Hot Yoga MasterClass FULL COLOR Paperback
Hot Yoga MasterClass FULL COLOR Paperback
$79.95
Description
Let’s face it. Hot yoga is famous for changing lives, and for healing bodies and minds. So if you’re just thinking of starting yoga (hot or not) or you’re a hot yoga enthusiast who practices several times a week, the Hot Yoga MasterClass will create the spark in your practice to make it feel great every time, and help you make the changes you want in your life.
In print since 2008, the Hot Yoga MasterClass manual is finally available as a travel-friendly and inexpensive FULL-COLOR paperback edition. Long-considered as the quintessential ‘Hot Yoga Bible’ it continues to receive glowing 5-star reviews; from hot yoga students (beginners to advanced) teachers (Bikram and hot yoga) and would-be teachers from around the globe.
With the Hot Yoga MasterClass you will …
- Take the positive step to dramatically improve your practice and take your benefits to the next level.
- Discover the nuances of an effective, physiologically correct approach to hot yoga.
- Learn the subtleties of a precise (or accurate) practice and avoid the classic mistakes that most students make.
- Know what to do when your teacher either doesn’t have the time to help or if your teacher is not sure how to help you find your sweet spot.
- Be amazed that sometimes the most minor of shifts in your approach will be the key that unlocks a pose for you.
When you use the Hot Yoga MasterClass you will have in your hands the key to getting the depth in the poses, the how-to of adjustments and corrections that will work for your body (that are not obvious in the scripted class you could be attending) and what you need to do in order to avoid injury. It’s the next best thing to having Gabrielle right there in the room with you, an expert coach at your fingertips.
This is the reference you’ve been looking for, if:
- You want to transform your own practice
- You want to learn in a few weeks what usually takes years to discover
- You want to breakthrough “plateaus” in your poses
- You want to uncover EXACTLY what needs to improve in your pose alignment
- You want to reduce the risk of injury
- You want to accommodate existing injuries – and still practice safely
- You want to safely and effectively modify a pose to suit YOUR body type
- You want to learn which parts of a pose to focus on … and why
- You want to learn how to focus, remove distractions and gain a deeper satisfaction from your class
- You want to know how to advance in your own practice and “where to go next” – even if your teacher isn’t aware or sufficiently experienced
- You want to know how to continue practicing even if you encounter overly dogmatic – or worse – aggressive teachers (yes, can you believe it? They DO exist!)
- You want to set up a home practice – including how to set up and heat your room
- You want to make this amazing yoga be the life-changing practice it can be (and if you already think it’s life changing … well I agree with you! Imagine how much MORE of a difference you can make when you “discover what you didn’t know”!)
This manual is much more than the specific techniques of poses.
- In the first 54 pages (which are not pose specific) you will find useful information about learning the poses and many yoga principles that will help you no matter what style of yoga you practice.
- A full chapter on the most common injuries and conditions – and the general modifications required. Where this is specific to only one or two poses, you’ll find cross-referenced detail in the specific pose chapter later in the book.
Then, chapter-by-chapter, each and every pose is thoroughly deconstructed using the following format:
- The Essentials
- What Makes This Pose So Difficult To Get Right?
- The Technique
- Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
Here are just a FEW of the hundreds of things you’ll learn …
- Always falling out of Standing Head To Knee? Want to feel powerful in this challenging pose? Learn the “75%” rule that will transform your “struggle” into solid, focused benefits, each and every class.
- Want to feel STRONG and INVINCIBLE? Discover the critical correction that you can make to transform Triangle pose from having you feel like you are falling over, to a pose that embodies the “internal warrior” it is named after.
- How do you develop “strength AND flexibility” in Standing Bow? Always falling forward? Learn the intricacies of this pose – including where your extended arm should be placed and how it has a profound effect on the depth of your backbend. Hint: It is not where you think.
- Find out the simple change in the way you think about Eagle pose that will get you rock solid alignment every time, regardless of whether you have a good ‘wrap’ .
- Are your hamstrings fighting with your spine in Hands To Feet and Standing Separate Leg Intense Stretch? You could actually be doing yourself and your back HARM in these poses … when you should be blissfully stretching! Learn how to use your body’s natural reflexes and turn this around for your benefit.
- Improve your balance and poise! If you’ve ever felt completely “clumsy” when trying to get into Toe Stand … then you need the 3 different ways to get into the final position, depending on your body geometry.
- Aching back? Not sure how to protect it and still do yoga? Discover how to transform the entry to specific poses if you ever have an acute backache, that will still allow you to get the benefits and participate in class, while helping heal your back.
- Learn the 1 shoulder adjustment that will dramatically shift your floor Savasana to create the cleansing, calming, healing space it should be.
- Do those sit-ups feel confusing? Not sure what to do for best results? Did you know that the sit-up can either be dangerous OR improve your core strength simply based on exactly HOW you do it? Transform your sit-up into a back-strength and core-strength exercise.
- Keep yourself safe! Discover 2 alternatives to a sit-up when you are too tired, your back is too sore, too weak or your body is injured.
- Learn DOZENS of modifications with photos, for common complaints; injuries and medical conditions, so you can use your yoga to help your body … and avoid causing any additional problems.
- And many, many more, pose-specific techniques that will help you feel “even more fantastic” … each and every class!
Joan –
I have been practicing for almost 15 years, and hearing Gabrielle’s voice is a welcome change to the standard “dialogue.” She’s thoughtful and creative and focusses on the important things–physiology, pitfalls, helpful tips–not just what goes where. There are very few instructors who think beyond the correct posture to think about the journey, not just the destination. The DVD, the audio classes, and the book are terrific aids for anyone serious about hot yoga.
Luigi –
Gabrielle Raiz did an AMAZING job with the Hot Yoga
MasterClass package! There are plenty of books about yoga, many are great, but THIS ONE is absolutely the BEST I have read in my life!because it is so complete, nothing is missing, every aspect of hot yoga is taught with precision,detail,understanding, it’s just like hot yoga is a diamond and Gabrielle teaches and explains every facet of this diamond.If you had to buy just one book about yoga, buy this one!as a 500h certified yoga teacher, I highly recommend the package to anyone who wants to know more about hot yoga!
Jennie –
I have been very pleased with the Master class package. I have had whiplash x5 times, so have a very sensitive neck and back. I have found that after some classes I felt great and other times I would have neck and shoulder tension. It is particularly important for me that my shoulders and neck are placed correctly, and this package goes through all the finer points of each posture- also the introductory chapters cover the ‘set up’ really well. I have not had neck pain following a class since reading this book. It has also given me the confidence to deepen some postures- particularly back bends. I haven’t tried the dvd or cds yet- I really just wanted the book.
Geri –
I am very pleased with my recent purchase of the Hot Yoga Master Class package. I am a newbie and wanted to learn the correct way to practice. The hard copy book is beautifully photographed and instructions are precise and easy to follow. The DVD and Audio CD’s are crisp and clear. Gabrielle is encouraging and seems genuinely interested in helping one learn. Robert’s replies to e-mail questions regarding my order were kind, prompt and professional. I recently started Bikram classes and would have been lost without these materials.
Pat –
The book is wonderful! So much good information. It will be a great help to my husband and me as we develop our practice. We just started hot yoga a few months ago, and we are of “a certain age,” so we need all the help we can get! The descriptions and the pictures are so helpful. This will be a reference we will use for a long time!
Juli Borders –
Very happy with the very informative Hot Yoga master class book, CD’s and DVD. I started bikram yoga about 6 weeks ago. I knew that I needed more help with the poses and immediately went on line and found the hot yoga doctor. It has helped me so much and given me great focus with the poses. I would much rather do the poses correctly and prevent injury, take my time in learning and get the full benefit.
Thank you so much, Gabrielle
Trish –
This material is by far the best on the market! We are using the manual, DVD’s and audio CD’s in our teacher training for students to study in-between our training weekends. Each student has a manual to take notes as we cover each posture. They show up for yoga teacher training “prepared”, focused, ready to learn and deepen their own practice. Lots of Ah-ha moments from the simple yet detailed Hot Yoga Master class products. It helps our training weekends to be productive, and yogis understand asana “whys & hows” rather than fretting over memorizing dialogue. Recommend for personal home practice or studio training.
Kate –
Brilliant! Thank you so much, Gabrielle. I have only had the workbook, DVD and CDs for a couple of weeks (they arrived v promptly to the UK, thank you!) but the programme has already been life changing. Neck and lower back pain are a thing of the past. Previously I would walk out of class wondering why my lower back was so stiff and my neck felt unstable. With Gabrielle’s incredibly precise instructions I am able to decompress my neck before every pose, and approach the poses with confidence, knowing that I will receive nothing but benefits. Her hands at your side, palms facing forward pose is nothing short of a revelation in terms of opening the shoulders and relaxing the neck. Thank you, Gabrielle. I look forward to improving my practice steadily.
Michael –
Very good book! Learn a lot. Each time I read this book I want to start feel it.
tim –
Excellent book. Answers just about all the questions I have come up with over all the years of doing hot yoga. I haven’t used the audio cd and dvd’s yet.
Corby –
I’m not quite a year into my hot yoga practice and feel I have a lot to learn and explore. The Hot Yoga Master Class is an ideal resource to guide me through fine tuning the poses, making some really important corrections and expanding my overall practice. I open the book EVERY day and always find valuable instruction or advice to bring to my practice. A great resource! Thanks!
Fiona Stothart –
Just started hot yoga classes – wanted to make sure I was doing all the poses correctly. The book, cd & dvd have all been a great help. Am missing the classes but can now go back confident that I am doing poses correctly and won’t be doing any damage to my body. Thanks so much Gabrielle.
Andrea Vardi –
So far I have just been doing the class from the DVD, and it immediately and significantly improved my poses. It’s already worth it, so I’m looking forward to the book.
D’Ann Naugle –
I am returning to hot yoga after several years away from it. I find the book very helpful in jogging my memory for the poses, and love the dvd to prompt me during my practice. Thanks!
sue –
Great book. Very informative, has helped heaps.
Nadja –
Amazing book! Thank you!
Karen –
Love, love, love, Gabrielle’s Hot Yoga Master Class materials. The book is very informative and helped me “learn” the poses and the CD and DVD are a fantastic alternative for when i can’t make it to the studio.
Donna –
Everything about this resource is perfect. It is beautiful and well written, and the organization is great. If you want to know everything about Hot Yoga, this book is a must.
Terri –
A friend turned me on to hot yoga as she has been doing the practice for 14 years and greatly benefitted from it. In my search for info. I came across Gabrielle’s Hot Yoga Master Class program. OMG! As a fitness instructor I am totally impressed with the detailed information, photos of correct (& not) poses, and the dedication she has put into this. As far as my practice, well, I’m still a newbie in progress.
kelly hutson –
THANK GOD FOR THE HOT YOGA MASTER CLASS!! This has changed my life. I honestly believe that if I didnt purchase this I would have thrown in the towel…literally!! I have a room set up and I do it at home and did not think it would be so easy!! The way Gabrielle instructs is so thorough and easy to understand. Love it and I recommend the hot yoga master class to everyone!!!!
Sarah –
I have done hot Bikram-style yoga for 2 years and just recently started teaching. I wanted to figure out how to go further in my practice, and also wanted the extra info so I could better teach my students. The Hot Yoga Master Class is really good at breaking down the postures, and has taught me many of the little “extras” that I have been missing. My practice has improved and I think my teaching has too! Thank you Gabrielle
Rik –
The production quality, and depth of instruction in the book and DVDs are exceptional. Both are clearly presented with plenty of detail.. It’s also easy to find the place or section you are looking for. I teach martial arts and appreciate what it takes to prepare comprehensive lessons that are healthy, motivating, and uncompromising in the quality of the art itself.
Hanif Rajwani –
Great book what’s so good about this book it’s a simple to understand for the biginner or teacher.The Manuel is full of great advice & help highly recommend it even if it is so expensive.
Dawn –
I have been very pleased with the Hot Yoga Master Class package! Since I am a complete beginner to any kind of yoga, I needed to wrap my head around the “how to do it” before I tried to do it. The very detailed manual has allowed me to do just that. In addition to the DVD and the audio tapes, I have everything I need to begin my successful journey into hot yoga! THANKS!
Simon –
Hot yoga master class is great, I pick a posture to read before class and focus extra hard on doing it perfectly, my regular teacher has commented twice so far on the improvements in my posture! The book is thorough and complete, it has brought a new much needed extra dimension to my bikram!
Thanks and keep up the good work
Oxana –
I love this package! I am beginner in yoga and being practicing just ltl bit more than a year! This book is so helpful for me and some of my friends who i help with they yoga journey! As well its useful for other styles of yoga cause help u to learn listen to your body and go through poses with correct alignment! Its a beautifully made and easy to understand and put info to practice! So glad i got it! Thanks!
Dora –
My Thumb up for this book. I have done Bikram for sometime now and I’m like every one earls I wanted to know more. That was when I found this book. The book is Fantastic. It is a great tool. I am so motivated that I have now started a group that I am helping too. The book is so detailed in explaining positions,helpful tips and the photos and the description of each pose. I highly recommend the package.
