Did you know not all HEAT is created Equal? Why I only practice and sweat with INFRARED HEAT. 

Guess what? Sweating is good for you. Sweating is one of the body’s safest and most natural ways to heal and maintain good health. And that’s why our classes use infrared heat + yoga poses specifically designed to promote a deep, healthy and natural detoxifying sweat every time you practice.

Sometimes, I hear students say they don’t like to sweat. I get it…but I’m going to agree to disagree. Let me tell you why. I like to be efficient. It comes back to mindfulness. I am mindful of how I spend my time and I like to be efficient when I can because being efficient with some things creates more time for other things. So, if I can maximize my time spent on the yoga mat through receiving the benefits of infrared heat while also gaining strength and flexibility, I’m going to do it. 

Let’s dig in: Researchers have long told us how the body sweats out toxic substances, including heavy metals. As long as you maintain proper hydration, the more you safely sweat, the more you’ll expel from your skin and body. A hot yoga practice can be one of the safest and most effective methods for inducing a detoxifying sweat. In hot yoga, your body sweats out numerous toxins, including dead skin cells, oils, dirt, bacteria, and other toxic substances through pores. But not all sweats are the same; and neither are all heaters.

Infrared Heat is arguably more effective for detoxification  – the only technology proven to safely raise core body temperature! Rather than simply heating the air to draw out toxins, our technology will heat your core to expel them!

Infrared is the invisible part of the sun’s spectrum, which has the ability to gently and comfortably penetrate and heat objects, like human tissue, to produce a host of health benefits. It’s so safe, they even use it in the NICU to keep premature babies warm.  It’s also the same spectrum that stimulates plant growth due to cell generation. Naturally occurring from the sun, technology has harnessed this spectrum in infrared heaters for you to receive a holistic approach to a healthier mind and body.

In contrast, a conventional heat, like gas or electric, simply warms the air around you, which just induces sweating. Infrared heats your body from the inside out, penetrating up to 1.5 inches below the skin, which increases your heart rate as blood vessels expand and allows more blood to pump through. This cardiovascular benefit results in more calories burned in a shorter period of time, which can equate to real weight loss, not just water weight loss like you might receive from conventional heat. Think about it: you manage your diet, your fitness/activity levels, your water intake and your mental health- regular hot yoga with infrared heat, supports all of these goals with benefits for circulation, weight loss, sleep, inflammation, immunity, stress relief, and general pain relief. Check out this link if you want more info on the benefits.

Beyond the physical benefits of Infrared, the mental benefit is what I notice in the moment when I’m sweating. Years ago, I regularly practiced in a conventionally heated studio that didn’t have infrared technology. I always wondered why I was so exhausted afterward. I did some research and learned conventional heat must run at higher combustible temperatures in order to provide adequate heat. This depletes the oxygen levels in the air making you feel tired and drowsy…ugh. I also came upon the conclusion that breathing in hot air was subconsciously activating my fight or flight response as I fought against the suffocating feeling of breathing in hot, humid air for 60+ minutes. Infrared doesn’t heat the air, so you’re breathing comfortably, while your body heats up internally. Essentially, your body was gets warm, but your mind isn’t distracted by inhaling suffocatingly hot air.

Oh, and a few other things: With infrared, only objects in the room retain heat, keeping them nice and dry, meaning mold growth is inhibited, without dehumidifying and drying out the air. Traditional heaters can dry out your sinuses and skin by dehumidifying the air and blowing around allergens, bacteria and viruses. As an allergy sufferer and someone who’s concerned about safety doing the pandemic, that’s a big no thanks from me.  

Plus, infrared heaters won’t add any pollutants to our environment. They operate without any carbon combustion, no toxic-by-products, no open flames and no fuel lines. Essentially, infrared heaters don’t add anything to the air, and they don’t take anything from the air. Love that.

So, who’s ready to sweat?

Peace,

Jill