Maintains comfort whilst using less energy, by heating people and surfaces directly and not the air.
Why Choose Infrared Heating for Hot Yoga and Pilates?
Why infrared yoga and infrared Pilates are the hottest trend within the wellness sector
Infrared and its Biological Significance
We are 150 million kilometres away from the sun, which emits many kinds of electromagnetic waves. Some of these waves we perceive as heat, infrared waves. Over time, humans have naturally evolved to absorb far infrared energy to maximum benefit.
Infrared is a very efficient delivery mechanism for heat directly to our skin’s epidermis, where the water in our cells greedily reacts to it, causing us to warm up. Our bodies naturally transmit this warmth internally to gently heat the muscles, joints and tissues beneath the surface to ease stiffness and tension, boost circulation as well as other significant benefits for human wellness.
The 8–12 μm wavelength of far infrared is referred to as the “vital” range because of its important warming effects to human comfort, and its biological significance. This same range is also used in applications such as baby incubators and various wellness technologies and is the same wavelength used by Herschel’s heaters for heating yoga studios.
Benefits of Infrared Hot Yoga and Inferno Pilates
Emerging research continues to show that practising yoga in a heated environment can offer unique physical and mental health benefits. Several studies have demonstrated measurable outcomes associated with regular practice in heated studios. From increased flexibility and circulation to improvements in cardiovascular function and overall well-being, it’s clear that temperature plays an important role in how we experience movement and relaxation.
At Herschel Infrared, we’re passionate about infrared heating and its role in supporting wellness environments that feel balanced, effective, and restorative. As market leaders in infrared heating, we understand how the right kind of heat can transform both the experience and the outcomes of heated workouts such as infrared hot yoga and infrared pilates.
Why Infrared Heating Works Best for Hot Yoga and Hot Pilates
Traditional convection systems heat air, which then warms the skin through contact. This approach can lead to inconsistent temperatures, hot ceilings, and uncomfortably dry air. Infrared heating, by contrast, works more naturally with the human body.
Infrared heat is absorbed and emitted by our own bodies, making infrared the natural solution for heated fitness classes for studios.
The natural heat solution for hot yoga and Pilates classes
Delivers even warmth throughout the studio, ensuring every space is at the right temperature.
Silent and zero-light, preserving the calm and focus that is essential to wellness environments.
Supporting flexibility and circulation by encouraging deeper muscle warmth.
Improved Flexibility and Mobility
An 8-week randomised controlled study found that participants in heated yoga classes experienced significant improvements in flexibility, particularly in the shoulders, lower back and hamstrings (Campbell, 2015; summarised by Nike UK, 2024, and Tracy and Hart, 2013). The added heat allows muscles to lengthen more easily, helping to reduce stiffness and increase range of motion, which is a key reason many practitioners report feeling “lighter” after their sessions.
SUMMIT 2600 Watts
Enhanced Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health
Research from Anglia Ruskin University (2023) highlighted that modified Bikram yoga has been associated with increased aerobic fitness, improved cardiovascular function, better glucose tolerance, and reductions in LDL cholesterol. Even a single class has been shown to raise heart rate to levels similar to a brisk walk, helping build stamina over time.
Infrared heat allows muscles to lengthen more easily, reducing stiffness and increasing range of motion
Aspect XL 0.6kW - 2.6kW
Greater Well-Being and Mental Health
A six-week randomised controlled trial of 290 participants found that hot yoga led to increased life satisfaction, mindfulness and peace of mind, alongside improved general health scores (Fuller et al., Journal of Mental Health, 2023). This combination of heat and mindful movement appears to amplify the stress-reducing benefits that yoga is already known for. Harvard Health Publishing (2017) also cites two studies of Bikram yoga in heated rooms, which found that, over eight weeks, participants experienced reduced symptoms of depression.
Similarly, the findings from a controlled trial on the benefits of heated yoga on a randomised group of eighty medically healthy participants, with moderate-to-severe depression, ‘support strong acceptability and subjective improvement in depressive symptoms in depressed individuals’ (Nyer et al, 2024).
Improved Circulation and Recovery
Heated conditions naturally boost blood flow, helping deliver oxygen to muscles more efficiently and supporting post-exercise recovery. In studios using infrared heating, the benefits go further: because infrared warms the body and surfaces directly rather than just the air, muscles can relax more deeply without creating stuffy or uneven hot spots.
Research from National Library of Medicine (2022) also found that far infrared used in saunas improves recovery of neuromuscular performance and muscle soreness after resistance exercise training. Using the same wavelength of far infrared within heated studios, this often cited benefit of improved recovery transfers to hot yoga users post-class.
As infrared warms the body and surfaces directly, it helps muscles relax more deeply without creating stuffy environments
A Cleansing Experience
Practitioners often describe a “cleansed” feeling after heated sessions. Studies confirm that sweat loss during hot yoga can exceed 1–1.5 litres per class (ARU, 2022), reflecting increased circulation and metabolic activation. While “detoxification” is often used loosely, and further studies are required, the process of using heat in fitness certainly promotes hydration awareness and cardiovascular conditioning.
A healthier form of heating
Beyond its biological benefits, infrared is also recognised as a healthier way to heat spaces. Because it’s non-convective, infrared minimises airflow, reducing the circulation of dust and allergens to create a cleaner environment. By warming people, objects, and surfaces directly, it also avoids the problem of warm air hitting cold walls, helping to prevent condensation and common issues like damp and mould.
Professional Specification Service
Herschel has a team of in-house surveyors who perform desktop estimating services for commercial heating projects.