Kirsty Lowe –
Great book. As a newly qualified yoga teacher it is so helpful to have a detailed review of the postures. It’s really useful in assisting me in developing my teaching dialogue, understanding the challenges my students face, and developing my own practice.
greg –
I have done Bikram for 15 years…as a physician, I’ve always questioned the validity (and value) of the extensive heat/humidity and associated elevated heart rates — it is not aerobic exercise so it really does NOT provide aerobic fitness, i.e., running etc. Having said that, as I’ve aged, I have decided to NOT go to the studios which are so hot & humid, since many times I feel worse after a session than before due to the excessive heat…but rather, do the series in my own space where I can control the heat and humidity. There are absolutely NO clinical studies to support the
heat is beneficial. The poses are great, and I truly believe have helped me keep a body much younger than my 60 yrs.
Susan –
The book is great! I am a beginner and I found the book to be so detailed in explaining positions as well as so many helpful tips. I don’t know if I could have continued Bikram without it. I now am able to do so much more in class that’s to the photos as well as description of each pose. I highly recommend the package!
Shawn –
My wife and I have always gone to a Bikram studio until we moved to far away. We were looking for a course online to continue our practice. We converted our bonus room into a studio. I was so excited to see the hot Yoga Master Class and that it came with video. I must say that we absolutely love our Master Yoga DVD and its almost like being in a live class. The whole package is exactly what we were looking for and the book is also very helpful. This is by far the best complete course on the market today!!! If you where looking don’t waste any more time this is the one to get!!!! Thanks Gabrielle….
Tanya –
I started Bikram yoga a couple of months ago. Lots of poses are excruciatingly difficult for me, so finding any help outside the classroom was essential. The book is great for a novice, it is much easier not to develop bad habits rather than to get rid of them later. I’d highly recommend the book. Not too sure about the DVD or especially CDs value added to the book. But it’s me, if you are a teacher in training, I guess it might be more useful.
Love the book, I am sure that will be my Bible for a very long time.
Hannah –
I have done Bikram yoga for 7 years and really felt like I was really stuck in a rut. I wanted to figure out how to go further in my practice, but didn’t know how. The Hot Yoga Master Class has taught me so many of the little nuances that I have been missing. I am having breakthroughs in my practice and am loving my yoga again. Thank you Gabrielle for all of your hard work it is so appreciated!!
Caroline –
A very comprehensive resource beautifully presented.
Anyone interested in Hot Yoga would benefit from it.
Competitively priced.
I am very pleased to have purchased and will enjoy it as a constant resource.
Karen –
Thank you, The Hot Yoga Master Class came in the last couple of weeks of my Level 1 teacher training in Hot Yoga. Working full-time (not in the yoga industry) I have only been able to get through a tiny bit of the book (it is fantastic, love the way you break down each pose), I have used the DVDs, CDs & Mp3s heaps to practice with in these last weeks of my training. I passed & now have my certificate. Thanks so much for your help.
I am 57 years and I have only been doing Hot Yoga since September 2012, so a late starter, but so glad that I have finally found something that will not only shape my body, but work on the mind & spirit.
The many tips on the DVDs, CDs & Mp3s have really made a difference to my practice. As I work through the book I am learning more each day. My Yogi here in Australia said that my practice has improved by ten years and I know that some of this comes from your DVDs, CDs & Mp3s and more will come from your book.
Thank you
Veronique –
It’s amazing how much my practice has improved, with the breakdown of every pose, what to work on, and how to gain the maximum benefits from each pose. This is truly a master class. I’ve heard some of the teachers quote directly from this book, and yes, I’ve heard some say the things that would cause the novice to make mistakes and hurt themselves.
Thank you, Gabrielle, for putting this together. I especially love the emphasis on good form over depth. It makes so much sense! It’s worth every penny.
Lani Nutt –
LOVE this package!! Last year I started this type of yoga and did it daily. I knew I loved it right away. Within three months I changed mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. People are always askinge what I was doing to have such wonderful improvements!
Because of certain circumstances though, I couldn’t get all the way down to my favorite Bikrim classes and for months sadly drifted away.
I was looking for online DVDs and found this package! Because I was very informed on poses before I felt so comfortable but can see how even a beginner can easily understand.
Her voice is so soothing it truly helps in the physical meditation.
Renee Mortell –
Wow, Wow, Wow, is all I can say! I received the Master class back in January and then my very best friend got cancer. I continued being by her side daily, my emotions and physical body got really out of whack. If not for Gabrielle’s Master Class program I dont think I would of made it through all these feelings! I was not able to go to class, but having this program at home, really helped to keep me focused and brave for whatever was ahead. One of my favorite things I have learned is elbows in the back pocket! My posture has been a real mess, and now people are asking me if I am taller, or if I have lost weight “giggle giggle” the difference I feel just working on my posture is amazing! I also have Arthritis and back problems and Gabrielles master class covers all of this! I look forward to learning and practicing for the rest of my life!!! Thank you Thank you for this program! Namaste Renee Mortell
Sharon Knitter –
While I am fairly new to Bikram (started in December 2012), I try to go 5 days a week. Even with going that much, there are still poses that puzzle me, Adjustments that seem impossible and parts of the dialog that I don’t really understand. Gabriella’s Master Class is unbelievable. For the beginner and experienced yogi alike, you will find a wealth of information. I use the DVDs when I travel and there isn’t a Bikram studio that is convenient.
The book is beautiful and I try to concentrate on one pose at a time. There is so much great information in it. You won’t regret your purchase.
Tony Stewart –
Without a doubt- the most thought out, thorough book and dvd’s on this great practice.
Five Stars!
Sandy stinson –
Thank you so much Gabriella
This is exactly what I have been
Looking for , I even went so far
To try and get a video man to
Film my idol Carmen at Duncan
Bikram yoga studio but he was worried
About ruining his camera, but
I was desperate for a video for
Home
By the time I drive half a hour to class
And half a hour home plus class
And shower I was over 3 hours
Into every day now I just need to
Figure out how to heat my space
I will still go to class of course but
I now have a chance of making it
A daily part of my life
Hot yoga is changing me organically
I am for the first time in my life
Addicted to exercise and this in turn is
Some how making me more
Aware of eating habits
I am almost 60, and feeling the best
I have in the past twenty years
‘néw tricks’ is now part of my
Daily thought process
Roselyn Hamandishe –
I cannot stop singing my praises for the Hot yoga masterclass manual & dvd sets. I started practising bikram 2 Years ago and felt that i was not progressing much in my postures. I was still finding it difficult to Balance and to breathe.
Once i could see the visual images of the postures , i was able to apply these techniques to my practise and i actually improved!
suzanne szabo –
i am loving the dvd’s and book. they are super full of information that is practical, and, easy to understand and use. thanks for the coaching!
Cindy –
I was advised to try Hot Yoga for migraine relief. I enrolled in Hot Yoga classes and not only found relief from migraines, but also I felt more energetic, healthy, and happy. But fitting in a 90 minute class several times a week was challenging. Class schedules were primarily during the day…. you know the rest. While researching Hot Yoga on the web I found Gabriella’s master class series and it has been a life saver. With Gabriella’s thorough instruction and the clear and detailed descriptions in her book I am able to continue my hot yoga practice in my home. One if the things I like best is the shorter versions of the class on the DVD. Instead of not doing any yoga on a day when I work late, I am able to fit in a condensed version, I am able to keep up my momentum and am back feeling happy, energetic, and healthy (and sans migraines)! Thanks Gabriella for sharing your love of yoga with all. Highly recommended.
Tony –
The book is great and I have no hesitation in recommending it. A suprising omission however is Surya Namaskar. I would like to have seen its inclusion together with the suggestions for improving my practice which accompany other poses in the book.
Notwithstanding this I find using the book has increased my understanding in striving for perfection in my Karate practice at age 73.
>> FROM GABRIELLE
Hi Tony
Thanks for the great review. Just a quick word, my book is based on the yoga poses made popular by Bikram. So actually Sun Salutations are purposely not included! I do love doing them though! I am very happy that you can apply what you’ve learned to help your yoga and karate practices. 🙂
Sonia –
This is truly THE MASTER class of education on the topic of “hot” yoga! I purchased the large hardcover book and am about half-way through it. There is SO MUCH information in it! I’m sure I’ll be returning to this over and over and over again as I refine my postures. I think it’s worth every penny!
Maria –
The Hot Yoga Master Class is the best! I have been doing hot yoga of a few months and love it! I am setting up a home studio with the help of the book and will be using the dvds and audio to guide me. Now I will be able to go at my own pace in my own home without having to drive an hour to go to practice. Thanks Gabrielle!
Keith –
My wife and I have been hot yoga addicts for about 3 years. We go about 5 times a week, and my wifes daughter is a bikram teacher, so hot yoga is a big topic in our house. I am 55 years old and although my practice is pretty good, I have a few challenges with the balance postures. I bought the masterclass package to help me specifically with standing bow. Reading through the beautiful book has given me many, many insights into other postures. I am sure we will get years of use out of this package. Thanks!
Fay –
Wow! This Masterclass package is unique. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the manual and the DVDs. The manual is a large book with beautiful clear color photos showing the poses in detail followed by an explanation of the technique and common mistakes and how to fix them and more…! Personally for me … the benefits of this is huge as I like to practice at home in my own space and time..trying to understand each pose and the technique of doing it correctly. The DVDs are excellent and in my opinion it has been a very good buy….notwithstanding the initial reservation I had re the price tag. It is a very good reference book for hot yoga fans!
Gabrielle you are amazing! Thank you!
Tim Buie –
I’m currently working in Afghanistan and one of the gyms at Kandahar Air Field has a yoga class 2 nights a week. The manager and current teacher wanted to add a third class so I was asked to lead it. Honored and anxious, I needed help. That led me to HotYogaDoctor.com and Gabrielle’s book, DVD and posters. I’m not a teacher, nor do I play one on TV but with the excellent aids I am able to have some structure to the class. I have viewed the DVD’s several times and I use the posters during class. Due to the weight restriction on flights in country, I haven’t taken the book with me to the other bases but I have begun to review it now that I’m back at home base. The book is quite large, very detailed and of excellent quality. Gabrielle has also given advice and tips by email. What more could you ask for! Thanks Gabrielle!
Leslie –
Thank you so much for the beautiful MasterClass book! I followed your advice on opening up hamstrings and was able to continue practicing with a torn hamstring. Within 3 weeks, the hamstring was healed AND I was a lock-kneed-japanese-ham-sandwich! Amazing! I look forward to pouring over the book and growing my practice.
I also want to thank you for your phenomenal customer service. When, through no fault of yours, the book arrived slightly damaged, you went out of your way to make things right. It’s so wonderful to deal with someone who so obviously takes pride in their work and stands by their product. Thanks so much!
Namaste!
david hewitt –
Hi Gabrielle, i just want to thank you for offering this wonderful HOT YOGA Masterclass.It is one of the best investments I made for my practice.
You sent so much important and useful information with concise instructions.My practice has already improved and I’ve barely got into it.
But for sure, the manual is the materpiece.The step by step instructions for each pose are beautifully photographed and explained in detail.The manual alone is worth the cost.
Thanks again for the masterclass I know it’s going to be great for my practice
Kim –
I was really impressed with the presentation and quality of the MasterClass book and found there was an ‘aahhh’ moment on every page! I have more confidence now and actually enjoy my classes whereas before receiving the MasterClass book and DVDs it was something I endured! I have only been doing yoga for a few months but this book and the DVDs ensure I will be doing it for many years to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christine –
Wow, this is a reference I will use forever. I just started taking Bikram classes 3 months ago, and I am very focused on improving my practice. As you know, the teachers don’t model the poses in class, so it’s difficult to know if you are doing a pose right, or what you are doing wrong. I consult the Masterclass book before every class. I usually only study the single pose that I want to make improvements in during that particular class, and it’s very helpful. This is changing my level in the class and in my Bikram practice. The whole package is worth every penny and has already paid for itself in the gains I have made.
Thank you! Thank you!
Beverly Spring –
The master class kit has been very helpful to show me how to modify the poses for my injuries
Angie –
I practiced Bikram’s years ago, but I don’t live where I can get to
a class daily or even weekly. So far the whole package seems to
be exactly what I need to get back in the swing of things.
This a gem I will keep, a great tool for all levels.
Thanks A Million
Peace
Janice –
I have been doing Bikram yoga for a few months now and I love it! I admit that the dialogue can be difficult to hear or pay attention to, especially when you’re struggling in a pose. This is why the Masterclass book is so useful. The pictures and explanations go way beyond what you would get out of your typical Bikram yoga class instructor dialogue. There’s so much more in the book than what the live instructors actually tell you to do. I feel that it has greatly improved my poses. I was a little disappointed in the DVDs though. I guess I expected “live reenactments” of the series. All it was were a series of pictures with Gabrielle talking through an actual yoga class in the background. The book is definatly the gem in this package.
Jean –
I saw this wonderful book at my hot yoga class and had a look at it, I thought, damn, this is exactly what I need, it is clear, usefull, the perfect tool for a safe improving practice to prevent injuries, so inspiring!!
