BaptisteYoga Mass Ave. Cambridge

I'm writing this Blog a bit later than the date that I actually went to the classes offered by the studio . . . only because I went to four classes and it took me awhile to process (I went from 3/6-3/11). I started out with their free seven day trial on a Friday afternoon. Little did I know that Baptiste specializes in hot yoga so the room was 105 degrees. Yes, I know, I know . . . I should know better! I did try it though. The receptionist was very encouraging and as any yoga practitioner knows HOT is subjective. I melted . . . and only made it through a half hour. The flow was fast and I'm definitely not up to the stamina it takes to combine fast flow AND heat like that. The receptionist was kind enough to give me a schedule where she circled the low-heat classes.
OK, I'm on a free trial so I'm determined to try again. So I went back two days later for a Sunday morning class. It was really great actually. Not cool by any means . . . I was dripping sweat by the end of the class but the instructor had an amazing voice and the poses had a great flow to them. The only issue I had was the small studio FILLED with people. I'd never experienced such a full class. Yoga mat to yoga mat. So crowded that the instructor modified his poses so that we didn't hit our neighbors (such as when we did a forward bend).
The previous class was equally as full and so was every successive class. I'm not certain if it was because of the free trial or if it's always like that. I am planning on going back there during one of their 3pm teacher instructor classes which they call 'community class' to see if it's always elbow to elbow. If it's less of a crowd, I'll raise the score posted below.
I had the same instructor for three classes and he varied his routine enough that I wasn't bored but began to understand where he was going in his flow by the third class. He had different teacher assistants for each session, two of which were very unobtrusive while adjusting our poses. One, however was abrasive . . . when I (as usual!) didn't use the block during Sage's Pose (Marichysana III) she put it in my hand and said, "Everyone in the class is using it!" Yes, I add that with exclamation points because a few students looked over at us . . . totally breaking our flow.
I am occasionally going back, if the class is less crowed, because I enjoyed the moderate heat (90 degrees) and it was an excellent workout. They have a shower and changing area but the lobby gets very crowed if there is a class going as the new one is coming. They do have some very nice yoga wear for sale . . . along with a sale bin which is always tempting! Also, the parking is two blocks away . . . not a problem if you like to walk, like me, but harsh when you're entirely wet from the session and have to walk to the parking lot in our NewEngland freeze.

Score: 6 Cost: $$