Pilates and yoga workouts are often associated with low-impact ways to build a stronger, more flexible body while calming the mind. Now, studios are popping up everywhere, promising a warmer workout with more movement and before you know it, you’re sweating through movements you’ve probably done plenty of times before.
But what does adding heat actually do? And is sweating more really making your workout better?
Why Infrared Pilates and Yoga?
Unlike traditional heating systems that primarily warm the air, infrared technology delivers radiant heat directly to the body and surrounding surfaces.
As your body temperature rises, your muscles and connective tissues become warmer, which can make movement feel easier and allow you to move more comfortably through your range of motion.
That can be particularly enjoyable in practices like mat Pilates and yoga, where controlled movement, mobility, flexibility and body awareness are all part of the experience.
It can create a distinctive, enveloping warmth that can feel more comfortable and soothing, enhancing the Pilates and Yoga experience.
Pilates itself has evidence supporting improvements in flexibility, with recent research also suggesting benefits across areas including balance, muscular endurance and functional ability.
Heat might not magically make you more flexible, but it can create an environment where movement feels more comfortable and fluid, while you respect your body’s limits.
Let’s Talk About Sweating…
A common myth is that sweat is your body “detoxing” itself (your liver and kidneys do the heavy lifting when it comes to removing waste from your body), when in fact sweating keeps you cool.
When your body temperature rises, your body produces sweat. As that moisture evaporates from your skin, it removes heat and helps regulate your temperature. Your body also increases blood flow to the skin to help transfer heat from inside the body towards the surface.
So sweating is a clever cooling system, rather than a measure of how “good” your workout was.
And because heated exercise can mean greater fluid loss, hydration matters. Arrive hydrated, bring water and continue replacing fluids after your session.
What Does it Mean for My Circulation?
Heat also changes circulation.
When your body needs to release heat, blood vessels supplying the skin widen and blood flow towards the skin increases. This helps transport heat from deeper within the body towards the surface, where it can be released.
Circulation matters during movement as working muscles require oxygen and nutrients. Movement increases demand from those muscles, while a warm environment creates additional circulatory demands as your body works to manage its temperature.
It’s one of the reasons a heated class can feel quite different from exactly the same movements performed in a cool room.
How Does Heat Help My Muscle Tension?
Combining a warm environment with the slow, controlled movements of yoga or mat Pilates may help muscles feel more relaxed and make stretching and mobility work feel more comfortable.
For anyone who spends hours sitting at a desk, driving or simply feeling stiff after a long week, an infrared class can provide an opportunity to slow down, move deliberately and work through that feeling of tension.
Remember…warmer muscles can sometimes make you feel capable of going further and good technique still wins every time.
Pilates or Yoga: Which one is for me?
Infrared mat Pilates is ideal if you enjoy controlled, purposeful movements with a focus on your core, stability, strength and mobility.
Infrared yoga brings together movement, flexibility, balance and breath in a heated environment that can also encourage you to slow down and focus on what your body is doing.
Some days you might want the challenge of Pilates. Other days, a yoga class and a good stretch might be exactly what your body needs.
The combination of heat and purposeful movement provides their own benefits for mobility, flexibility, strength, balance and body awareness, incredibly important combinations for any age and gender.
The best workout is the one you enjoy and provides you with the benefits you are looking for.
And if you’re ready to take your mat workout up a degree (or a few), Next Gen Memorial Drive also offers heated mat-based classes as part of its premium fitness offering.
Adding heat can bring a completely different dimension to your workout and is another way to mix up your weekly movement routine.
Want to find out more or try a class for yourself? Explore Next Gen Memorial Drive’s premium fitness offering and discover the classes available to you by clicking here.