Paula –
I’m very pleased with your easy to follow manual and instructions, and I’ve been teaching yoga for 32 years! I was alarmed about the strictness of the Bikram script and injuries and poor alignment and lack of readiness for poses. However, your work points clearly to the remedies that allow for safe and deep practice. Thanks!
Caroline –
I bought the Hot Yoga MasterClass after suffering from hip and knee pain as a result of my Bikram practice (I’ve been practicing for about a year). I wanted to know more about the postures and to get a better understanding of what I might be doing wrong. I was also getting frustrated with the “dialogue” and general lack of attention to proper posture in my classes (not all the teachers but quite a few!). The book is lovely, well presented, clearly explained and very informative (although it is big and a bit hard to carry around – I travel a lot (-:). While I still suffer from knee problems I am better able to control my movements and know what to avoid now, and my hip problems are more or less resolved since I’ve been following the guidance in the MasterClass (I hope the same will happen with the knees!). So I can definitely recommend the MasterClass to anyone who wants to know more about careful preparation and set-up for the Bikram postures. A warning though: I do occasionally get told I am doing something “wrong” when I follow Gabriel’s instructions rather than the “dialogue” (one example is the sit up where I now prefer to keep my hands apart rather than crossing my thumbs, or the separate leg intense stretch where I now keep my legs bent and really feel the stretch much more!).
Ms Maria Davis-Fernandez –
Thank you so much for your wonderful knowledge, wisdom and ability to communicate this with such passion! A year ago I came across your website and got totally hooked. I am usually wary of sites that keep calling you back to try to push their product onto you, but you were not pushy and I kept seeing more and more that inspired me. Eventually I bought the Hot Yoga Home Practice Kit and learnt so much and benefitted from it, but I really wanted the full MasterClass Manual, but just couldn’t afford it as I was out of work. I know that if I continue to think about something, then it’s the right thing to do, so, this year, although not much richer, I splashed out, and I can only say I am SO blessed! I’ve hardly been able to put it down, and, coupled with a good class that I have now found, am experiencing some great changes in my body. I feel so much more energy and strength – at 55 I feel better than when I was 25! I have nothing negative to report! O yes, perhaps just one thing – I wish I could go to your classes or that there was a class that followed YOUR teaching method here in England! I can’t stop sharing your website with people I meet (including some of my teachers). If anyone is in doubt as to whether to go for this resource, I cannot recommend it enough – it’s worth every penny! Thank you Gabrielle and may God bless you and your family!
Robyn –
I’ve been a hot yoga devotee for the last 9 months.
The first 3 months were the hardest. Like so many others on this forum, I was frustrated with classes and din’t feel like I was getting any “better.” A friend of mine told me about the hotyogadoctor website so a had a little look-see.
I bought the iPad app and my practice started progressing quickly afterwards. 6 months later I bought Gabrielle’s full master class pack and again I am making further advances. So much so that I was used as an “exemplar” for the first time in my class this morning.
I have excellent instructors at my studio but being able to read about the poses and corrections outside of the “torture chamber” really helped me to progress rapidly and continue to enjoy this sensational style of yoga. I really feel like I’m getting the most out of every class because of the extensive amount of information that Gabrielle has provided our community with.
I’m even considering teacher training thanks to the continued breakthroughs in my practice that the masterclass allows for.
Thanks Gabrielle!
Margaret Bowden-Bouchard –
I have been reading my book now for two weeks. Already I am using the tips and improving my practise. I first thought it was quiet a lot of money but it is well worth the investment. I have learnt a lot more in the past few weeks than six months in class. I have yet to watch the videos but will get to them in the next few weeks. Well worth the money.
Bob Chicilo –
I had been doing some Bikram poses for over a year, but I was doing them mostly from my memory of the poses in Bikram’s first yoga book. I bought the master class so I could find out what I might be doing wrong. The material has provided help in this area, and will continue to help me deepen the benefits of doing yoga. Note: I do the poses at home at regular room temperature. Even so, I am much more supple and energetic, than before I started doing yoga. I will be 68 next month.
Karen LeFever –
I ordered 2 master classes, one for me and one for my sister. We both love it! It allows me to practice my yoga at home, which is nice considering my busy schedule
Rod Kunze –
Good Afternoon: I am a complete beginner to yoga let alone Bikram. I purchased the master class, because I had difficulty understanding the teachers instructions. After going through the DVDs and the manual, it not only made things clear but it gave me the confidence to return to class. I have been going now for 60 days and feel great. The resource provided by Gabriel provided easy and eloquent instructions to all poses. Also the added hints have given me a purpose when I go to class. I am not lost and feel that with the invaluable material in the Master class I will someday feel that my practice will provide all the benefits that Bikram yoga has to offer. The master class has given me incentive, confidence and motivation. I believe anyone from novice to expert will benefits from the class. Thankyou for this invaluable resource and your dedication to Bikram.
Sev –
I have been practicing Bikram yoga for more than 5 years and still wanted to have more… looked on the web and found tons of info from ‘the hotyogadoctor’ website. So after a while I decided first to buy the ‘practice at home’ kit which gave me some great tips about how to do it on your own at your own home and especially gave me the pleasure to listen to a full class by Gabrielle on CD and MP3 format downloadable on your computer or MP3 player.
BUT I still wanted more, with this feeling that I was not improving my own bikram yoga practice. SO more than a year later I wanted to go to the hotyoga doctor training but could not (this time hopefully!), so I decided to invest in the Masterclass kit ‘as a compensation’ and yes it is a beautiful manual that is my yoga bible. I am a scientist and the manual is really feeding my hunger for precision and knowledge on the postures and far beyond.
BUT I have just only started to read it and did not even find the time to use it with the DVDs!
Certainly my best 40th birthday present… to myself!
Thank you very much!
Liat Gat –
I have not worked all the way through Gabrielle’s fantastic book, but just the information in the introduction alone has been worth the price.
My practice has completely changed – I am focused and meditating the entire time during a class. I no longer straighten my towel, wipe sweat from my face, look around the room, or adjust my shorts. My gaze is on my eyes or on the edge of my towel during belly-down savasana. I am calm and still during the pause between poses.
I started working through the poses from the beginning of the book, and my pranayama breathing has changed – I no longer scrunch my shoulders up trying to get my elbows higher – instead, I fan my elbows out and back and let my shoulders stay down. I also learned that I can rest on the inhale by not locking out the knees completely.
For half-moon backbend, I am bending over further than ever, because of the simple trick of continuously looking back. I am looking at the back edge of my towel and trying to see my feet.
The only reason I gave this four stars was that for hands-to-feet pose I did not find advice for being able to breathe easier in this posture, which was something I was hoping to find, and that they actually told me would be in there when I bought the book.
However, I plan on posting my question about hands-to-feet pose in the forum, and I’m sure Gabrielle will help me there.
Kirk –
The whole package is great! I refer to the book regularly to better understand proper alignment for each posture and alignments for those of us who are not very flexible, as the instructors don’t have time to do that for all in the room. Also the DVD’s are very good for doing programs at home, and the selection of shorter programs is very good for days when we don’t go to the studio. We don’t have a hot room yet, but are looking forward to moving into a different home and setting up a hot room there, and will follow Gabrielle’s guidance in setting it up.
Thanks – the program really makes a difference!
Kirk
Rose McCullough –
I couldn’t be happier with your DVD’s. There are so many options to fit my schedule. The book is magnificent. I did Bikram yoga for about a year and loved what id did for my body, my energy, my mind and my creativity. I remember one of the instructors telling me that you can’t get injured in the heated rooms and I was encouraged to push my poses are far as I could. About a year and a half ago I sustained a hip injury during a class when I didn’t listen to my body and took a pose to far. To this day my hip is not the same. So, after my injury I quit doing Bikram yoga because I was worried I would have another injury. It was heartbreaking for me because I missed it terribly. When I browsed the internet one day to see if I could give the hot yoga another try, I came upon your website. I was elated! I felt like a kid in a candy store! I ordered straight away and I love it! The book is so helpful on showing the correct way to do the poses. The DVD’s are clear and concise, as is your instruction. I created my own hot room at home. I bought a full length mirror, a heater, and a humidifier. I am a dental hygienist by profession. During my lunch hour, I close the doors to my operatory, turn on a heater and put on the DVD that plays the single series. I keep telling the staff I work with that it’s the best thing you can do for yourself, especially since we hover over patients all day. I’ve recently written a book and I’ve found that the hot yoga enhances my creativity. Thank you so much Gabrielle for putting together a wonderful product! It’s very clear that you have put your heart and soul into it 🙂 Rose
Mikaela –
HAVE LOST INCHES ALREADY! SO HAPPY! About 9 years ago I started Bikram Yoga but after 18 months moved away to an area where there were no Bikram classes. I really missed it as I had loved the results – my body was in the best shape it had ever been in! Since then I gradually put on weight over the past 8 years. I accepted it thinking that was just part and parcel of getting older (I am 39 now). It was only a couple of months ago that I decided to get back in to it.
Why? Well, I am a photographer and I was photographing a client who was only 5 years younger than me but had an amazingly toned body. When she told me she did Bikram Yoga I said how much I missed it and she told me that you could buy and download Bikram’s class in an audio format. I tried that route and started practising along with it at home. Just to clarify- this was not the Hot Yoga Doctor course but Bikram’s own audio download. I did start to get results. However I was really quite worried that I could be doing the poses all wrong or possibly in a way that could unknowingly cause injury – especially as I have a problem with my right knee. The problem I found with the Bikram audio download was that there are no visual aids. I found some of the instructions verging on the ‘aggressive’ and some of the statements such as “your back is going to hurt like hell” actually distracting and off-putting as it scared me! I would find myself falling out of poses a lot and feeling so frustrated (uttering language that I cannot possibly repeat here as my husband will testify!)
So.. moving on to the Hot Yoga Doctor…when I was looking for a hot yoga download I originally came across Gabrielle’s Hot Yoga Doctor website and signed up for the newsletter. The course looked fantastic but I was worried about spending that amount of money which I why I originally went for the cheaper alternative option. As I had signed up to the Hot Yoga Doctor free newsletter I received regular emails with tips about poses and lots of inspirational advice. I have to say that I read every email which is rare for me! I decided to buy the Gabrielle’s course because I felt the only was I could progress, improve and move forward with my hot yoga practise safely would be to have as much information as possible about the poses along with visual aids – the next best thing to having my own personal hot yoga teacher! The customer feedback and also the fact that they had a money back guarantee was reassuring.
Having received the course I was very impressed! No stone is left unturned – so much information and really clear photos. I practise along with the DVD classes. Since I have been practising along with Gabrielle’s instruction, I fall out of poses far less (and no more bad language!), I feel calmer during the class and I even smile sometimes! Her teaching method is so encouraging and gentle – so different from the Bikram course I did which I found a bit aggressive.
I tend to do at least 2 of the 90 minute classes per week and then in between I do at least 3 of the shorter classes. I think that’s a great idea having the option to do a 50 or 35 minute class – so if you are busy you can still get some yoga in to your day even when you are busy or short of time. I don’t have a room that is as hot as is recommended but it is warm and that suits me just fine – so don’t be put off by thinking you MUST have it that hot. Just set up your space as best you can and as warm as you can. You WILL get results! I took some ‘before photos’ when I started 2 months ago and also took my measurements. I have already lost nearly 2 inches off my waist plus an inch of my hips and thighs. And the great thing is – I love food so I have been able to slim and tone without having to diet YAY!!! Be warned though this Hot Yoga thing is addictive! So only buy this course if you want to change your life, feel happier and be in the best shape you can possibly be!
Prisca –
I started Bikram yoga over a month ago here in Japan. I was determined to go regularly as I had heard wonderful things about it. To be honest, I didn’t really enjoy the class; I am really quite stiff and the instructors did not correct nor explain the poses. Still, I felt I ought to continue. It occured to me that there must be a video or a book out there that could help me, so I decided to surf the Internet and EUREKA! I found the Hot Yoga Masterclass package. At first I was sceptical about purchasing the package, but after watching and listening to Gabrielle’s video (how can you not like her?) and reading the very inspiring testimonials, I decided to go ahead and buy the package. When it arrived, I was very pleasantly surprised at the contents: A large, beautiful, hardback book with gorgeous pictures explaining the poses (I was expecting a cheaper quality book), and fantastic videos. I learned so much from the Hot Yoga Masterclass package. In fact, after reading the section on the Head to Knee Standing pose, I surprised (and delighted) myself by being able to do it the next day. Up to this point, I could barely lift my leg, let alone stretch it! The advice on how to approach hot yoga classes was also invaluable. Suddenly I went from someone who was dreading and not enjoying the classes to a Bikram Yoga convert! I love it so much and look forward to the classes. Thanks to this wonderful book and the videos! People who attend my Tae Bo classes or see me pump iron cannot believe that i am a Bikram Yoga junkie. I am encouraging people who view hot yoga in wary way to buy this book. It has been so very, very helpful. I showed the book to one of the instructors here and she was extremely impressed! She wanted to borrow it but I’m sorry, that’s where my niceness ends…kindly buy your own, I don’t want to part with this gem for even a minute!
