Bikram Yoga Testimonials

From Comfort Zone to Confidence - My Journey with INFERNO Hot Pilates

My name is Madelin Morales and I am a recent graduate from Texas State University and a resident of San Marcos. I have always enjoyed working out and being active, some of my favorite activities outside of Inferno Hot Pilates are rock climbing, running, weightlifting and hiking. Although I love these activities very much, I found myself seeking a form of exercise that was out of my comfort zone, something that was new and exciting, and that is when I found Hot Pilates San Marcos. 

I took my first class in September of 2025 after being encouraged by Laura the owner. It was like nothing I had ever done before! It combined so many forms of exercise that I love and was a true full body workout. I left the class feeling revived in a new way, since then I have continued taking weekly classes and have found myself falling more and more in love with the practice. 

I grew up constantly working out and playing sports, but I can confidently say that is the strongest I have ever felt in my life. Adding Inferno Pilates to my workout routine has allowed me to obtain more, muscle, balance and core strength. I have gained a new understanding of my body and what it is capable of, Inferno hot Pilates has been a safe space for me physically and mentally. Although the workout is intense, I feel so at peace in the studio. The encouragement from the staff and the energy in the room motivates me to push myself to be better. 

Favorite workout music: Anything by Charli xcx and Bad Bunny!

Meet Jordin - Jordin is a senior in High School. She has been a starter on the Varsity Soccer team since her freshman year and earned honors as the first sophomore to be elected Captain!  She plays defensive center mid and some attacking mid - you will see her constantly pushing forward from her position to get in on the attack and facilitate plays. 

After coming up short in a shoot out in last year's State Championship, Jordin has her heart set to make it back to State - for another shot to win the Gold Medal!

She has been committed to cross-training this summer at HYSM's Inferno Hot Pilates.  She brings full effort every session and sometimes, she also brings her mom!!

What made you curious to try Inferno Hot Pilates?

I was curious to try Inferno Hot Pilates after I heard some of my favorite athletes in the media talking about how Pilates has helped improve their game post-injury.

What changes have you noticed? Ex. Mobility, balance, coordination, core stability, etc?

I have noticed my core and upper body strength improving the most, giving me more balance and strength on the ball. Quick bursts and technical movements have also been made easier.

Would you say that training in the heat improved your mental discipline or focus?

Training in the heat has definitely improved my determination alongside the words of encouragement given by the instructors of IHP. I find myself mimicking their words on and off the field. Hearing things like, “you can do anything for five seconds” have improved my mindset far beyond the studio.

What benefit has surprised you the most?

What shocked me the most had to be the feeling after the class. The feeling of accomplishment mixed with endorphins makes for a fun ride home to shower and start/end the day.

Would you recommend Inferno Hot Pilates to other athletes?

I would most definitely recommend Inferno Hot Pilates to other athletes, and I already have many times! I recently took a friend of mine who plays volleyball and she loved it! The full body workout makes IHP beneficial to a wide range of athletes with different goals in mind!

Jordin, we are wishing you an epic senior year - filled with good friends, defining moments and big victories!

I had always been interested in how it worked after hearing stories of life-changing, earth-shattering spiritual journeys other yogis had. But I felt a preference for more vigorous physical exercise, and I viewed yoga as an hour or so of casual stretching. That was, until I discovered Bikram Yoga!

Bikram has done something remarkable: It made me love myself. I have suffered 9 years of mental imprisonment by an eating disorder, which resulted in intense negative thinking and self-hatred. Bikram, completely unconsciously, has set me on the path to recovery.

I find joy, creativity, challenge and responsibility in a quiet relaxed joyful way with Bikram. I am learning not so much to think of myself as being good, as much as having a dialogue with my body.

Since discovering the original form of hot yoga six years ago, Bikram has been the one constant in my life. Cities, jobs, and boyfriends have all come and gone—but Bikram has been my rock. There are few things in life that make me happier.

With such an intense love for my practice, you can probably imagine that the 30-day Bikram yoga challenge had been on my bucket list for years. I’d attempted the challenge (unofficially) a few times—10 days here, 14 there—but never for an entire month. After dipping my toes in, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. So, before I could talk myself out of it, I signed up and embarked upon a 30-day journey of Bikram.

I came to Bikram Yoga in 2012 as an alternative to significant amounts of cardio-based exercise. At the time, it was running, but I had been a biker, a swimmer, a group fitness fanatic, etc. All of this had left my body feeling stiff and inflexible while my mind was stressed. I had also been dealing with some neck pain. I hoped that yoga would help relieve all of this, and got so much more! In my just over 3 years of practice, I have learned to enjoy all the benefits of yoga, mental, spiritual, and yes, physical. There is no other workout like it to make you feel more powerful when you leave and not drained. Yoga is my oasis in a busy world, where there are no cell phones allowed and we don’t even talk with classmates in the class space. It forces you to focus on yourself and where you are at that moment.

When I stepped foot into my first Bikram Yoga class I was nearly 200 pounds, I drank heavily, ate bad food and was heading down a path far from where I am today. I had been practicing vinyasa flow yoga for a year and was running a few times a week. I wasn’t losing any weight.

I would like to say that my goal when I walked into that Bikram yoga studio was about enlightenment, self-betterment, increased flexibility and mental clarity. I wanted to lose weight, plain and simple and I wanted to look good.

I FOUND IT

Not The Holy Grail ... Not The Fountain of Youth … Not Blackbeard's Buried Treasure … Not the Pot of Gold at the End of a Rainbow ... 

I found something better than all of these … a real gem when it comes to my overall health, fitness & well-being. A sparkling diamond.

Something that I have searched for my entire life. An efficient, yet complete, workout that includes stretching, strength training as well as detoxifying sweat production. Where I found it is not a surprise to those “in the know.”