Ritual Hot Yoga - SOMA

I absolutely adore Ritual. From all of the instructors (shoutout Cindy, Donnie, Sydney, Yamila, and Mayumi) I truly enjoy every single class I have taken here. I switched over from ClassPass to a monthly membership at ritual and it is worth every penny. The class structure, rigor, and dedication to the practice makes me feel confident in my yoga journey. I love the team and I appreciate having a space that I can confidently come and add to be apart of my weekly ritual!

Visiting SF for a few days and in need of a yoga class after a long flight. I was glad to stumble across Ritual while doing a google search of yoga studios near my hotel. I really like a nice slow flow or a freedom flow - I practice Hatha or vinyasa 4-5x a week. The class I took led by Brian was not that. It was very fast and challenging due to the speed but it still incorporated breath work and movement. Despite the challenge, I don’t feel like I was “behind” or that it was difficult to follow. I would absolutely come back here next time I’m in SF. It was super handy to have all the accessories you need for practice available. Shout out to Brian and Sidney for a great class and a welcoming atmosphere. Thank you!

I started going to Ritual Hot Yoga as a complete beginner to yoga. I did not own a mat, and I did not want to purchase any supplies in case I decided down the line that yoga was not for me. I had certainly never exercised in a heated room before. So, when I learned that this studio would provide all the supplies during class, I went ahead and gave it a try. I met with a teacher for a short private lesson before starting my first group class. I got a tour of the facilities (very clean) and received a short demonstration of some common poses that would come up in class a lot. The instructor set my expectations for how a typical class would progress, so I did not feel caught off guard during my first group class. Every teacher that I have met has been personable and supportive. The group classes are done in a very, very dark room. I typically can't see much at the beginning of class, but my eyes adjust by the time we finish the meditation portion of the class. I appreciate the atmosphere because it is easier to focus on myself despite practicing in a group setting. Transitions between poses become faster as the class progresses, and I still struggle to keep up. However, the upbeat music keeps me motivated. Also, nothing feels better than the cool eucalyptus towel on my forehead at the end of the stretching portion of the class. I love how many classes they offer each day, so I am always able to find a class to join that works with my schedule, last minute. My health has steadily improved since I started coming to this studio. Highly recommend!

Ritual Hot Yoga has a cool and very unique concept that definitely sets it apart from more traditional yoga studios. It’s clear they’re aiming for a luxury, immersive experience rather than a standard yoga class, which will appeal to a specific type of student. That said, the area it’s located in feels a bit sketchy. Given the monthly membership price, which is around the same cost as other luxury studios across the city, investing in cleaning up the exterior of the building, including the sidewalk and entrance, would go a long way in aligning the experience with the level they’re trying to hit. Inside, the studio gives off a dark, dungeon-like atmosphere with deep paint tones and very little natural light. This definitely adds to the immersive feel, but it may not be for everyone. The room is extremely dark, to the point where it can be difficult to see demonstrations, which makes balance and following along more challenging than necessary. One major plus is that you don’t need to bring anything with you, mats and towels are provided, which is convenient and appreciated. However, the mat towels and face towels could use a refresh. They felt quite worn down, and the face towels had a slightly off smell. The cold towel at the end of class, though, is a great touch and a standout moment. If you’re looking for a traditional vinyasa-style flow, this probably isn’t the studio for you. Ritual follows its own concept with classes held in the dark and lit by candles. While that’s unique, the flow itself felt inconsistent. The breath-to-movement cueing didn’t always make sense, and the transitions and pacing felt rushed. The class is extremely fast-paced, and at times the instructor seemed to lose rhythm, which broke what should feel like a challenging yet grounding workout. Ritual Hot Yoga offers an interesting and distinctive experience, but for a membership priced alongside other luxury studios in the city, there are several areas, flow structure, pacing, towel quality, and exterior upkeep, that could use refinement to fully match the branding.

I really dislike leaving negative reviews, but after giving this studio 5–6 tries, I’ve noticed it has gone downhill with each visit. To start with the positives: the staff is always incredibly kind, the music is fantastic, and I genuinely appreciate the heated space. That said, sometimes the heat tips over from invigorating to suffocating, which can make it uncomfortable. The main challenges for me are with the transitions, pacing, and overall flow of class. At times, the instructors lose rhythm, which breaks what should feel like a rigorous yet relaxing workout. The room itself is also extremely dark—so much so that it’s difficult to see demonstrations, which makes balance and following along unnecessarily hard. I really want to keep coming back because the studio is so conveniently located, but I’ve found myself going to other neighborhoods simply because the classes are too disjointed to enjoy. It’s not that the workouts are too challenging—it’s that the overall user experience has become frustratingly poor, which makes it hard to commit.