I will be unable to attend as many classes a week from now on due to work, but I plan on workng out at home, something I thought was ‘taboo’ for Hot Yoga. I really cannot recommend this package any more highly. I promise you will not regret purchasing it.
Now my dream is to be able to take a course with Gabrielle herself. As I am a firm believer in dreams coming true, all I can say is that I am really looking forward to that inevitable and happy day!
Mary Anne –
I have completed 90 Bikram yoga classes in the last 4 months or so. The instructors were very helpful, but I still felt I needed a much more profound clinical understanding in order to avoid injury and to keep progressing with the form. I was overjoyed when I found the Hot Yoga Masterclass package online. Not only is it an excellent value because of the expert and priceless information provided by each piece of the package, but I am astounded by the quality, detail and artistic inspiration with which Gabrielle has fashioned each component. I would also like to share that I feel very supported by Gabrielle and her products. Whether I study information from her website, DVD’s, newsletters, purchased manuals, etc., I find the information to be consistently thorough and useful. You can tell she is truly passionate about what she is doing and that she has a very great capacity to care about her clients.
The Hot Yoga Doctor Masterclass Manual is exquisite visually and technically impeccable! It has helps me overcome limitations and protects me from injury every time I study it. It is really like having a dedicated personal yoga trainer with you whenever you would like. You will not be disappointed by any of her products, she is not only an expert in the yoga discipline, but she is truly a gifted teacher and mentor. I cannot say enough about how valuable this material is if you really want to excel in your hot yoga practice and avoid injury.
Daniel –
I had high expectations for the Hot Yoga Masterclass, and I am happy to say the book is even better than I expected. Gabrielle is a great teacher, and I am amazed at her ability to transmit her enthusiasm and insight through the printed word. And the book is gorgeous.
I have good teachers in my daily classes, but I can get a level of insight and detailed suggestions for improving each and every posture from the Masterclass that just isn’t possible in the context of a large group class.
Judith –
I am delighted with my Hot Yoga Masterclass purchase. It has exceeded my expectations in both information and presentation. The DVDs are excellent and they have helped me considerably. Since beginning hot yoga about 2 months ago I feel much healthier and emotionally stronger. Many thanks.
H.D. –
I purchased this series after taking an intensive Teacher Training course that set me back a pretty penny because I left my training feeling as though I was seriously lacking the knowledge and information I needed to effectively teach this form of yoga. I have not been disappointed. I really wish I had purchased this before my training. The information offered in the manual and the options on the CD are invaluable, and I greatly appreciate having this handy as both a learning tool and a study guide. Thanks so much for putting this series together. It truly is invaluable. And don’t forget, I’m a total skeptic, so this is something, coming from me!
Mary –
I am fortunate to have a great yoga studio two minutes from my home in Poughkeepsie, NY. I have been doing hot yoga for 2 years and it has changed my life. Every winter weekend our family goes to our ski place in Vermont, and there is no hot yoga studio anywhere nearby. This was a problem, as I couldn’t do the poses by myself. It was too difficult to try to remember the sequence, keep count for each pose, etc. The Master Class is just what I was looking for. It is perfect, just like being in class! Definitely worth the investment. The book is so beautiful and so helpful in helping me perfect and understand each pose. Thanks so much, Gabrielle. Namaste.
Cathy –
The ability to communicate information is a very power tool. Bikram yoga needs to be practised correctly in order to achieve the benefits and success in the poses.
I found this out the hard way.
My lower back was in so much pain after my first 2 classes that I had to make a weekly visits to an Osteotherapist.
Rather than give up yoga (’cause isn’t it supposed to be good for your back?) I googled and came up with your website, ordered the book and videos and ‘voila’- pain has disappeared.
I now understand what my teachers have been trying to tell me.
I just needed the theory as well as practise.
The book now sits proudly on my coffee table and is frequently read by family and friends.
Very informative.
Congratulations and thank you!
Rosie –
I am fairly new to hot yoga and have been practicing for about 3 months. The biggest challenge for me was getting the most out of the poses which I could not perform correctly nor completely being a newbie. The Hot Yoga package is of tremendous help in breaking down the poses and modifying them for practitioners of all levels. I am already ready starting to see improvement in my ability to complete certain poses. This is exactly the kind of instruction I needed and was not getting in my classes. Many thanks.
Namaste.
Marion –
Am practicing Bikram Yoga now for a year or so. Have become quite addicted. Am constantly aiming at improving my poses and even though some of our teachers give individual feedback during class it was not entirely satisfying. I bought a couple of books but they weren’t what I was looking for. I wasn’t going for the Hot Yoga Doctor package initially because I found it a bit too pricy, but eventually I succumbed. Don’t regret it. I like the thorough discussion of all poses, especially the pictures of incorrect alignments. I also enjoy the esthetics of the whole package.
Highly recommendable.
Carolyn –
I am a late bloomer and began practicing Bikram Yoga two years ago at the ripe old age of 61. My brain works a little slow at times and I find the monologue from the teacher does not always give me a clear and precise vision to follow. With your book the instructions now make more sense to me by enabling me to see examples and to use the helpful hints you provide to make informative adjustments. I have improved my practice in a very short time with my lovely self indulgent Christmas present. Thank you so much.
Dianna –
I love all the material I have received. I have not had a chance to go through all of it, but the information is awesome. I love listening to the CD’s on my MP3 and the book is a great addition to my Yoga library. I have improved my practice from the great pictures and explanations in the material. I look forward to continued learning and improving my focus and practice.
Jan –
As a one year Bikram Yoga student- this book has been very helpful in correcting the questions and concerns I have— wonderful addition to my learning and practice
wendy walker –
I had been practicing Bikram Yoga on and off for about 10 Years before I discovered the Hot Yoga Doctor and The Hot Yoga Master Class Manual. At the time I discovered the Hot Yoga Master Class I thought I had a really strong Bikram Yoga Practice. In fact, I was at a point in my practice where I was approching it with the attitude that I already KNEW how to do every pose correctly despite the fact that I injured myself seriously a few times while practicing. Afterall, I’d taken over 600 classes and heard the same dialogue over and over again 600 times. After purchasing the Hot Yoga Master Class and devouring the book, I was ASTOUNDED to learn how much I didn’t know about each posture and by how much risk of injury I was exposing myself to every day in class because of my EGO and righteous attitude of thinking I knew it all! It was a humbling experience and the BEST THING that ever happened to my yoga practice and more importantly, my attitude. I only wish that I would have had the HOT YOGA MASTER CLASS MANUAL when I began practicing Bikram Yoga 10 years ago. I could have learned back then, from the beginning, the right way to approach every posture correctly saving myself years of struggle, the development of bad habits, a bad attitude and INJURY! If there was a class that every aspiring Bikram Yoga/Hot Yoga practioner had to attend before being allowed to start practicing Bikram/Hot Yoga so they could learn how to do it the right way from the very beginning, THE HOT YOGA MASTER CLASS would be that class! The sooner you get your hands on this book, the more quickly you will advance in your practice. Guaranteed!
Linda –
A fantastic package that is really helping be learn more about hot yoga and improve my practice. The in depth explanations simply can’t be presented in a class setting. It is great to have the detail and work on even just one pose per class. I would definitely recommend the full package to anyone!
Ventana –
This Yoga package has been a real gift for me. From me, to me. It is easy for me to relate to and learn from the very useful CDs and book, and I find the options of shorter and longer classes make it so easy for me to stay active with my practice. In a hurry? No time today? Well, surely I can squeeze in a half hour at home rather than getting out to the hot studio class. And once I get started, I “miss” the other postures and so want to practice longer after all.
I have taken so many different yoga classes, and worked with video tapes, too. Gabrielle, your series makes yoga more personal and understandable, which brings it closer to home somehow. I learn from the detailed instructions why I need to do exactly “that” with my body, so I have incentive to do it correctly, and in ways that are right for my body. The book has become inspiring to read, motivating me to make this a serious practice because I understand the why’s of each aspect of movement. The CDs lead me through each session with clear and upbeat encouragement. I am finally realizing why I had resisted the rote, scripted classroom style of repetitious dialogue, when I actually needed more detailed information, not more discipline!
I will also add that I appreciate your personal customer service and the feeling of community you create. I feel like I am dealing with two people, Gabrielle and Robert, who care to help me achieve my exercise goals by making it easy to work with them (you), using your classes, book, and all the extras you provide. Well done!
Jackie –
My hot yoga practice is very much in it’s infancy as I have advanced knee arthritis with rather severe loss of range of motion, so any poses requiring straight legs or a lot of flexion are out of the question for now, but the book is a valuable resource for the poses, or portions thereof, which I can do safely. What was worth the price alone was the recommendation in the members-only portion of the website (I think — that’s one convoluted website, to me) to read Brian Coulter’s Anatomy of Hatha Yoga. From there I am developing a pre-hot-yoga practice. Gabrielle’s in-depth, science-based expertise is an indispensable complement to Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class.
Amu –
Your book is helping me expand my practice to be next level and I have decided to start training as a hot yoga teacher. I am confident that your book and DVDs will be invaluable in my training!! Thank you!
Debbie Thomas –
I’ve only been practicing Hot Yoga for three months now and I truly love it! I purchased your Hot Yoga Master Class DVD’s, book and poster to further educate myself on each pose and get a better understanding of the practice while away from the hot studio. The book alone is a priceless! The image quality and detailed descriptions have given me the instructions I need to do each pose “correctly” and thus make improvements as a beginner. It’s easier to build my practice on correct postures than figure out years from now that I’ve been doing things the wrong way! As a new student, I’m of course loving it and am now convincing all family and friends to learn about Hot Yoga and start with me. Lending them the book or DVD’s to take a “private peek” into the practice of Hot Yoga has been the answer! I’ve had two friends begin already and they knew what to expect before they ever walked into that first class! Thank you for your gift to the Hot Yoga community! These tools you have invested in to build help so many people!
Chris –
The book is wonderful.
Thank you Gabrielle.
Adam Palmér –
Thank you Gabrielle for a really inspiring book! I believe the book and the DVD´s will give me in depth information on how to improve my Bikram yoga practice way in to the future.
Bill Funke –
i will keep it short and sweet. This is the best yoga material that I ever purchased. The material leaves nothing uncovered. It is the best. It deserves a 5 star rating.
Andrea –
I have looked so long for something that I could do on a regular basis that would help me drop the extra pounds, keep me fit and not wear down my body. I have loved yoga for years, but it was never enough so I would have to incorporate running/walking, but I would wake up with my ankles and hips aching. Since I have done this class, I don’t wake up with any pain. I am getting a complete workout, that leaves me feeling stress free and strong. I have managed to drop 13 pounds in the last 3 weeks, it has taken me years to try to loose that extra weight. The book is beautiful and very helpful. The dvd’s are well done and it is done in a way that is not distracting, so you can just listen to Gabrielle’s voice and fine tune your poses. It is never rushed. There are days when I can do the standing head to knee with no problems and days when I fall twice, but as Gabrielle says, “when you fall you learn….” With the options for different class lengths, it is completely easy to squeeze in a class on my busiest days. I love it and am so happy with the way I feel. This is the only exercise I do now. It is a great thing to do for yourself. Thank you for developing this program. Andrea
Helen in California –
Dear Gabrielle: Since I’ve had to stop going to classes for budget reasons, this master class material has saved my practice and help improve it! The audio CDs are super helpful and the book is a great reference and guide when I feel I’ve lost touch with a pose. The photos showing the postures are also invaluable. Thanks, this is a huge service to yoga! Helen
Neil – Philippines –
A great benefit! I am a newcomer to yoga, in my sixties, and I have now done about twelve classes. This Hot Yoga Masterclass does three things really well: it shows me how to do things and, more importantly, how NOT to do them; it helps me focus on the form of the poses and not just the end position; and finally it’s beautiful format and illustrations provide the inspiration for me to keep practising. I love the email reminders too. I couldn’t recommend itmore highly.
Susan Grady, USA –
I finally invested the funds in me! The book is beautiful, the cards are helpful and a nice thick laminated quality, I have the DVD’s and CD’S, so I can actually do my own private class at home, if I can’t get to our local studio. I wanted to learn more of the details and really immerse myself in Hot Yoga, I was hooked on class one, but I found it expensive and so I hesitated and took classes sporadically. This past May when I was laid off from my job, which I didn’t really like anyway, giving me the chance to re-evaluate who and where I wanted to be, it was a very real turning point for me. I will be 50 next year and when I look at my life, I see a lack, a hole, something in my body just went bye bye over the years. Desk work and a long commute, added too many extra pounds and working part time on the weekends catering, just meant I ate a bunch a calorie laden food I didn’t really need I knew this was the time, time to make my choice. I wanted to and really wanted to, but I held back because of money. This time around I said I am worth it, and I am so glad I did. I am using the book and DVD and CD’s as supplemental teachings, while we do very well in class at River-Flow Yoga Lambertville, NJ, I also needed to put the knowledge in my head with the hands on practice.
