bodē nyc Upper East Side — Local services in New York

I visited Hot Bode Upper East Side for the first time on 1/5/25 for an afternoon hot yoga session, and while the class itself was enjoyable, the overall experience was deeply disappointing due to the toxic culture and unprofessional behavior I encountered from the manager, Blayne.

As my friend and I left the class, Blayne, who had participated in the session, loudly commented to the front desk, “Are we letting people in late? We shouldn’t be doing that. I didn’t know if you all let them in or they snuck in.” This statement was made in such a way that it clearly singled out two of the only Black participants in the lobby, which made me feel immediately uncomfortable and targeted. At that moment, Blayne attempted to embarrass, shame, and label us as thieves, which felt incredibly disrespectful and isolating.

After a few moments, I approached Blayne calmly and respectfully to explain that this was our first class and that we would have appreciated some guidance rather than being shamed in front of others as we were the only late participants. Instead of taking responsibility for her words, Blayne became agitated and told me that she hadn’t been speaking directly to me, so I shouldn't have been bothered. When I pointed out that her words were loud enough to be heard by everyone, she dismissed my feelings, saying I shouldn’t be upset.

I tried to explain that her behavior had a negative impact, but Blayne quickly shut down the conversation by saying, "Sorry if that’s what you heard. Sorry that you feel this way." Her apology lacked accountability and came across as insincere, which only made me feel more invalidated. When I continued to express my concerns, she interrupted and ended the conversation abruptly, showing no willingness to engage or understand my perspective.

I was deeply hurt by her actions and, feeling overwhelmed, left the building. However, as my friends and I were discussing the experience outside, Blayne came out and overheard our conversation. Instead of being receptive, she became belligerent and started name-calling, accusing me of being "aggressive and violent." I tried to explain how harmful it is when white people use such language toward Black individuals, especially in this context, but Blayne continued to be dismissive and refused to take any responsibility for her actions.

This interaction left me in tears. I left feeling disillusioned and heartbroken, as I had hoped to find a space that was committed to inclusivity and racial healing. Unfortunately, Blayne’s behavior showed a complete disregard for these values. I will NEVER patron this establishment again so long as Blayne is...

There are many nice things about this studio- friendly reception staff, space and light in the studio, nice towels (they smell much nicer now than they used to), good deals, great location.

Unfortunately a few of the things called out in the negative reviews are worth paying attention to, and I hope management will pay attention and correct these three things- Temperature, Bikram association, and berating people excessively if they leave the room.

Temperature: relative to other studios, the temperate varies more and is sometimes just too hot. It’s unnecessary for the average practitioner. Listen to us please! We don’t all want to be pros.

Bikram: certain teachers mention Bikram frequently, even though the studio is officially no longer associate with him (he is on the run, avoiding sexual assault charges). Decide- are you with him or not?

Culture of humiliation: when someone leaves the class, they are berated extensively, which is humiliating for that person and distracting for everyone else. It happens basically every class. If the studio is concerned about a persons wellbeing why not (1) give them electrolytes to try to keep them in class and (2) train your already fabulous reception staff to care for them if they take the decision that leaving an incredibly hot room is right for their body. It is not your body. Please cut the culture of “we know best” because it borders on bullying.

I agree with the review that says practicing yoga at this studio is “mentally frustrating”. If you lead this studio, please be open to...

I enjoy hot yoga and used to frequent this studio often due to how convenient it was to where I lived. I do not have a hard time acclimating to high temperatures, but I can see how this would be very difficult for absolute beginners. It is steamy, "every inch of you dripping" hot! Once, I made the mistake of wearing a cheap, hot pink sports bra, and would you know it---I came up from a laying stance to find two hot pink imprints on the white towel. 😝 Tips: Hydrate yourself very well the day and hours before your practice or you will get a headache. Bring enough water (BY charges $1 to fill up your own bottle). Wear sweat wick clothing! Come early, as after work classes fill up. Bring a lock for your personal items; the lockers don't have built in locks! And if you're in the last row in the Right studio, watch your toes when you're stretching---there are heater vents there that'll burn you! Don't take Patrick's class if you're super new or need to take breaks in between. I recently took one of his and he went on a bat crazy rant about wimpy Bikram instructors, getting snappy on anyone that appeared to be slacking or adjusting to the practice. I actually like strict teachers who help me challenge myself, but in my opinion, practicing yoga is also about keeping a zen-like state of mind, as much as it is about technique, which is disrupted when an instructor is visibly upset, and cursing aloud at everyone. Hopefully that was just a...