the benefits of infrared heat whilst doing yoga
Infrared heating has become increasingly popular in wellness spaces, and for good reason. Some of the key benefits include:
Enhanced Flexibility and Deeper Stretching: Infrared heat penetrates deep into muscle tissues, increasing blood flow and allowing muscles to relax more quickly and thoroughly. This enhanced muscle pliability allows you to stretch deeper into poses with a reduced risk of injury and a greater range of motion.
Improved Circulation and Cardiovascular Health: The deep warmth from the heaters dilates blood vessels, which boosts circulation and delivers more oxygen and nutrients to muscles and tissues. This increased blood flow can also help strengthen the heart and may even help lower blood pressure over time.
Deeper Detoxification: The radiant heat induces a profound, cleansing sweat that helps flush out impurities and toxins, including heavy metals, from the cellular level more effectively than traditional heating methods.
Pain Relief: The deep penetration of the heat can alleviate muscle soreness, joint pain, and inflammation, offering relief for those with chronic conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia.
More Comfortable Environment and Better Air Quality:
Unlike forced-air systems that can create stuffy, dry air and circulate dust and allergens, infrared heat maintains a comfortable, breathable atmosphere.
The heat is gentle and therapeutic, feeling like the warmth of the sun without the harmful UV rays, making the practice more comfortable and less oppressive.
Increased Calorie Burn: Your body works harder to regulate its core temperature in response to the infrared heat, which leads to increased metabolism and more calories burned during the session.
Mental Well-being and Stress Reduction: The calming, warm environment helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation, reducing stress hormones (like cortisol), and enhancing mental clarity and focus during your practice.
Faster Recovery: Improved circulation and the removal of metabolic waste products help muscles recover faster after the session, reducing post-workout soreness.
This is why, when our old air-conditioning units finally reached the end of their life and needed replacing, we took it as an opportunity to research and really think about what kind of heating best supports our practice and your wellbeing.
Rather than replacing like-for-like, we asked a bigger question: what is the healthiest, most supportive environment for yoga? That question led us to infrared heating, so we hired a couple of heaters to see if they worked for us.
What’s different about infrared heat?
Unlike traditional air-conditioning or convection heaters, infrared heaters don’t warm the air around you. Instead, they gently heat objects and bodies directly, much like the warmth of the sun on your skin. This creates a more even, natural-feeling warmth without blasts of hot air, draughts, or temperature fluctuations.
The result? A studio that feels calm, comfortable, and grounded, not stuffy or overly dry.