Today, I started my 45 days Hot Yoga Challenge, so I have been pouring over all the online information and daily e-mail information, which just keeps pointing me back to the book. Now I will read the book and not just look at the pictures. I am sure this was what I needed to revive my body and bring it back to life, and in doing this practice the results will ripple through my life, creating and being the person whom I want to be, the pretty, happy, healthy me I knew so long ago, and with that confidence I am sure to find a way to earn a living that truly suits my spirit! Go for it! I am.
Hope –
I got tremendous help from all the detail in this book! I now lift my shoulders in the appropriate way keeping them down and back and understand why. I also now pull with my arms and biceps and not my shoulders and notice the difference that makes. My Standing Bowl has been helped so much by reaching my arm up for as long as possible and by thinking of my arm and legs as a parabola. I didn’t know that I could use Ujjayi breath with hot yoga until this book and since I’ve started it’s made my practice so much better! Many “aha” moments and my classes and practice are so much more rich and informed! Thank you so much for this, Gabrielle!!!
Steve –
As beginners in yoga my wife and I were looking for a definitive guide to yoga starting from the ground up, the way we would build our knowledge and understanding of the yoga poses. The Hot Yoga Master Class is exactly what we were looking for. It dispels the rumours and myths and has enabled us to really enjoy and get the most out of our yoga practice. My wife has already thought about further studies in yoga and even perhaps teach it further down the line. The Hot Yoga Master Class is fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone who is starting their yoga practice or a more experienced person looking for something that will help them get even more out of their practice.
Wendy –
The book is beautiful, and has helped me with my practice. I ordered everything- and the book alone was enough for me to get hooked! I have a hard time commiting my self to practicing at home, and was hoping to be able to play the pose tutorials in my car on my commute (ie, Pranayama Breathing- what can she possibly say for 66 minutes?), bur sadly, they only play in a DVD player. Overall, I think Gabrielle’s MasterClass is worth every penny!
Westley –
I’m truly amazed and impressed with this package. I didn’t know anything about yoga, or hot yoga, until I bought this package. As a newbie, it is definitely the best investment to avoid wrong moves, understand each alignment better and overall wellbeing. Thank you for putting together such wonderful compilation.
Lisa –
Nearly 2 years ago I bought the Masterclass and I am so happy with it!
I remember very well that I hesitated a bit to pay that huge amount for the book and dvd package, but it was and is worth it!
Maybe I should mention that I only went to a studio twice and then moved abroad, thousands of kilometers away from the nearest studio. However, I was so impressed with the first lessons that I had to investigate more. I ordered the Masterclass and a small heater, insulated a room and with the dvds and some other classes that I downloaded from the internet, I managed somehow to figure out what I should do. The book is absolutely great and I can honestly say that nearly everything I learnt about this hot yoga series was learnt from this book. I went to a studio a couple of months ago and they asked me where I was practicing because they could see I was paying a lot of attention to my alignment. I told them that I was practicing at home with the help of the Hot Yoga Masterclass.
Just one tiny tiny remark about the audio class: I would still love to have a ‘Gabrielle audio class’ that is more neutral. I find that for practising at home, a neutral class (without comments to other students etc) is much nicer for every day use. I have a couple of those classes, but I am still missing a Hot Yoga Doctor class!
I am the living proof of somebody who hardly ever went to a studio and has a great practice at home, thanks to the Masterclass!
Raewyn –
As a newbie to hot yoga, I bought the Hot Yoga Master Course book which I have found to be incredibly informative and helpful. The depth of information is simply amazing!……I think this will be my ‘bible’ over many years to come…I seriously recommend this to anyone who is keen to learn and who don’t mind constantly referring to the book or DVD’s. Well worth it! Thank you Gabrielle!!
Juan (bikramjunkie) –
I have been practicing yoga for more than 5 years and found Bikram yoga to be the best program I have started 2 years ago. I have been looking for ways to deepen and improve my practice and found the hotyogadoctor website. I signed up for the emails last year and found the information inspiring and encouraging. I am going through the information slowly since I finnally purchased the Masterclass. The DVD is ok but the book is absolutely amazing. If the emails are any indication of how knowledgeable the hotyogadoctor is, then the book will bring all that together for my practice nicely.
Rebecca –
I am consistently impressed Gabrielle with the quality teaching in the MasterClass package; I really appreciate seeing and reading in depth about each pose and was very thankful when I discovered that I had been taught a couple of the poses incorrectly; now I can make the corrections and enjoy a safer practice. Excellent work!
Sophie –
I was having problems with osteoarthritis for many years but managed to keep things under control with the help of yoga. A few years ago back and joint pains worsened which made me order the excellent Hot Yoga Master Course book. Your medical knowledge and clear instructions and specific suggestion for certain movements are a great help and gives one confidence in carrying out the exercises. I have been practicing daily for just over 6 weeks and the result is most encouraging. As I am 85 years old such improvement is truly amazing. Keep up your wonderful work Gabrielle.
John Kalb –
As a beginner to hot yoga at age 51 I have a lot questions, especially since my body size keeps me from getting my head to my knee. I feel like I am often not even in the pose that the teacher is describing. Thanks to Gabrielle I have a better understanding of each pose and how to modify it so I can go deeper and at my own pace. I appreciate the photos in the book and find myself looking at the open book and flipping through the pages daily. Well worth the $$$!
Richelle –
I have been practicing for 68 days. I love it, of course. I love what it does for me in so many ways. I felt myself getting a bit frustrated about 40 days in that I couldn’t quite get into some poses and had some confusion with others. A teacher suggested HOT YOGA DOCTOR and so I ordered. I have made considerable progress in the last 28 days thanks to watching and reading Gabrielle’s instructions. I refer to the manual or dvds daily after class for a certain pose or pointer. THanks so much for making my practice not only better, but more fullfilling by helping me to understand my body and practice. I totally recommend it to everyone from here on out.
Kris Sarka –
Patience is a virtue, could be changed to patience is a reward. I have been practicing hot yoga for 11 months. During the first 10 months I struggled with getting to know my own body, keeping my mind in the room and learning the postures. When I received the Masterclass book in the mail I immediately dove into the material. I wish I would have had it sooner. The specific details of the postures in the book put a “completeness” on the postures allowing me to go deeper into the postures the right way and to correct some bad habits. Directions on entering and exiting the postures also have helped so I don’t continue to rely on other students bad habits! Thank you Gabrielle for putting this book together, my practice has improved due to the book and patience and doing it the right way is paying off.
Anne –
On the weekdays, when I can’t get to the yoga studio, my husband and kids join me in segments of Gabrielle’s DVD. My husband is getting familiar enough with the poses that he might join me at the weekend Bikram Yoga class. Nice! The kids are 2, 2 and 5… they have a few years to go before Bikram’s hot room. Thanks for the clear and detailed DVD. Namaste.
KR –
What a great resource…I have been praticing for about 2 years. I have gone through the book and from reading your detailed instructions and then going to class and really listening to my teacher I have made progress. This manual is so detailed, I continue to go back to it and learn something new each time. Every student can benefit from this manual. Thank you..
Maria, UK –
Wow, Gabrielle you have been such a blessing! I hesitated a long time over whether to get anything as I am currently out of work with some debt, but the Hot Yoga Home Practice Kit has been one of the best things I’ve ever bought and definitely THE best fitness / yoga programme I’ve ever seen. You have such passion, knowledge and warmth in your teaching. The DVD is great – so much better than normal filming as you see so many angles and how to avoid mistakes. I’ve also learnt so much from the book and all the material on the website. I have been setting up my own studio, gradually, but still benefitting form practicing in the bedroom till all is ready. I REALLY want the Masterclass as well but have to be sensible and wait until I get a job! You have worked so hard on this and I can tell it is worth every penny, so I can’t wait to buy it. I started Bikram yoga by ‘accident’ having seen a discounted introductory voucher for a month of unlimited classes. The first day I wondered what had possessed me to start this, but by the end of the class I was hooked! I went everyday bar a couple due to other commitments! It has so changed me! However, I had so many questions and there never seemed to be opportunity after class to ask if I was doing things correctly. I also knew I would not be able to cope without continuing the practice after my trial offer – and couldn’t possibly afford the classes, so I started researching DVDs and came across your website. I realise now there is so much more to learn, and you are the best teacher! Thank you so much Gabrielle – anyone in doubt as to whether to get these products – just go for it – you won’t be disappointed!
Colleen –
i am slowly methodically working my way through the book, one posture at a time and am already seeing such a difference in my practice. It is also great having a resource which answers all those questions that no-one else seems able to do! Thank you Gabrielle.
Becky –
I just purchased the poster of poses. The shipping was super fast, and the posters are high quality and waterproof! Every pose is beautifully illustrated, and is a great addition to my practice! Thank you!
Laurie- Long Island, New York –
This was just what I needed! Started my practice 2 months ago, but felt lost and confused with many of the poses… this program explains in depth what I’m striving to do and corrected many of the mistakes I was making. Clear and concise instructions and explanations… an invaluable resource.. so happy to invest in something that is worth its weight in gold… I was apprehensive at first due to the price, but I have been investing so much of my time, energy and spirit in my practice that this actually has enhanced my yoga experience and given me back so much more. Worth every penny spent! Thanks so much for your dedication and hard work Gabrielle…. your website is also a great resource and I have learned so much through your knowledgable insights.
Lara –
I am new to Bikram and love it!! The Yoga MasterClass has helped me with the poses. my husband likes the videos….I love all of them. The book is a perfect size with awesome pictures of the right and wrong poses. Just taking the class and listening to the instructors is not enough me. If you are thinking about getting this….just buy it….it’s worth it!!!!
Cheryl in BC –
Well…. I feel the same as what everyone else has been saying about the HYMC complete set. I love it all. It has helped me in so many ways to “fine tune” postures in my Bikram classes, my breathing and concentration and I too go through page by page for each posture and then watch the corresponding dvd so that when I go to my next class I can practice what I have just read in the manual and watched on the dvd. It too makes me excited for my next class. I highly recommend this st to anyone. You won’t be disappointed 🙂
Dennis (Travis) –
I have had my master class for about 2 weeks and have begun reading each and every posture in detail and then going to classes and making the adjustments HYMC provides. I have had some amazing results already . I have been doing HY for years and am very excited that even in this short time, I am making some new and quick progress. Thank you G, for your amazing work and beautiful presentation.
Kim –
Gabrielle,
I hate that it took me nearly a year and a half to order the MasterClass kit. This is a really great tool. The layout is terrific but more importantly the detail in the front of the book in relation to shoulders, feet, ect. is exactly the type of information I have been searching for and I love the breakdown of the postures.
I’d like to share a situation with you that happened just last night at my regular Bikram studio: We were just beginning the second set of Rabbit pose when the girl next to me asked our teacher/owner if her neck was supposed to hurt. Surprisingly, the teacher/owner appeared not to know how to respond to this simple question. She fist said “no” then backtracked and said it might hurt a little and told her to be sure to put her head to her knees while in the posture. While talking is not generally done during class, I felt obligated to tell my fellow student to hold her shoulders down and back so as to release tension in the neck.
So, the book is not only helping me with my practice but has allowed me to help someone else and that alone is worth the cost.
Thank you!
Yolanda in Rome, Italy –
I have been doing Bikram yoga for about 5 months and I recently purchased the Hot Yoga Master Class to increase the benefits of my practice. My Bikram teachers are very good but this manual teaches you what you cannot learn in class. It is remarkably detailed, easy to use and stunningly illustrated. I keep reading it again and again and each time I am enlightened by something new. This book will continue to accompany me on my journey of discovery as it applies to beginners, intermediates and advanced alike. Thank you so much for this goldmine Gabrielle!
vinay –
Dear Gabrielle,
I recently purchased the Hot Yoga Master Class complete set and I love it. I have been practicing Bikram Yoga 3+ days a week for almost a year.
I have just gone through your manual and believe me there was still a lot to learn
My water intake was low but now i have completely stopped (after I read your manual).the stillness in the practise has helped me a lot.
Now i am more focused and the practise has become less physical and more of a meditation
I can say that Your manual has the masters touch.
Regards
vinay
Tana –
I love my book. I have been practicing Bikram Yoga for nine months now and this book is a great help to me. There is so much information and direction. Worth every penny and more. Thank you for this great resource.
Donna –
I have had the Master class book for a couple of months now and I find that it is extremely helpfuj. The pictures are stunning and the explanations really have helped me progress. I try to attend 3 classes per week and before each class I read up on a particular pose that I try to make better. This book and the DVDs are very motivating. I have not tried a home workout yet but I do intend to.
Catherine –
I just bought the Hot Yoga Doctor Master class DVD and CD’s and their perfect. I’ve done Yoga for many years, but lately haven’t had a class to go to, in this area there aren’t a lot of Hot Yoga classes. So I had done Bikram’s routine for over 25 years, as my boyfriend was an instructor of that Yoga. Since we’ve split up (nothing to do with Yoga)
this was the perfect substitute and more. I’ve learned a lot more from this new routine
Thanks for the great opportunity to continue my Yoga at home!!
Tom –
I’ve been practicing Bikram for eight years and have constantly searched within my own abilities to move my practice to a “higher level”. I felt the difference from the very first class after I got the book, dvd, cd and poster; now I feel that I’ve started over with a fresh outlook with these materials as my road-map. Great stuff and I recommend it to my closes friends!
