Infrared Workout Benefits
Infrared Workout Benefits: Do They Really Work?
Infrared gyms, saunas, and fitness studios are gaining popularity, and for good reason. Not only do infrared workouts help your body burn more calories, but they also reduce muscle soreness, improve muscle recovery, and more.
Infrared workouts have the same notable health benefits, whether in an infrared sauna or a workout studio. This article will explore what infrared heat is, what it does, and how it helps take your workout to the next level!
What is Infrared Heat, and How Does It Work?
Infrared workouts use a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye. These light waves produce infrared radiation, which the skin perceives as heat.
Far-infrared (FIR) heating has gained popularity due to its ability to heat objects directly in its path, such as your skin, clothing, and the surrounding atmosphere while bypassing the bright light of near-infrared (NIR). In an FIR environment, surfaces like the floor, equipment, and your body feel warm to the touch.
Unlike steam or hot air, radiant heat is an efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective method to heat a studio or workout room without polluting the air. FIR transmits heat in a way that our skin naturally absorbs, similar to sunlight. This radiant warmth promotes relaxation and enjoyment, allowing the body to heat up naturally and providing various health benefits.
Breaking Down How Infrared Workouts Actually Work
1. HEAT - ELEVATES CORE BODY TEMPERATURE AND BOOSTS METABOLISM
An increase in core body temperature induces an anabolic effect that accelerates metabolism. Additionally, exercising in a heated environment reduces the need for extended warm-up periods and helps you avoid injury while working out.
2. INFRARED ENERGY - ENHANCES AND STIMULATES THE BODY'S REGENERATIVE PROCESSES
Infrared energy boosts and activates the body's natural regenerative processes, which helps accelerate recovery after workouts in an infrared energy environment.
3. EXERCISE - BOOSTS HEART RATE AND MAXIMIZES CALORIE BURN
Our exercises can significantly enhance workout results when combined with heat and infrared energy.
What are the Primary Benefits of Infrared Fitness?
Pain Relief for Tired or Stiff Muscles
Workouts in our infrared gym improve blood circulation. This improvement helps speed up muscle recovery so you can feel your best after an intense workout. No one hates working out and getting DOMs. Infrared therapy can help you avoid that entirely by heating the body temperature and allowing the muscles to feel heat and warmth throughout the entire workout to avoid injury, relax muscles, prevent muscle soreness, and boost recovery.
In addition, many researchers are finding that infrared workouts can help people with chronic pain.
Weight Loss & Reduced Inflammation
Infrared heat can help the body sweat out toxins and burn extra calories. FIR heat therapy supports weight loss by accelerating the metabolic processes of vital organs and endocrine glands, leading to significant calorie burning during a workout session.
As you sweat, fat deposits are burned. Infrared heat exposure also helps reduce the formation and appearance of cellulite. If you sweat profusely, an hour-long infrared workout can burn up to 600 calories.
Sweating itself requires a substantial amount of energy (calories).
Producing 1 gram of sweat uses approximately 0.6 calories.
A profuse sweat can result in 1 liter of sweat in an hour.
Since sweat weighs 1 gram per milliliter, producing 1 liter (1000 milliliters) of sweat requires 600 calories (0.6 cal x 1000 ml = 600 cal).
In addition, heat exposure can increase blood flow and reduce inflammation.
Improved Flexibility
Infrared light waves can help loosen muscles, improving flexibility. This is an excellent addition to our workouts, especially hot yoga, because the heat allows your body to become more pliable, so you can fully extend, get into the yoga shapes, and reap the incredible infrared heat benefits while improving your practice.
Additionally, heat and flexibility are wonderful for stretching before and after workouts to ensure muscles are lengthened post-workout.
Improves Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Health
Infrared therapy induces a deep sweat, causing the heart to pump faster. This increase in heart rate boosts blood flow, lowers blood pressure, and improves circulation. Additionally, Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. Research has indicated that infrared sessions can enhance cardiovascular health in individuals with coronary risk factors.
A Boost in Mood
Infrared exposure may also improve mood, mental health, and cognitive function. Being in a warm environment positively affects our mood, and infrared heat works in the same way. The heat in the studio enhances your post-workout glow by increasing serotonin levels—the "happy hormone." This boost in serotonin helps reduce anxiety and stress, improves sleep, and makes you feel good overall.
Supports Longevity and Gives Skin a Boost
Researchers are finding that regular infrared sessions can promote healthy aging in several ways. For instance, infrared heat can enhance blood flow, boosting collagen production—vital for maintaining skin elasticity and a youthful appearance.
In infrared workouts may improve heart health and lower blood pressure, in addition to potential beauty benefits. Recent research indicates that spending 15 minutes in a traditional sauna after exercising can improve blood pressure compared to exercising alone.
Infrared Heated Workouts Available at Studio50
Our HOT BARRE is an infrared class that uses bands, balls, light weights, and high reps to up the BURN and fatigue all the right muscles. We follow up with a deep stretch to achieve a long, lean dancer's body.
This class is custom designed to define your muscles without adding bulk and help slim you down. You'll see influences from traditional barre, SCORCH, and Pilates. Infrared heaters are set to 98 degrees to increase circulation, metabolism, fat burning, muscle recovery, and flexibility. Additional benefits include cellulite and wrinkle reduction. No, we are not kidding!
SCORCH HIIT
SCORCH HIIT is a HOT beat-based Low-Impact, High-Intensity Interval Training
workout set to a fun soundtrack! This workout uses infrared heaters set to 100
degrees and combines cardio with resistance training exercises to give you a full
body burn and a major calorie blast!
Additional benefits include cellulite and wrinkle reduction. No, we are not kidding!
HOT FLOW YOGA
Our infrared gym is also proud to offer Hot Yoga! This is one of the most popular infrared workouts we provide. Our HOT FLOW YOGA is an alignment-based open-level yoga class. It has all the notable infrared exercise benefits, but our signature slow flow is mixed with longer holds and interwoven with a deeper meaning to enhance your experience. This class will elevate your practice, heal your body, quiet your mind, and help you perform better at other activities.
Infrared Workout FAQs
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Be prepared to sweat a lot. You will need to wear clothing you can move around in without restriction. Most of all, you need to wear clothing you can comfortably sweat in, such as breathable jerseys and dry-fit materials. If you have any questions or concerns regarding fitness attire for our infrared heated workouts, contact us to learn more and get advice.
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You can expect to feel relaxed and rejuvenated right after your workout, much like you do following any type of workout. Within 30 minutes, you'll experience a surge in energy and an improved mood, setting you up for a productive afternoon and a restful night's sleep.
Try Infrared Workouts Near Me
If you want to learn more about infrared workouts and discover the infrared workout benefits for yourself, contact Studio50 today. We are proud to provide some of the most fun, unique infrared workouts in our studio located in Mamaroneck, NY, in Westchester County. Call us at (914) 315-6124 to learn more and book an infrared class now.