Pure Om Bethesda

I’m a gym rat, I tried pure power for the first time. The stretches and poses aren’t difficult, but with the heat it can get tough. I essentially started sweating before the class started. You’re essentially in a sauna the entire workout. The workout touched on every muscle group, but it’s no impact and it’s constant. It’s light lifting and cardio the same time. Afterwards you’re worn out, covered in sweat and a bit sore.

this is the best workout I’ve had in years.
every time I felt like giving up because of the heat, David (the instructor) said something really encouraging to the class.
I’ve already signed up for a class tomorrow.
Come to this studio, you will not regret it!

First time trying Bikram Yoga, and I’ve probably done yoga a handful of times in general, but I think I’m HOOKED. At first it was crazy to think I’d sit in a room of 105 degrees and not die but I made it through! It was a great experience and I cant wait to go back.
To-​Know:
— There is a groupon/​living social deal out there (currently) which was nice since I wasn’t sure I was going to stay committed. Like, what if I didn’t like it?
— After the class ends they give you a nice COLD towel. OMG heaven. (Like a mini reward)
— Clean and SUPER friendly. The instructor was very nice and genuinely cared about the newbies in the class. (Plus there is always someone to answer the phone if you call)
— Bring a towel and DRINK WATER THROUGH OUT THE DAY. No joke. Or just don’t go.
— Bring extra clothes and try to shower after.
I’m «one of those» people who wears a Polar Watch (Calorie Counter) and burned 450 calories in 90 minutes. Loved it.

This is an amazing place to practice! It was my first time doing yoga and on top of that Hot yoga. I am now HOOKED! I did a living social deal, and now am doing the month to month unlimited. I go 4 to 5 times a week and some times two times a day.
The instructors are truly there for you and help you get to your best where you are, no matter where you are. I would recommend this studio to anyone who is new (or not) who wants an amazing time. They have a Power yoga that not only uses yoga poses to test you but also incorporates weights (you choice in weight) to strength you arms/​core and push you harder.
Plus they end with an amazing cold lavender towel when you are done with the Hot Yoga Classes.
JOIN! Its worth it! Do it for you!

I’ve practiced Vinyasa Yoga on/​off since 2009, & often told myself that one day I will try Hot Yoga… well to my unknowingly manifestation, today was the day.
I was running errands & on the other side of the street when I saw the bright/​earthy tone sign advertising a New Student Special for Unlimited Yoga for $ 25. I did a hard stop, crossed the street & walked inside. Wendy was at the counter & was just as calming & delightful with her presence of service. She gave me a mini tutorial as I previously visited their website back in December while surfing the internet for Yoga Studios comparisons. I was intrigued by Pure OM’s location in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. infinite possibilities. Wendy exuded such genuine insight & not offering a quick sales pitch, it gravitated towards me in signing up right then & there.
My 1^st time practicing Birkham Yoga & my experience was AMAZING! The Instructor Jessie was the
, game over. From the moment she stepped into the studio, her welcoming & teaching spirit was very serene, not intimidating. She did not bark out instructions, yet commanded the class. The aspect of the mind-​body & moving meditation at once is challenging enough, & Jessie’s direction made a world of difference. While she directed the sequences of poses, she was educating the class, & even provided hands-​on assistance for accuracy. Regardless of your practice of being a Novice or Expert, the encouragement coming from Instructors as Jessie, to listen to YOUR body on all facets is a blessing of motivation to evolve in Yoga. no competition.
The ambience & aura throughout the studio was a fresh looking & peaceful state… the staff’s synergy of kindness was extremely inviting. They offer a vast of retail products from beverages, nutrient replenishes & & rental items such as mats & towels, at $ 2 a piece. Dedicated Men’s & Women’s Restroom with Showers & Lockers… since the Women’s was in a pristine & organized order, I’m sure the Men’s mirrored the same.
& yes, the hotness was on point to the max. The acclimation was of ease as the environment wasn’t stuffy as you journeyed through the class. The bleached white, lavender infused, cold face cloths you’re given during Savasana/​end of class enhanced my relaxation of the physicality I just endured to the 10^th power. I almost felt like I was engaging Yoga Nidra, the deepest possible states of relaxation while still maintaining full consciousness. Had there not been other classes, I’d probably still be on the floor.
My 1^st of countless experiences to come was liberating! I engage in Yoga for personal/​spiritual evolution, relieving internal stress & safeguarding my spine issues…& Pure OM & Jessie provided that today. I had such a humble attitude of gratitude after class today, Namaste.