Lora –
I teach yoga (not hot yoga) but I do enjoy doing the hot yoga flow on my own and occasionally attending classes. I bought this manual hoping it would make a difference in my own practice as well as to help me in teaching my own flow classes. It is better than I thought it would be! I have been able to improve my own practice rapidly and my students are learning so much as well. I love the section that talks about common mistakes. Even thought I know what a lot of them are, it’s so much easier to be able to look at a picture and see what the problem is. Thank you!!
Marianne Verhagen –
I just love the book. Marianne
Nicola –
Really pleased with the speedy delivery and absolutely love the master class book! Not only is it beautifully presented but I can’t wait to start applying the advice to my practice
Christine fratrik –
I started practicing hot yoga May of 2010. I have the most wonderful ,supportive ,helpful and knowlegable teacher.I found a link to Danielle’s website on my teacher’s website. I was so impressed at the shear volume of amazing info in one place. FREE!!I began to visit the wesite for hours. I have to say that in the beginning I didn’t get any enjoyment and meditation from practice.I would hear other yogis in the class speak of how great the class wasetc. I hated it!!!That is until it was over. I just feel like a million dollars eveytime. even if I have a class with alot of struggle I still leave the studio elated.
I debated purchasing the master Class because I have been let down in the past with other yoga/fitness purchases. This one was a little pricier than most. I also felt I was spending enough money on myself with classes.
I just have to tell you that even if this pakage cost 10 times what it does it would be worth it.Bravo Gabrielle. She is “The Master”! Questions about my practice can pop up anytime. How wonderful to be able to find the answer so quickly.I have not had one yet that the MC hasn’t been able to answer in a clear and decisive way.
Thanks a million gabrielle
Joni-Leigh –
My normal yoga classes are a combination of ashtanga and hatha yoga. I’m something of a beginner and since receiving the MP3’s it’s been truly wonderful to be able to practice at home – and personally, I really enjoy the variety of styles. Gabrielle’s instructions are clear and it’s surprisingly easy to follow her class if you don’t have access to the video just yet (I am currently waiting for mine to arrive). I highly recommend Gabrielle’s products, she has a positivity and an energy that can only transform your yoga practice for the better!
heidilou –
This is the best at home yoga practice package I have ever purchased and I have bought quite a few in the last 8 years…I love how it helps me improve between classes I am able to attend. I highly recommend this complete set!
Ros Boucher –
Love the package! It has made a difference to my practice in just a couple of sessions. The book is fantastic.
Tara –
hi,
I did around 20 classes of hot yoga before and as it was too far for me, I stopped going. only then i found this website, which I am so greatful. By doing this hot yoga you can feel the difference in yourself mentally and physically. I don’t stress as I used to. I feel alot relaxed and feel happy. physically I feel strong and active. I would recommend to everyone (no matter how old you are) to practise this yoga. This home pk saves money and time. you can do when ever you want to.
James – Melbourne –
I recently purchased the Hot Yoga Master Class complete set and I really like it. I have practiced Bikram Yoga 3 days a week for almost a 3 months. The photos and descriptions are finely detailed and takes you through a step by step approach. I have a lot of work to do, though i feel i am making some progress in the postures. This set is definitely worth the money, I’d recommend it to anyone practicing Bikram Yoga.
Alison- Perth W.Australia –
I purchased the complete package after a lot of procrastination. I am 64 with back and knee problems. I was concerned about spending $199, and then not being able to get the benefit from it. I practised yoga 25 years ago, then for various reasons including not having classes close by, I stopped doing it. I am very impressed with the manual. So far I have read the introduction and skimmed through the posses. My intention is to check out 1 pose a day. I have been back practising yoga for 8 weeks including daily stretches, and already feel the difference in my back. I am really pleased that I stopped procrastinating and just bought it. I highly recommend it as a permenant reference for the yoga poses
Lorna –
I recently purchased the Hot Yoga Master Class complete set and I love it. I have practiced Bikram Yoga 4+ days a week for almost a year and a half and have had limited luck clearing up confusion or misconceptions about certain postures with many of the teachers. The photos and descriptions clearly let me see what I was missing and how to fix it. I am finally making progress in the postures I thought I would never get and my body is really opening up. This set is definitely worth the money, I’d recommend it to anyone practicing Bikram or other Hot Yoga.
Rick W –
This is great for travel and home use. Especially when the schedule does not allow to attend a regular class.
brandy –
I cannot say enough good things about this product. I am new to hot yoga, and I attend a class in Japanese (which I cannot speak very well!). This manual has been an amazing supplement to my class. I study one pose per day and often go back to the manual when I have questions. To top it all off, Gabrielle has an amazing talent for motivation and I find that just reading a few pages of the manual gets me so excited that I cannot wait to try what I have learned in my next class!
Paola R. (East Sussex, U.K.) –
I ordered the Hot Yoga Masterclass package and the Home Practice MP3s and manual. I have taken about just under 20 Bikram classes but I find that visiting the studio is very time-consuming, once you add the changing and showering time etc, it’s 3 hours out of my day. It’s also a very expensive hobby for me. I enjoy practising at home, and we’re having a hot summer in the UK anyway! I immediately tried the MP3 as they were an instant download; I loved Gabrielle’s class and I felt as if I were in a real class, but with even better teaching points. When I received the Masterclass book and DVD in the post, only a week later, I was stunned to see the quality of the book. It’s a really big spiral bound book which would look very good on your coffee table. It’s not only absolutely beautiful to look at, but also features the most detailed explanations you can ask for. I own ‘Bikram’s Beginner Class’ book and by comparison, it’s totally amateur (and very irritating in style). The DVDs are done in ‘still’ form, i.e. you get to see the posture from still images rather than video. I can see the point of this as it’s easier to really define the posture and the teaching points, and for those who are sceptical I can assure that it really works as a method. Just try it. The DVDs come in 2 versions, single postures and double postures. The MP3s are full 90 minutes class, standing postures only and floor postures only. It’s great to have a choice for when you have little time, rather than the all-or-nothing guilt inducing Bikram macho attitude that unless you do the full 90 minutes it’s not good enough.
I could not recommend these products enough. Gabrielle clearly is a great teacher and also replies to your emails promptly. I am going to take the MP3s on holiday with me so that I can practice wherever I am. Namaste xxx
Dennis Cozzocrea –
I just started using the Master Class, I love it. Unfortuanately, we don’t have a place to do hot Yoga in the town I live in. Yakima, WA. So I have been doing it in an office that I setup with the help of Gabrielle.
I was hooked after the first class that I took which was in Canada.Thanks also for the followup emails to support my practice.
Pam in Seattle –
The Master Class is fantastic for beginners! So much information that you cannot get in those precious minutes after a class when you might ask the instructor. So you don’t live close to a hot yoga studio? As part of the Hot Yoga Doctor community and with the use of Gabrielle’s affirming voice on the DVDs,or downloads, you will be on your way. So Beginners, I am one too, and so happy to have these materials and support to complete my practice in a healthy way. Buy the Master Class today!
Judy Tergis –
I think Gabrielle is a great teacher! Her passion and expertise is giving me a real boost in my yoga practice. I bought the CD then went on to buy her Hot Yoga Master Class book and DVDs. What a great package!
Suzy Hoseus –
Hi Gabrielle,
I’ve been greatly impressed with the work that you’ve done. I received my DVD’s, Manual, and Poster ever so promptly! When it came, it was a WOW moment where I was genuinely impressed with the overall quality and appeal of the book. I spent the next three days reading through it thinking there was so much detail and useful information.
I use the DVD’s in my own personal hot yoga studio when I have guests over; otherwise, I use the posters to guide me to my next posture. I reference the book on postures I’d like to improve upon.
Thank you for this invaluable resource. I’d recommend it to anyone.
Blessings and best wishes!
Jim Wolski –
Gabrielle,
I have been looking for a program such as yours for over a year. I have taken a few Bikram classes, but the travel keeps me from havinga steady routine. The book is a tremendous help as far as getting into poses, etc. I am currently in the process of converting a spare bedroom into my yoga room. Thank you for this wonderful program. 🙂
H –
This package is just what I need to practice at home. I feel it is easy to use and understand since I have been doing Bikram yoga for about 1.5 years in a studio. It is great to have the class presented in all the various formats. The manual gives me a chance to review a pose or poses without having to scan through the DVD.
The only additions that I would suggest are a moving sequence of the class on DVD; it helps to see how someone who is proficient gets into, moves through and gets out of the postures and it would be good to have a tailored dialog for the shorter practices that makes the poses flow better; I find I have to alter some of what I do to make the short sequences work better for me, ie. I alternate the turn of my head from pose to pose do not follow the dialog on that.
Otherwise, I think trying to do this on your own without prior Bikram practice would be more challenging at the beginning until the person had listened to the dialog and looked at the pose pictures many times.
Raymond and Iris Havlicek –
Your book, DVDs and posters are a masterpiece! Your beautifully illustrated manual will be an asset for us for years to come. Each poture is fully explained, i.e., problems, benefits and solutions for improvement. We just started Hot Yoga 1 month ago and already the change in us is quite apparent. The improvement leads to motivation to learn more and your materials address that need about as best as we can imagine.
Declan –
Gabrielle,
I have been practicing Bikram for approximatly 4 years and I have developed quite a good understanding about most poses. I will be 67 this year and I feel like 47. I find this practice soo good that I ahe no aches or pains at all. Everytime I complete a practice I feel so energised that I just want to get back and do it again. In fact I have done that, back to back practices I mean many times. I try to practice at least every other day, each day if I have the time to fit it in withd work etc.
I believe that your DVD’S and books ar a great help. I am recommending these to colleagues of mine at work and at the studio.
I live in Los Gatos, California and go to the local Yoga Source studio in Los Gatos and Palo Alto.
Two poses that I find really difficult are standing bow (because my hips will not open, I envy my wife and other female yoga colleagues)I lose balance even though I go into this pose by setting up the correct postute with the sholder back behind my head an the knees touching. I quite often fall out due to I believe the hip opening problem. Reminds me I must purchase your DVD.
The second part of tree is also a challange, that is going down to toe stand and baancing on the tip toes of one leg. Again a hip opening problem I believe.
I also find standing on tip toes very challanging.
Laurel –
I have the DVD Master Class as part of the Home Practice Kit. I should say that I am a relative newbie. I’ve been doing Yoga for only 6 months. The book is absolutely wonderful, clear, concise, helped work out several issues I had, particularly regarding the level of heat in my work-out space, as well as the descriptions and written assistance with each pose. The live class is more problematic for me only because of Gabrielle’s teaching style – she tends to say instructions very, very fast and I have some trouble keeping it all straight. This would be less of an issue for veterans, but is a problem for me. I wish the verbal coaching and instructions were slower, more relaxed and clearer. I do not regret investing in this product, though, as it is definitely helping my practice.
Arielle Casale –
This book will change your practice no matter what level you consider yourself. The intro to each pose inspires and invites you to try the pose with a new appreciation and minds set. The common mistakes blow your mind as you realize you need to stop looking to your neighbor for answers. I use this book very often as I am training to teach the series, I recommend this book to anyone practicing hot yoga. My only very small complaint is the plastic spiral that binds the pages, mine is breaking down on both ends and now too short for the length of the pages.
Tracey –
I started Bikram with a 30-day challenge at a Studio in Hawaii. First thought was this is horrible how can people stand this heat and all of this twisting and turning. I got through the 30 days though only missing one day. I really began to enjoy it.
I then was deployed to Iraq and did not want to “lose” any skills. I am already not the greatest in my opinion with many of the poses and still struggle with balance. I began to google hot yoga to see if there was something that I could use while I was deployed. I found the Hot Yoga MasterClass on DVD. I really thought do I really want to spend that much money and I was doubtful as to weather they would send the items to Iraq. I broke down and ordered after a week or so and so glad I did. I have not read the book completely yet but I have looked at the pictures which are wonderful. The DVD is great also because I do really feel like I am in a real class. I did not think it would work for me but so far has turned out wonderful. I don’t have to worry about being embarrassed because I am in the privacy of my own CHU. As for the heat I just turn of the air while I am at the clinic and when I return it is Hot in my CHU. Iraqi heat works well. I know it may not be the best method for heating up my space but I have to work with what I got :). I am so glad I made the decision to purchase the product and it was worth every bit of money I spent. I love that now when I go home to Hawaii I will have options. I can practice at home and if I want I can go to a studio.
I also want to say looking at the video and reading and hearing the tips has improved my poses a little. Mind you I have not had the opportunity to use the product daily d/t the work pace in in Iraq but the few times I have used it I notice slight improvement.
If there is anyone in doubt I say don’t doubt just do it, I am so glad I did.
Thank you – Thank you – Thank you
Donna –
Overall I’m liking the book and its copious details. But I really wish photos were numbered and referred to specifically in the text — it would be far easier to reference. I’ve noticed at least one “correct” photo showing hand placement that is specifically referred to in the text as incorrect (page 226), which is a little confusing.
Some points I personally was hoping to find covered are not given the detail I need, but many, many other things are — things I didn’t know I should have wondered about. The advanced pose options are a highlight.
