Top Five Reasons to Use Infrared Heat in Your Workouts

Infrared heat has become one of the most sought-after tools in modern fitness — especially in cities like Grand Rapids where winter training can feel stiff, cold, and heavy. Unlike traditional heating systems that warm the air, infrared heat warms your body directly from the inside out.

That deeper, therapeutic heat is why infrared has become a game-changer for hot pilates, hot barre, and other heated formats across Grand Rapids infrared fitness studios.

Here are the top five reasons why infrared heat enhances your workouts.

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1. Infrared Heat Supports Better Mobility + Faster Warm-Up

Infrared waves penetrate directly into soft tissue, warming muscles, fascia, and joints more efficiently.

This means:

•   faster warm-up

•   better mobility

•   smoother transitions

•   less “cold start” stiffness

This is especially noticeable in hot pilates and hot barre, where mobility impacts form, length, and safe muscle engagement.

If you’ve ever searched for the best hot pilates classes in Grand Rapids, this is exactly what sets our infrared classes apart — you feel open sooner, which lets you get more from the workout.

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2. Infrared Heat Reduces Inflammation + Speeds Recovery

Infrared heat improves circulation and reduces inflammation at a cellular level.

This makes it ideal for:

•   sore muscles

•   tight hips or shoulders

•   post-workout recovery

•   anyone dealing with stiffness from Michigan winters

Clients taking our hot barre classes often say they feel lighter and less inflamed afterward. This is the long-tail benefit many people search for when looking up benefits of infrared fitness classes in GR.

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3. Infrared Heat Improves Cardiovascular Conditioning Without High Impact

Infrared heat gradually elevates your core temperature, which increases heart rate safely and steadily — not the same way forced-air heat sometimes does.

This gives you:

•   low-impact cardiovascular training

•   enhanced calorie burn

•   improved endurance

•   less stress on joints

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4. Infrared Heat supports True Detoxification (Beyond “Sweating It Out”)

Infrared heat optimizes circulation and lymphatic flow — the actual detox pathways of the body.

This means:

•   better nutrient delivery

•   better waste removal

•   improved internal regulation

•   deeper recovery

In non-toxic infrared heated workouts — the experience is cleaner, less suffocating, and more supportive of long-term wellness.

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5. Infrared Heat Enhances Mental Focus + Nervous System Regulation

Infrared heat delivers a calm, nurturing warmth that helps quiet the mind and regulate the nervous system.

Clients often report:

•   increased mental clarity

•   deeper breath awareness

•   improved mood

•   a more meditative training experience

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The Difference Between Infrared LIGHT +  Infrared HEAT Is Real:

Infrared light and infrared heat come from the same spectrum, but they affect the body in different ways.

Infrared light (often from red or near-infrared bulbs) is more superficial.

It works on the surface layers of the skin the way gentle sunlight does — supporting things like:

•   improved skin circulation

•   mild collagen stimulation

•   a subtle warming sensation

•   mood and energy support

There is therapeutic benefit to infrared light, but it does not raise core temperature or create a full-body thermal response.

Infrared heat, on the other hand, comes from far-infrared heating panels, which deliver deeper wavelengths that penetrate into muscles, soft tissue, and joints.

This creates:

•   increased internal body temperature

•   deeper muscle warm-up

•   improved mobility

•   reduced inflammation

•   enhanced circulation and recovery

•   a true “heated workout” environment

In short:

•   Infrared light = therapeutic but surface-level

•   Infrared heat = full-body thermal effect + physiological performance benefits

Both have value — they just aren’t interchangeable.

Studios that use infrared light offer a mood-boosting, gentle glow experience, but it won’t mimic the deep warmth and movement-enhancing benefits of true infrared heat panels like the ones we use at Fever.

Give an infrared fitness class a try at Fever. We guarantee you’ll be hooked on the heat, the vibe and the results.