Infrared Yoga: What It Is, How It Works, and How It Compares to Hot Yoga
Infrared yoga is yoga practiced in a room warmed by infrared panels rather than by forced-air heaters. The panels emit a wavelength of light that warms your body directly, the way sunlight does, instead of heating the air around you. Most studios run the room between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with some going up to around 105, and the heat typically feels less stifling than a traditional 105-degree hot studio.
Below we explain how infrared heating actually works, what benefits are reasonably supported, how it compares to other heated formats, and what to know before your first class.
- How Infrared Heating Works in a Yoga Studio
- Infrared Yoga vs. Bikram vs. Hot Vinyasa
- What Are the Benefits of Infrared Yoga?
- What Temperature Is an Infrared Yoga Class?
- Is Infrared Yoga Safe for Beginners?
- Poses That Shine in an Infrared Yoga Class
- Infrared Yoga vs. an Infrared Sauna
- How to Find an Infrared Yoga Class Near You
How Infrared Heating Works in a Yoga Studio
Infrared panels mounted on the walls or ceiling emit far-infrared radiation, a wavelength of light invisible to the eye that transfers heat directly to objects and bodies in the room. Because the air itself stays cooler and drier than in a convection-heated room, many students find it easier to breathe, and the room warms up more evenly without the noisy blowers that traditional hot studios use.
Studios that use infrared often pair the heat with vinyasa-style flow classes, though the technology works with any format, from slow stretch sessions to power flows. If you want to understand the flowing style most infrared studios lean toward, see our guide to hot vinyasa yoga.
Infrared Yoga vs. Bikram vs. Hot Vinyasa
| Format | Heat source | Typical temperature | Humidity | Class style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared yoga | Radiant infrared panels | 90–100 °F (sometimes up to 105) | Low (air stays dry) | Varies; often vinyasa or slow flow |
| Bikram (26 and 2) | Forced-air heating | 105 °F | ~40% | Fixed 26-pose sequence, 90 min |
| Hot vinyasa | Forced-air or infrared | 90–105 °F | Varies | Flowing, breath-linked sequences |
| Unheated yoga | None | Room temperature | Ambient | Any style |
For a deeper look at how the hottest format compares, read how hot Bikram yoga really is, and for the broader picture of heated practice see our hot yoga guide.
What Are the Benefits of Infrared Yoga?
Most of the benefits of infrared yoga are the benefits of yoga practiced in a warm room: warm muscles stretch more comfortably, and many people simply enjoy practicing warm. Reasonably supported effects include:
- Easier, deeper stretching. Warm tissue is more pliable, so poses that feel stiff in a cool room often feel more accessible.
- A more comfortable breathing environment. Because infrared warms bodies rather than air, the room typically feels less oppressive than a 105 °F convection-heated studio, a real plus if humid heat bothers you.
- Higher heart rate and sweat output. Practicing in heat raises cardiovascular effort modestly. If calorie burn is your main interest, our breakdown of how many calories hot yoga burns sets realistic expectations.
- Relaxation. Gentle radiant warmth is genuinely pleasant for many people, similar to the appeal of an infrared sauna.
One honest caveat: claims that infrared heat detoxifies the body or melts fat are not well supported. Sweat is mostly water and electrolytes, and your liver and kidneys handle detoxification. Treat infrared yoga as a comfortable way to practice warm, not as a medical therapy. For a broader look at what heated practice does and does not do, see our guide to the benefits of hot yoga.
What Temperature Is an Infrared Yoga Class?
Most infrared studios run between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, noticeably milder than the 105 degrees used in Bikram-style classes. Some newer infrared rooms go up to around 105 for a more intense experience. Because the heat is radiant rather than convective, the room often feels gentler than the thermometer suggests. The typical hot yoga temperature range is a useful reference for comparison.
Is Infrared Yoga Safe for Beginners?
Generally yes, with sensible precautions. The lower temperatures and drier air make infrared classes easier to tolerate than Bikram for most newcomers. Still:
- Hydrate well before class and bring water with you.
- Choose a shorter or slower class for your first session and rest in Child’s Pose whenever you need to.
- Wear light, moisture-wicking clothing. Our guide on what to wear to hot yoga applies here too.
- If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or stop sweating, leave the room and cool down.
People who are pregnant, have cardiovascular conditions, low blood pressure, or heat sensitivity should check with a doctor before any heated yoga format.
Poses That Shine in an Infrared Yoga Class
Any pose can be practiced under infrared heat, but these tend to benefit most from warm tissue:
- Warrior series. Standing strength work that builds internal heat on top of the ambient warmth.
- Pigeon Pose. Hip opening feels noticeably deeper when the body is warm.
- Forward folds. Hamstrings release more readily.
- Gentle twists. Warm spinal muscles allow a comfortable range of motion.
- Savasana. Final relaxation under radiant warmth is, for many students, the best part of class.
If you prefer the warmth without the workout, some studios offer infrared-heated slow or restorative classes. Our primer on restorative yoga explains what that style involves.
Infrared Yoga vs. an Infrared Sauna
Both use the same technology, but the contexts are very different. An infrared sauna is a passive heat experience: you sit, you sweat, you leave. An infrared yoga class adds a physical practice on top of that same warmth, which raises heart rate more, engages muscles, and produces a different kind of session. If you have enjoyed an infrared sauna, an infrared yoga class is a logical next step; if you have not, the class is a more demanding introduction than simply sitting in a warm room.
How to Find an Infrared Yoga Class Near You
- Search for “infrared yoga” or “infrared hot yoga” plus your city. Many boutique hot yoga studios now advertise infrared heating specifically.
- Ask the studio what temperature they run and what class styles they pair with the heat.
- Book a beginner-friendly or slow-flow class first.
- Arrive early, hydrate, and position yourself near the door if you are unsure how you will handle the heat.
Membership pricing varies widely by city and studio, so check the studio’s own site for current rates. Bringing a dedicated hot yoga towel makes the practice much more manageable on a grippy mat.
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Not exactly. Hot yoga is the umbrella term for any heated class. Infrared yoga refers specifically to studios heated with radiant infrared panels, which warm your body directly and keep the air cooler and drier than traditional forced-air hot yoga rooms.
Most infrared studios run between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with some rooms going up to around 105. Because the heat is radiant rather than convective, it often feels gentler than the thermometer suggests.
There is no solid evidence that sweating in infrared heat removes meaningful amounts of toxins. Sweat is mostly water and electrolytes, and your liver and kidneys handle detoxification. Enjoy infrared yoga for the comfortable warmth and deeper stretching, not as a detox treatment.
Yes. The milder, drier heat makes infrared classes one of the easier heated formats for newcomers. Start with a slow or beginner-level class, hydrate well, and rest whenever you need to. Anyone who is pregnant or has heart or blood pressure issues should check with a doctor first.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a heart condition, blood pressure issues, are pregnant, or are sensitive to heat, consult a healthcare professional before practicing heated yoga.
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Last update 2026-09-10. Price and product availability may change.
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