I think the sound quality on the DVDs could be better, and I was surprised that the dialog seems all to be from a single class. I find it strangely presented, with only still photos and text for visuals. I fully expected a DVD to have video. But listening to the dialog helps me move through the poses, and I really like the varied formats (such as the shorter sets, single poses, etc.) — that’s worth the whole price to me, even though the editing is in some cases confusing, for example hearing Gabrielle instruct students turn the head always to the same side in the prone savasanas in the single-set classes.
Because I can’t get to a studio anymore I do enjoy being able to work through the DVD options at home, and I’ve been poring over the text to improve my practice. I wouldn’t recommend this Masterclass to a complete beginner but only to someone who has been through classes at a studio enough times to know the practice fairly well — particularly to know where Gabrielle’s instruction differs from the traditional Bikram yoga script.
COMMENT FROM GABRIELLE: Thanks for the note about the number references.
For the most part the technique words are adjacent to the pictures themselves so I thought it unnecessary. This is the case with the correct technique and all mistakes photos are adjacent to descriptions or with a little label. Re photo on p 226. I would have to say that you have discovered and commented on the hand grip that is on the acceptable side and not ideal. The other examples of the hand grip in this chapter are ideal examples. Thanks.
Re photo stills in DVD: It was purposely created that way so that if you practice alongside your TV screen you can look up at it and see the precise form your body should take or aspire to! Nobody sits and watches exercise DVDs – they participate. Hence the issue of creating the best format. For those reading this review, it pays to check out the preview snippets wherever the DVDs are referenced.
Re head to one side: Yes in single set classes you do have to self-regulate your savasana position for only the 4 belly down poses and that’s it. But I am super pleased that despite that you like all the class variations presented. I find they can be so helpful when you don’t have a full 90 minutes.
Re beginners: I am not sure why knowing recited script versus instructional technique would be valuable. I can tell you however that countless complete beginners have enjoyed using the MasterClass. The approach has to be slightly amended: For complete newbies I recommend starting out by doing a 2 set full class but only joining in on the second set. From there students then choose a pose or 2 to review as desired from the manual and DVD before class. Then they take their learning in a piecemeal and achievable manner. I hope that addressed all your issues.
I can be reached via this website and via my email and I am always happy to answer questions.
Namaste
PTJ–MN –
I had heard about Bikram years ago but was convinced that my cardio and weights DVDs were the answer for me. In my 40s, I discovered that I was unable to get the same results and found the weight piling on. I spoke with two nutritionist/exercise experts who suggested yoga as a way to develop long/lean muscles (who doesn’t have that as their goal?) while still getting a cardio workout. Prior to my first class, I thought all yoga was very calming and relaxing. While Bikram is calming, it is also intense. In a great way–I feel such a sense of accomplishment post-Bikram that I cannot wait for my next session. I ordered the DVDs and the home practice tools and LOVE them. I travel for work and am able to take my practice on the road. I cannot stress enough how much the sessions are helping me. I am seeing changes in my muscles after about 1 month of regular attendance and my outlook has changed I find myself more calm, more reasonable, I sleep better and I feel more balanced. I could go on and on but suffice it to say that Bikram is a winner and the Gabrielle and the hotyogamasters tools are life-changing.
SteveY –
I played a lot of sports growing up and was athletic. But my flexibility was never good, and it has gotten worse as I got older. Hot yoga has helped me regain that lost flexibility (and then some). I ordered the masterclass because I really wanted to get some guidance about how to properly do the poses to avoid injury and to maximize the benefits. I really did not think I learned much about the poses from just going to classes. Boy was I right about that! With the Masterclass, there is so much information about each pose. I felt like I really understood the ‘why’ and ‘how’ about getting into the poses, and what I should be striving for (and more importantly, what not to try to overdo) in each and every pose. Every pose is there for a reason, and the materials in the masterclass shed so much light on the reasons and the benefits of each pose. For me this was amazing. The sections on common mistakes were eye opening, as I had been guilty of a quite few without even knowing it! Most books and dvds just show fitness pros doing the poses perfectly. They are not relevant to my situation. These books and dvds are accessible to all, from rank beginner to total expert. I also like the fact that I can do shorter versions of classes at home when I don’t have time to get to class. Its not as good as a full class, but its much better than skipping a day. Do not hesistate to buy the package – especially if you are new to hot yoga. It was the best money I’ve spent on fitness in quite a while.
Olga – Huntington Beach –
It took me couple of months to decide to spend $199 for Yoga Master Class. I was afraid it’s too much money for the book and DVDs. I only wish I got this earlier! I think every Hot Yoga studio should have YogaMasterClass as well as students who are serious about their practice. I have a lots of books on all types of yoga but nothing detailed like this one. This book will give you an answer on any kind of question you have about how to make your practice better and more enjoyable. My only complaint is about the size of this book, because it’s sooo big and I can’t take it with me or put it anywhere else but coffee table. I love the quality of the cover and all the pictures too so I would suggest maybe some plastic cover over it, so it won’t get dirty (because it’s always exposed in my living room). Thank you for everything Gabrielle, I would highly recommend this book to everyone.
Gail Leamy –
I am absolutely thrilled to have purchased both the hot yoga manual and dvds. I loved Bikram yoga from the first class , however the studio closest to me offers limited class times , I found some instructors genuinely helpful and another basically rude and intimidating. With Gabrielles kit I am assured of the highest quality of instruction at my own time, no travelling and no interfacing with Gestapo-like instructors.The quality of the manual and Dvds address all levels and give incredible detail. I am enjoying my practice more each time . The once-off investment in your own health and well-being is money wisely spent.
Terry Winston –
I’m absolutely taken away by this product it is worth every penny! It has so much to offer your yoga practice. It’s like giving have personal instruction for a fraction of the cost. I would highly recommend to everyone.Hot yoga master class is a class act that can’t be beat.
Kicki Sidenborn –
I have not had the change to really sit down and read the whole thing yet. But so far i am pleased with what i have bought. I use it to learn more and to understand the postures.
Thank you för sharing the information. It is so useful.
Kicki
Maurine –
I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful CD I recently purchased. I could not get to my normal Bikram class this weekend and tried Gabrielle’s Hot Yogc CD and loved it. Gabrielle is not forceful in any way and by the end of the 90 minute class, I felt “taken care of”. I never felt that in any of my other Hot Yoga classes.
Jane –
INSPIRING!
Gabrielle’s Master Class book and DVD’s have become an essential part of my practice.
While I practice in a studio, I have learned more about technique from Gabrielle than I have in class, and in a much shorter time! The studio instructors are great but aren’t always able to refine individual techniques. This I have learned from Gabrielle.
Her work is a perfect accompaniment to any practice! It is precise, it is detailed, it is expertly explained.
There is more information here for every aspect of hot yoga than a dozen or more resources combined. If someone is serious about their practice and/or really just wants to get what they’re “supposed’ to get from hot yoga, you can’t pass up this resource!!!
What Gabrielle has provided is absolutely INVALUABLE. Thank you, Namaste.
Lisa in Virginia (USA) –
I have been a regularly practicing Bikram student for over 2 years, and enjoy the practice. I had a few challenges with the studio practice which this kit allows me the flexibilty to address. Due to time constraints, it’s difficult to make it to the studio frequently enough to keep up my endurance. I was looking for a way to supplement that practice at home. I searched for a Bikram DVD because I wanted video and audio of this exact practice, but could only find a CD. I stumbled upon this hot yoga doctor site, read and watched the info videos and reviews. I crossed my fingers and placed the order for the kit…hopeful that it would be as good as it appeared. It was EXACTLY what I’d been looking for and was better than I had imagined. The products are all very professionally produced and high quality, and they are all the exact same poses that I was used to, in the same order, etc. I can now practice Bikram in my home and at my own pace, but still have a professional teacher guiding me through the meditation. I was able to correct a problem I’d had with triangle pose for over a year–in the first class using this DVD! As I am significantly older than the majority of my 20-something classmates at my regular studio, I was also seeking a less intense version of this practice, that I could match with my energy level, particularly over time. This program allows me to do that by having control of the heat in my workout space, allowing me to choose the level/amount of time for my practice, and giving me the ability to make my practice more regular by way of its convenience. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this package, and cannot recommend it highly enough for those of you looking for a high-quality in-home hot yoga practice!
Kurt Fromherz –
I just started bikram yoga about 8 months ago. I googled yoga poses and found Gabrielle. It was really helpful so I subscribed to the newsletter. While I don’t get a chance to read it as much as I would like one of headlines got my attention and led me to the hot yoga course. It was the best $199 I have spent lately. Usually programs like this don’t live up to expectations. However, when it came in the mail it was like opening a christmas present. I was really impressed and have found it to be a really helpful reference in improving on the postures. I would recommend it to any one looking to improve. I even took one of the dvds with me on business trips. It was great! Navaste.
E SCHNUGH –
Home use
Sandra –
I recently received my MasterClass set and I have to say I am quite impressed. It is easy to follow, interesting to read and includes stunning photos. The DVD is extremely helpful — I practice at home and find I am able to get into the poses properly as the instructions/tips are clear and easy to understand. I am very pleased with it.
Gayle –
I live 1 hour from a Bikram Studio and commute four days a week. I have a passion for this and have been practicing for seven years. I found this offer with the Hot Yoga Doctor and have been wanting the CD. I have the Bikram CD but it wasn’t for me. This is like you are right there in class. The only thing is trying to figure out how to get the room warm enough to do this without injury!
Stefanie –
I was first introduced to hot yoga about 8 months ago. I had preconceived ideas about “yoga” nevertheless “hot yoga”, but gave it a try anyway. To my surprise, I LOVED it. I spent about 4 months going once or twice a week. Then the kids got back in school, homework kicked in, and I found it was harder and harder to make it to class. I went looking for “something” that was “exactly like what I was doing in class”. I found Gabrielle’s site and the MasterClass. It was a huge purchase for me, and while I was skeptical of the DVDs, I knew that what I saw on the website seemed to match pretty closely to all I had learned in the classes. I was a bit concerned about doing this at home and not having the “hot” component. But I thought, let’s give it a try and see—I could always return it right? The package came and I was truly amazed at the quality of the book – – very easy to read and to know where you are having trouble. The DVD’s are great – – Gabrielle has such a nice soothing way about teaching the class that it makes want to do it again each day. It’s nice to hear others in the class too so you feel actually part of a class. Even though I’m not doing it in a “hot” environment, I’m seeing results and am doing a bit every day which is more than going for a 90 minute class once a week. I also love getting Gabrielle’s emails about different things to focus on and try. I find myself remembering to push my shoulders back for good posture. A lot of my neck and shoulder pain is going away. I am the most skeptical one out there, but I highly recommend this. No matter what level you are at in your practice, you will find yourself challenged. It is very high quality and well worth the investment.
Lisiane, USA –
The Hot Yoga Master Class was a gift to myself and well worth the price! I am new to yoga and hot yoga, and the first class I attended I had a hard time to follow it, because I was trying to watch and do the poses at the same time, and my neck was hurting at the end… Then I decided that it would be better if I learn the poses well before I go to class again. I was amazed to see how detailed and well made the manual and the DVDs are! I am reading about each pose and practicing it with the DVD. I am more confident, and I believe that is very important that we do each pose correctly. Thank you for your hard work, Gabrielle, the pachage has helped me a lot!
Helene UK –
The book and DVDs are wonderful, such detail I am loving learning from it.
Although I have practiced yoga for30 years I have no experience of hot yoga, also there is no class within travelling distance. However I am still able to develop my postures in ways I have never experienced before and know the book and DVDs will be lifelong companions. Thank you Gabrielle for this, your enthusiasm and motivation.
Tony from Utah –
The Hot Yoga MasterClass has completely transformed my Yoga practice. It has helped turn my practice into a much deeper and rewarding experience. I have been practicing Bikram Yoga for two years and I felt that I had reached a plateau and I was really struggling to find the motivation to return to class. Yoga is important to me both mentally and physically and I was at a point where I really needed breakthrough to justify the time and energy that I was putting into it. It was the Hot Yoga MasterClass that reinvigorated my practice and helped me improve in 3 areas.
1. Breathing, I was breathing completely wrong and felt like there was no oxygen in the room.
2. Alignment, my shoulders were wrong in many positions and I found that I had general alignment issues that were working against me.
3. Pose by pose technique – The yoga teachers are very good at what they do, but they cannot notice every subtle detail of every individual in the class when there are 20 or more students. The MasterClass breaks down each asana in great detail and gives you a fundamentally sound foundation on which you can build on for each pose.
I would recommend this to anyone who is trying to take their practice to the next level.