I purchased a Groupon for this location — $ 30 for 5 classes. I have done hot yoga and other yoga classes around DMV but this place is by far my favorite. The hardwood floor in the studio is lovely and clean. I love the Pure Power class with Rachelle, and also the fact that they offer shorter classes in general (sometimes 90 minutes just does not fit into my schedule). As other reviewers have said, the lavender towels at the end of a session are wonderful. Everyone I have encountered is friendly and welcoming. I wish they had a water fountain to fill up water bottles, and parking can be a pain, but other than that this place is great.

Took a 90 minute class with Elizabeth and she was amazing!
Why they only got 4 stars — I was in town for business, and so didn’t have my usual yoga mat and towel with me. It’s $ 2 to rent a (very thin) mat, and then it’s an additional $ 2 to rent a towel to go on top of your mat — which is basically required for the class. I was a little grumpy about paying an additional $ 2 for a towel to go over the mat I’d just paid for after I’d also just shelled out $ 19 for a drop in class. Just sayin’.

3.5 stars which I round up to 4 stars. Caveat — Bikram yoga is my least favorite form of yoga. Pure Om does a lot of things right, and a lot of things wrong or bizzarrely. Let’s start with the good stuff
— The staff are some of the most welcoming and nicest people I’ve ever met.
— The space is absolutely beautiful and clean.
— The instructors have rocking bodies — nice inspiration.
— The lilac scented cold waschloth in the end is a very nice touch.
— The temperature of the room is at around 105 maybe 110 tops. I believe Bikram yoga studios are kept a tiny bit hotter and much more humid. I think that’s super cheesy, and it makes me think that the heat is artificial. I seem to remember reading somewhere how yoga is supposed to get you to generate internal heat. So when the place is so hot and humid that you sweat anyways without doing anything, I feel like that’s cheating. So I like a hot yoga room, but not Bikram hot yoga hot. So Pure Om is great in that respect.
Now onto the actual yoga practice itself.
I’ve dabbled into all sorts of yoga — Iyengar, Ashtanga, prana flow, Baptiste style yoga. I’ve been practicing for almost 6 years. I’m no expert, but I’m not a beginner either. The way Pure Om does certain things is a little odd to me. To be fair, I’ve been less than a handful of times. I get the sense that the instructors are not ‘classically’ trained in yoga, or even in strength or personal training. They don’t use the Sanskrit terms for 99.9% of the yoga poses, or even the normal English terms (i.e. they call hero pose Japanese siting pose). Since this is Bikram — the emphasis is on stretching and extending yourself, not in getting the poses right.
Their padahastasana involves putting hands under feet from the back, not the front. All other prompts are prompts for ‘normal pahastasana” except for the instruction to put hands under feet from behind. In dancer pose, the instructor was talking about how important it is to ‘twist’ your torso, and she proceeded to show a posture where the non-​standing leg hip is way back with the corresponding shoulder way back. Wrong. Hips and shoulders are supposed to be facing forward. The other thing that stood out was warrior 3 — the instruction was to get into a «T» and once you get into a «T» to look forward. I’ve always been taught that arms, torso, raised leg, and head are in a straight line. Sure you don’t have to be perfectly in a T but neck is relaxed. (They don’t call it warrior 3 by the way)
In a lot of poses, it seems that you just jump right into it. This is probably a Bikram thing. Normally, when you go into a deep pose, you do a few intermediate poses to ‘warm up.’ For example, before you do king pigeon, you do pigeon. Our first non-​standing pose was reclined hero pose, which was then followed by camel pose. It didn’t seem like there are any warm up poses. Most people are not capable of doing reclined hero, and they don’t offer any precautions or variations. A series of locust poses start with the locust pose variation where your arms are under your torso, palms facing down. They then follow up with the more beginner locust poses (with arms to the side), which they call superman pose. When they ask you to do triangle pose — trikonasana — they actually mean side angle. And they don’t seem to realize that right before you do side angle, you are actually doing warrior 2. They never call it by its name. When they ask you to do tree pose, they actually want the tree pose variation where one leg is crossed in front of the other leg.
The practice ends with a series of Ashtanga type seated poses — basically a lot of forward bends. They don’t at all mention that your heart leads in the pose. And more bizarre, their counter poses are more forward bends in the form of straight legged situps done from savasana. My lower back was getting sore, so after awhile I started ignoring the instruction and started taking a vinyasa (chatturanga, up dog, down dog), which is the Ashtanga counter pose to seated forward bends. Yeah, it was obnoxious but my lower back was hurting.
I recommend continual training for the instructors or perhaps a consultant. I think it would make the practice 100% beter. (Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be practicing Bikram style yoga. Maybe they’re all weird.)

