "Hot Power Fusion," peaked inside and apologized to the instructor (Briauna H) and told her that it was my first time and I was in the wrong room. I snuck behind everyone looking for a spot and only found one, which was to the left/middle against the wall. After the class I left quietly during savasana after a minute because I was starting to feel faint. I took a shower and went up to the front desk to validate my parking and thank the teacher.

As I walked up I could hear a few of the students from my class, the front desk and the instructor loudly talking about me. "You should lock the door next time!" "I can't believe she put her mat in front!" "That was so rude that she came in late!" They still didn't see me standing there and continued talking about me. I told the woman who validated my parking that they were talking about me. This still didn't stop them from going on and on. I couldn't believe the instructor (Briauna H) was also talking about me. She could have told me I was too late to join, or moved me if I were in the way. I can't recall ever seeing a group of people be this mean even in middle school and high school. They were enjoying it.

I was really looking forward to finding a studio near my work, as I have been doing Bikram for years and was looking forward to doing it again. I paid for a week to try this studio out and would rather eat the cost then come back to this studio. When I got to my car the woman who validated my parking apologized to me. By this time...

Disappointed in this location- the hallways are soaking wet and they need to find a better mat system in their locker rooms because people just drag water everywhere. The studio room itself smelled disgusting from the previous class and the attempts to clean was just spraying air freshener. The class itself was nothing special and actually incredibly boring and I was counting down the minutes for it to be over, I’ve never considered leaving a yoga class mid way before this experience. The rental towel and the eucalyptus towel smelled moldy and disgusting and made my class even more unbearable. Mold + sweltering heat made me feel sick. I also think it’s concerning that they don’t have people wipe down their weights/blocks after class like other yoga studios because I don’t trust they’re able to know which ones were used when people put them back on the shelves. Who’s cleaning them? Are they even cleaning them?

The cake was leaving class and seeing I was charged $3 for the mat towel. Which is fine but was not communicated to me when I asked for one, and to pay for a moldy mildew towel is ridiculous. This location needs to figure out its mildew issue and it needs better desk staff - just rude and unprofessional energy. Won’t be coming back here again and will stick to other hot 8 locations. The whole experience just felt unhygienic...

I started my Hot8 journey at the Culver City studio, and it truly holds a special place in my heart. It was the first studio I signed up for, and I loved it so much that I upgraded from a 5-class pass to an unlimited membership. The instructors and community were welcoming, and it felt like my yoga home. However, over the past year, I’ve noticed a decline in studio upkeep compared to other locations. The rooms occasionally have a musty odor, and the towels sometimes carry a damp scent, as if they were not thoroughly washed or dried. In terms of class variety, there seems to be an overwhelming number of Sculpt classes during the week, and fewer options for other styles, which makes it difficult to find classes that fit my schedule. While I understand this is a personal issue on my behalf, it has unfortunately made it harder for me to continue practicing here regularly. I still have a deep appreciation for this studio and the role it has played in my wellness journey. I’ve enjoyed visiting the South Bay, Hollywood, and Pasadena locations, and while I’m considering whether to stay with Hot8 as a whole, I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had here. I love it, but I’m exploring...