Katerina –
I bought Yoga Master Class few week ago and it is perfect. The manual and DVD’s are excellent. My practice is better with the technique by details. I would highly recommend it for everyone. Great job! It was worth every penny! Thank you Gabrielle
Norm –
I am a beginning yoga student. I received my master class manual and DVD set in November and have been using the manual every day to work on the set ups for each pose. The information you have shared in the manual is so very helpful. I have not used the tapes yet. I just turned 64 and I have a lot to learn. I have been enspired by the depth of instructional technique. Thank you Gabrielle
Stefania –
It took me a good couple of months to decide whether or not to get the MasterClass set as I don’t like shopping on the net and am always worried that what i receive is not what I expected. Well, the opposite happened with this product. It has exceeded all my expectations and my advice is that if you know you want it just get it! The book is FANTASTIC, I love the quality of the paper and pictures and everything you wirte Gabrielle just keeps inspiring me to achieve more every day in my practice. I am enjoying the DVDs as well, there are so many good tips and i really do feel the improvement in class. Being a beginner, i also find the masterclass a great resource to learn more about the postures and avoid mistakes that could possibly lead to injury. I highly recommend it to everyone. Thanks so much for your great work Gabrielle! Namaste
Debra Anderson –
I got the package the other day and I must say it is absolutely put together so beautifully. I only had time to watch a few minutes of the first DVD but learned two helpful hints already that I have taken to my Bikram Class in town. I can’t wait to see and practice the rest of your suggestions. I have taken the book to bed with me now for the last week and read till I fall asleep. Thanks – Debby
Pat – Arkansas –
I bought the complete set and it is fantastic. I’ve already learned so much more and have been sharing my excitement about it with everyone I do Yoga with. Thanks for a wonderful tool and resource. Namaste
Holly –
I bought the DVD set and LOVE it! The instruction is crystal clear and easy to follow. I just wish my kids didn’t enjoy it so much! They are 3 and 5 and LOVE to participate- this usually results in my session ending because of all the distraction. In a few years however, I can see this as a fun family activity!
Rose –
I ordered the manual and the DVDs and I’m finding them most useful and inspiring. I’m a self-taught Bikram student, having been learning from his book since the beginning of this year. I felt I needed a bit of extra inspiration and impetus, and the beautiful manual and DVDS are certainly giving me that. I’ve only had them 3 days and I’ve already learnt such a lot and I know I’ll continue to do so.Thank you so much, Gabrielle. Namaste.
Karin – Qatar –
I received my Yoga MasterClass a week ago and was very impressed! As I’m living in Qatar I’m not able to attend classes in a studio so I converted a bedroom into a hot yoga room and before I found this homepage I was using bikrams beginner book and CD which I find is not half as good as what Gabrielle created. As I’m still a beginner I found some postures very difficult and didn’t really understand what I was supposed to do but this MasterClass has answered all my questions and given me so much more. I can only recommend it to anyone doing hot yoga. With this you have your own “hot yoga bible” that will stay with you for the rest of your life! Thank you!
Becky Canada –
Phenomenal, Gabrielle. So enjoy reading MasterClass and am continually learning something … thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge of Hot Yoga!!!
Gale –
This is a fantastic resource – both the book and the DVD’s are excellent. I used to go to Bikram classes a couple of years ago and had to quit because of injury. I recently wanted to get back into it because I love what it does for my alignment and endurance, but didn’t really want to attend classes. I wanted a little more control over my workout. These DVD’s are excellent for giving the option to choose just a light workout, or something more rigorous. It’s just like going to the class without having to leave the house! The book is excellent – there is information about getting into the postures and what to target that I hadn’t known even after going to classes for a couple years and doing posture clinics as well. This resource has enhanced my enjoyment of yoga and made it pleasureable again! Thanks, Gabrielle!
marianne –
I’m just a beginner, and I have plenty of questions. That is the reason why I was very interested with the Hot Yoga Masterclass. I choose the hole set, and very happy I did. The manual is very beautiful, a pleasure to handle, and at the same time there is plenty of very detailed and helpful instructions, easy to read and to understand, and plenty of pertinent photos. The DVD can run the lesson for you, and you choose the lesson you want ! And last, I am here for some days in a hotel far from home, and I use the poster to do some yoga in my room, (though there is here no 40° !…). I’m very happy I ordered this set.
Johnny Boy –
The master class book is so good that the cute owner of the studio I go to immediately bought one. Bikran won’t be happy.
Frances –
I ordered the Master Class set for myself and my husband to share. Currently we’re fighting over who gets to read the manual in bed each night. It’s a wonderful book with an incredible amount of useful information to help expand your practice. I read a little each day before I practice and try to incorporate what I learn into my postures. We’re both very impressed with the quality of the manual, as well as the DVD’s and CD’s. We feel it’s absolutely worth the money we spent and that it will help us immeasurably in our practice. I would highly recommend the Masterclass for anyone who is looking to take their practice to the next level, regardless of what level they are currently enjoying. It’s as helpful for beginners as it is for more advanced yogis.
Jenni Eden –
I have performed yoga since 1998 mainly Hatha and later Ashtanga. I also instruct yoga so being in the correct alignment has always been an important part of the practice for me. I only came across Hot yoga a few weeks ago but I am very much enjoying following the DVD’s. I do not attend a class, I do my practice at home but the manual is so clear and precise you can feel yourself re-aligning and performing the asanas more accurately. This is a great resource for anyone wishing to fully develop their yoga practice. The great thing is when I only have a short time there is a practice to follow, but it makes me feel so good that I try to make some time to do the longer sessions too. Thanks Gabrielle
Vincent –
I bought the DVD set and the pose are clearly shown with step by step instructions and there are also certain pose that break up between the beginner and the advance so I know if I can improve further. Some of this instruction I cannot get in class because the teacher cannot forcus on all the students. Good work
Rowena –
Thank you! Gabrielle for this beautiful book. I have been practicing hot yoga for six and a half years and I have learned so much from your MasterClass. I know that this book will be with me through the years!
Marie Champagne –
Thank you for this beautiful manual and dvd’s. My practice is better with the technique by details. Merci beaucoup pour ce souffle d’air frais. Namaste.
Robin – USA –
Gabrielle, Thank you so much for this wonderful package! It’s great that I can take yoga with me when I travel.
Warren B –
Hello all! I found that I was able to do a good yoga session at home (heated room of course!). But, the best thing about the CD/MP3 is that with it loaded into the iPod I can take it on the road with me and practise wherever I am – an excellent way to unwind and keep the practice up.
Highly recommended for anyone that loves the yoga but can’t always find a studio.
Elizabeth USA –
I haven’t had a chance to read through the whole book or do the videos, yet, in part because I go to Bikram class as often as possible and haven’t tried to practice on my own, but also because I am relishing the beauty of the book as I slowly make my way through it. Thank you for a gorgeous product that is clearly a labor of love. (or should I say labour?)
Shona –
Wow… Gabrielle, you and your team, have developed a fabulous resource – I love the whole set. Even though I am new to Bikram yoga, I practice at two studios because I value the different perspectives offered by each teacher. Your gorgeous book is filled with amazing pictures and explantions, and it offers a whole new insight. I had been resisting some poses in class. Because I now understand the intent of these poses, they have become favorites! You have fuelled my addiction to Bikram yoga… and of all the addictions to have, I believe it is a pretty good one!
Lee Anne –
I have been very impressed by the quality of the Master Class. The manual and DVD’s are excellent and I feel worth every penny. As a certified yoga a pilates intructor myself, I have seen many DVD’s and books relating to both yoga and pilates and I feel that the Master Class is one of the best I have ever viewed. I love the larger size color photos and the detailed instruction for each of the poses – along with the helpful hints on common mistakes people tend to make in yoga postures. I also love the options on the DVD for the different lengths of the classes – this way I can fit it into my schedule on any given day. I highly recommend this to both beginners and advanced yoga practitioners and it is a great teaching guide for instructors. Great job! So glad you took the time to put this together and I am so glad that I purchased it. It was worth every penny!
mccpdf –
I am an experienced and certified yoga teacher. I am currently teaching, as well. So happy to report that this complete package is excellent and highly informative. The reading materiel has added much to my arsenal of instructional information and the dvd’s are great for me to use myself for personal practice and for helping me to experience really safe alignment practices. Also, SO BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED!
Ahonui –
I absolutely love this MasterClass set…and it’s made continuing my Hot yoga practice a reality! It’s always been difficult for me to get to a class with any sort of consistency as I have a very chaotic work schedule, but thanks to this DVD set, I can always squeeze in at least a half-hour. Gabrielle is a great instructor, and even though it’s a DVD, you still feel as though she’s there, talking you through each pose.
As for the manual, it’s absolutely fab! About 2-4 pages describing each pose in detail as well as common mistakes and how to fix them.
Believe me, it’s a purchase you won’t regret!
Deneille –
I would highly recommend this package to anyone who enjoys Bikram yoga! I have only discovered hot yoga a few months ago – and what an impact it has had on my life! The Masterclass is a beautiful book with clear and easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations. It has cleared up many questions that I had. I practice mostly in a studio with an instructor (who is fantastic!), but having a copy of the Masterclass book at home means that many of my questions are answered – when there isn’t always time to ask the instructor. Practicing with the DVD’s is like being in the studio, I can now practice at home when I can’t get to class so even with a very busy work (and social) schedule I don’t have to forgo my yoga just because the studio class times don’t suit. A great product – thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge Gabrielle!
Thomas –
I was introduced to Bikram yoga during college back in 1980 when he released his orange book (no longer published, I believe). I taught myself from the book as best I could, and have done it on and off since. Sometimes taking 5 years off in between. Anyway, I started again 3 years ago and was doing ok even though I have never attended a formal hot yoga class. The instruction in this book excelled my practice beyond my expectations. The breakdown and explanation of poses far surpasses Bikram’s books. This book has made my practice 100% better, more enjoyable and much more beneficial. I have corrected a number of things I was doing wrong! It is worth every penny! I have the dvd’s as well and have watched them and I like them , althought I prefer to do my practice at my own pace in quiet. If you enjoy bikram yoga don’t hesitate to purchase this product. It not only gives good direction with the postures but what to do in between. Thanks for doing what no one else had done!
Michael Ryan –
I just finished my Hot Yoga Class and am feeling great. I practice in the Netherlands and it became too difficult for me to get into Amsterdam so I began doing my yoga at home 3 to 4 times a week. The Manual is thoroughly detailed and the DVD wonderfully supportive. Alone or with my partner occasionally joining me it gives the sense of being surrounded by a room of enthusiastic students. I feel safe, secure and correct in my asanas. Well done Gabrielle!
Sandra –
I really loved the Masterclass you can tell right away how much work and love has gone into this beautiful set. It covers everything, It has already helped me a great deal. I’m taking it slow as I want to learn everything correctly without skipping any details. This is all you would need so it is so worth the money. I highly recommend the Book and DVD’s to everyone. Gabrielle has so much knowledge and I feel privileged that she is willing to share this information to help others.
Diane – USA –
I did not have to wait long by the mailbox before the Hot Yoga MasterClass arrived. That was the first bonus! The MasterClass is a phenomenal, high quality product filled with information and tips that will help you get the most out of your hot yoga practice. If you are a committed hot yogi, remember that feeling that came over you when you first started classes? You were so excited, couldn’t stop talking about hot yoga and were so happy when you found someone who would listen. Could not get enough information . . . there were so few books written and not much on the web. Remember the excitement that finding Gabrielle’s web site generated? Other people to share with, answers to questions that had stumped you. A problem that I could not seem to fix for 7 months (even with private lessons) was resolved when I read page 45. I cherish this book and am extremely grateful to Gabrielle for the honest, caring attitude she exhibits towards her students, even if they live an ocean away and stay in touch via the web. The VIP tele-conferences have the feel of a private lesson, great for those of us that cannot attend a live class. Thanks again Gabrielle. Your book and DVD’s are having quite a positive impact in my practice and in my life.
John –
I really liked the Masterclass set. I am a beginner and the DVD’s and book have helped me tremendously to get into the correct pose in the proper way. And since I am not yet flexible enough to get into all of the poses, the information provided offered ways to build up to the correct pose. It’s been very helpful. I also like the fact that there are several classes to choose from because I don’t always have the full 90 minutes required for an entire class. I can choose to do a 60 or 75 minute class, for example, if that is all the time I have. All the materials are top quality too.
lennie –
I have been practing bikram yoga a little over 2 years. I love hot yoga. I was not making progress with my pratice. I spoke with the teachers they were very nice but not a lot of help. I found this package by accident. I went on the site and found tons of info. I was able to improve my practice that day. I ordered the complete set not sure I was doing the right thing. WOW It is wonderful. The book is large and easy to use while working on poses. I finally feel I am making real progress. The detailed breakdown of the postures helps so much. In one of the postures I had not understood at all what I needed to be doing. Therefore, I never felt anything. Now that I am doing it correctly I do feel it.
Mary Anne –
even though I have gone to many hota yoga classes, I love to have the DVD’s with shorter length classes – I don’t always have 90 min and the manual is wonderful to study – I teach a yoga class and the tips I find here help me to pass that on to my students.
Irena-Marie Makowska –
Since I started hot yoga a few years ago I’ve been asking all sorts of people if an instruction manual was available – there wasn’t, as far as anyone knew. When Gabrielle announced that she was launching both a manual AND instruction DVD’s I was delighted. It’s a product for life and it’s exactly what I needed. It’s simply, it’s beautifully illustrated and if like me you have no access to a studio (I’m living in rural France), it brings the studio to you. Thanks very much!