Warning: this is a mini me-​moir.
My first taste of Bikram was at Pure Om Fairfax, 2 years ago, at a time when I totally needed it. I was anxious, overweight, depressed, in the midst of a break up and living with my parents. Basically, Loserville, U.S.A.
While most of my nights were spent playing Magic the Gathering on my Playstation padded by a comfortably numb fog of relaxation provided by Percocet, my days began to flirt with actual real life when I tried a Groupon for Pure Om (back then, Bikram Yoga Fairfax) and forced myself to go.
That first class shook me. It was scary. I hugged my mat, towel and the beautiful, pristine, NON-​CARPETED floor of the studio in the 104-​degree heat. I was so hot. I was so sweaty. I could think of nothing else except getting through those 90 minutes and counting on my body and brain to do it.
Slowly, week after week, I started to love it. Crave it. I needed to think of nothing but getting through the present moment. It was as if the instructors here rotated into my schedule through divine intervention – Siri Om when I needed some strong guidance coupled with tenderness; Reggie for when I was being a pussy and needed a firm hand; Rochelle for pure athletic inspiration; Adrian for hope, goal-​setting and a fierce dedication to technique.
I won’t lie, I cried more than once on that wooden floor. So many times I would focus my gaze – whether on one of the imported wood carvings from India or the pretty paper lanterns or the gauze surrounding the best heating system in DC’s Bikram kingdom, installed by Hargobind, Siri Om’s husband – and make it through a day that comprised the mire of one of the toughest times I’ve had so far in my life.
I finally got to the point where I was going ⁵⁄₆ times a week. I even went on a retreat with Pure Om to their house in Mexico. Bikram changed my life, but if it wasn’t for the vibe and beauty of this studio, and the power and the passion of these instructors, I don’t know if I would have even given Bikram and myself the chance.
I remember during one savasana during my first month, Siri Om read a passage that had a lot of meaning to me about a Native American grandfather telling his grandson about the two wolves constantly battling inside of him: a good wolf and a bad wolf. The good wolf is full of love, compassion, understanding, hope, patience and empathy, the bad wolf represents jealousy, anger, misery, pain. The grandson asks, «Grandfather, which one will win?» And the grandfather replies «Whichever one I feed.»
Everyone has rough times, and needs to discover their own guiding lights. In the past I would resort to less healthy coping habits. Bikram helped me find my spark again, and respect my body and my whole self when I couldn’t find a way out. It fed my good wolf. As one instructor said, «Keep looking in the mirror until you like who you see.»
OK. Now I’ll stop being so sappy.
The cold lavender towels they pass out at the end of class are manna from heaven. Pretty sure this is what Nazir gave to Brody in Homeland, because I would do anything for whoever handed me that towel.
Pure Om Fairfax and Pure Om Bethesda are like fraternal twins, not exactly alike, but the core DNA is still there. Both are beautiful and peaceful with a good rotation of excellent instructors. I’ve been to most of the studios in the area and while they range from decent to good, nothing can top the Pure Om experience. Highly recommended.

This place is horrible! The people are horrible and rude! I had to leave a class early by 15 minutes to go to work, and basically got a lecture about how it’s rude to leave class early! WOW, Im paying THEM for class, not the other way around! Don’t get me wrong, the class is OK at best, but the staff is just plain rude! They are not accommodating at all and they act like they are doing you a favor.
They are not in it to practice yoga and inspire being a yogi, they are purely in it for the money and will over charge you and then give you attitude about it later.
Don’t waste your money here, go down the street to the other yoga studios and be happy that your giving your money to people who will actually RESPECT you.
It’s a shame that a place made to spread peace and serenity is packed full of hostility.

This place is awesome in comparison to other Bikram studios in the area. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. They practice the traditional Bikram Yoga– 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. The changing room for women is very small so either get there early or come already dressed if possible.
My first class was with Stefania and she was amazing. She was considerate of everyone’s strengths and weaknesses and the different skill levels in the class. Honestly one of the most pleasant Bikram teachers I’ve met.
My second class here was with Elizabeth. She had a great personality & was very hands on and outgoing. The only problem I had in this class was that there were people making casual conversation throughout the whole class, including the teacher with some of the students she was more familiar with. Don’t get me wrong, I am ALL ABOUT hands on/​personable teaching experiences, however, when it comes to Bikram it is usually a standard to have no talking during class or in the room as it is a time of meditation for most people. All of the conversations going on made it very difficult for me to meditate and concentrate on my own practice. This is the only reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5.
Another great perk is the cold lavender towels they give out at the end of class. For me it feels like I am getting a reward for my hard work.
They also have a great selection of mats, clothing, and other accessories one might need for yoga, available for purchase.

I like everything about this place. Teachers are Great, and everyone is very friendly. Dame its Hot!

This place will kick your butt. And they are not messing around.
My friend and I bought a living social deal for $ 30 for an entire MONTH of unlimited yoga. Try and tell me you’ve EVER found a better deal for a yoga/​workout class in the DMV. Didn’t think so. And it was SO worth it. I would’ve paid that for two classes, and instead I got twelve out of it!
I’d never done bikram yoga before this class and didn’t really know what to expect. I took the majority of my classes with Stefania, who I honestly thought was a little abrupt in her teaching at first, but grew to love her style. You should come prepared to push yourself mentally and physically in this class. Lightly put, it isn’t for wussies. And they will let you know if they think you’re copping out!
You will be pouring sweat within about 20 minutes of the class, if not sooner. Make sure you bring a towel for your mat — they don’t let you practice without it. And bring water and/​or coconut water to help you refuel. The entire studio is very clean, everyone is very welcoming, but very focused. Don’t talk in the hot room — this is a space for people to relax and practice a moving meditation. As the teachers say, this is for some people the only entirely quiet part of their day. And it’s great!
The lavender scented cold towel at the end of class is AMAZING. If you’re really struggling towards the end of the sequence, just think of the towel. It’s so worth it.
Tip: make sure you eat at least 2 – 3 hours before class so you have enough fuel in you to get through but won’t feel nauseous, and use the bathroom before you go in. Leaving the room is looked down upon.
I’d definitely go back if I had another deal!

Had a very bad experience here. went to do the Bikram yoga and the heat made me kind of nauseous i left to the bathroom to clear myself and when i came back the instructor removed all my belongings from the class and locked the door not only did she do that but my wallet and metro card and car keys were still inside i was part of a 5 person group we have since never returned and will never return.

This studio is amazing! I have been going for more the three years, and it just keeps getting better and better. It is inviting, clean, and the staff is incredibly helpful and genuinely nice. The teachers are top-​notch, so knowledgeable and have great energy. If you have not been, try it. It is an amazing physical challenge and the community is so supportive. And, the cold lavender towel at the end of class is pure om!

I am NOT new to hot yoga and just moved to the area so found this place. It is very nice size room. A little bit tight with parking. You will be paying 4 – 5 bucks for parking around here every time. People are mostly pleasant and facility is very up to date and well maintained. The reason this Yoga place is only getting 3 stars is experienced in one of the teachers classes. I felt like this woman was teaching a boot camp not a hot yoga class. She put me on the spot and made me very uncomfortable about wiping my sweat during the class. Is wiping of the sweat not allowed in hot yoga!?. I always had teachers that we’re accepting supporting and encouraging. Not this one. I will make sure that when I go back I never take class where Elisabeth is teaching. And even though I am very happy with the rest of the staff but it made me wonder if I still should look around for different school

My friend and I bought a Groupon for this studio – $ 26 for 20 classes of hot yoga. We’re both avid yogis but had never tried Bikram before. We decided to try it together. The day of our first class, we both pounded water like crazy and made sure we ate enough so we didn’t pass out. We took our first class with Hargobind, one of the studio owners and it was awesome! The entire class made us feel welcome.
Fast forward 3 weeks and we’ve been going regularly! First day was the roughest, but it gets easier and easier. Make sure you eat and drink enough so that you have enough energy. Working hard for 90 min. in a 105 degree room is no joke. So far I’ve been to classes led by Hargobind, Stefania, and Elizabeth and I’ve liked all of them! The instructors don’t go through the poses with you, but will stop and demonstrate some of the poses and give you great tips. At the end of the class, you get a cold, lavender towel – it is AMAZING.
Overall, the studio is very clean and spacious. They have separate locker rooms for men and women, with showers (although I haven’t used them yet). You can bring a lock for the lockers, although it seems pretty secure – they only have 1 class going on at a time.

I had never done yoga or hot yoga before stepping in this place, so I was as new as one could get.
The place smells very nice as you walk in, the locker rooms are quite nice as well. Despite the fact that there are people literally dripping sweat everywhere, I never once had the feeling that I was going to get a disease or anything by walking around in bare feet. There are lockers (bring your own lock) and cubbies to store your stuff. I would feel safe leaving my things in the cubbies, as there is only one class at a time and therefore no one is ever lingering around the locker rooms or cubby areas when people are working out.
The instructors don’t demonstrate poses, but they are very helpful to new students. They walk around and give pointers if necessary, and they never made me feel bad for being an incompetent flailing sweaty mess. Rather, I was complimented on my hard work.
People of all shapes and sizes were in there, so if you’re worried that you’re too big or too small or too whatever, just forget about it and give it a try. No one cared. Everyone was focused on themselves in the mirror during the class and I never once felt like a hideous blob that was one dropped pose away from being kicked out of class.
They all applauded the first-​timers after the first class, which was a nice touch. In addition, at the end of class you get THE BEST THING EVER: an ice-​cold, lavender-​scented towel. It is so perfect and wonderful. I did two classes in two days, and I swear I keep coming back for the towel. It’s perfection.
In short, I love this place. I got my classes through Groupon, and I wish with all my heart that I could afford to keep coming here when my classes run out. I’ll do my best to try, though — Pure Om is amazing. You won’t regret going.

one of the better studios i’ve been to. very calm and relaxing environment with the smell of incense right when you walk in.
PROS– NO CARPET floors (carpets are disgusting and just smell like armpits. how can you breath and relax when you are doing floor exercises and only smell BO?) the lavender cold towels =) instructors go the extra mile to welcome you with a warm smile and wish you a good day as you leave. do not rush exercises.
CONS– Parking is not free and tricky to find. for awhile the meters infront changed from one hour to two on the sign but not the actual cost so the meter ended up eating more of my money but only parking 1.5 hours, which ended up having me leave class in the middle to feed the meter. bathroom is crammed but find a corner to change and you’re fine.
i wish they lock the doors once class starts. it is annoying when someone comes in late into a crammed class and chooses barely a spot that is actually blocking the person’s view behind them. not cool.

Ch ch ch ch changes!!! And all for the better. Kudos to the new owners of pure om yoga (formerly known as bikram yoga bethesda) for giving this studio a much needed makeover in terms of physical structure and energy!!!
The locker rooms have finally seen some renovation and while still small, at least we don’t have broken showers anymore. The yoga room has a stone flooring (looks like wood), which is a massive improvement from the old nasty carpet. The owners have also added decorations like Buddhas and lanterns. A bit kitschy but hey this is OM yoga. So ya it works.
Energy wise, the new owners have made pure om a community and the results are in the numbers in classes. Today I went at 730 am (Sunday) and there were 30 early birds sweating alongside me. Bikram is torture but there is a comfort and energy from being tortured in a big group.
While we have changes, we still have old favorites including Elizabeth who is an amazing instructor. Add this all together + the lilac scented ice cold towels at the end of class and pure om is a winner!

Pure Om Bethesda used to be Bikram Yoga Bethesda – I’ve been a part of the community since they opened 3 ½ years ago and this studio if superb! Siri Om bought the studio in 2013 and brought wonderful energy and new ideas/​improvements.
The yoga practice is challenging, but well worth it. It’s heated and that challenges your mind and opens your body in amazing ways. I have lingering pain from a decades old car accident – practicing in the hot room alleviates my pain and my body feels so much stronger and flexible for it. Expect to feel a bit overwhelmed at first – drink lots of water the 24 hours before you practice and eat healthily (although not 2 hours before class) – and don’t try to keep up with the more experienced yogis – just go at your own pace… this yoga has opened me in unexpected ways and if you allow it, it can become a physical and emotional boost in your life.
The studio is beautiful and clean – it has a great Zen ambiance and the locker rooms are spacious and comfortable. The studio itself has a antimicrobial flooring (not carpet) that keeps the room fresh and comfortable – it’s a large space and when it’s full of yogis, it has even better energy.
The teachers are wonderful – they each have their own style. Some are playful, others choose to speak a prepared dialogue to allow you to get lost in your own practice without distraction. They don’t demonstrate postures, so if you are new just plant yourself in the back and follow others in the class – perfection is not expected, but they prefer you stay in the hot room to get used to the heat and none would have a problem if you laid down as you needed – or did only half the postures – it’s your practice.
I have been to many of the hot yoga studios throughout the area and this is my favorite – and by the way – there are yogis in their teens and in their 70’s and all shapes and sizes… if you are looking to shape up, you will be amazed at how the practice will trim your waist and if you are an athlete it is an excellent cross train to prevent injuries/​support flexibility~