After Powe Pilates, Stot Pilates, it’s time for Hot Pilates. This method combines classic Pilates exercises, the only difference is that they are carried out in a room heated to between 32 and 35 degrees, with a humidity level higher than normal. The heat (which still remains bearable) would allow toxins to be evacuated from the body and burn calories more easily.
“Hot Pilates”, a trend today but not new
In reality, Hot Pilates is far from being a new practice. This variation was developed by professional athlete Gabriella Walters in 2009, who founded the first studio dedicated to this practice in the United States. But since this summer, Hot Pilates has experienced a resurgence in popularity in the fitness world, particularly thanks to social networks.
Indeed, on TikTok, young women show their Pilates session in rooms equipped with infrared lamps, which have the role of diffusing heat. They testify to the virtues of this sporting routine, ensuring that it helps them to better sculpt their body.
More effective than a traditional session
Abigail McLachlan, Pilates teacher in London explains to Marie Claire UK that “the heat offers something new compared to more traditional Pilates classes”.
In the opinion of teachers who practice and teach Hot Pilates, this form represents, as Abigail McLachlan says, “a greater challenge” to take on than its traditional version. “It is more focused on the development of strength and endurance”, would play more on endurance and therefore stimulate concentration and mental strength.
“When you’re hot, you tend to focus more on how your body feels, which is ideal for the mindfulness elements of Pilates practice,” says Eloise Skinner, another British yoga teacher. For people who experience muscle pain on a daily basis, heat will help relax the muscles and make certain positions easier.
More effective than classic Pilates
Hot Pilates would also be more effective than a classic Pilates session. Practicing it in a heated room would push the body to its limits. The latter will expend more energy to carry out this effort and to regulate its internal temperature, which allows it to burn more calories.
However, no scientific study currently validates this assertion. “Some studies of hot yoga versus thermo-neutral yoga have shown similar results for both groups,” he told Women’s Health Dr. Elizabeth Barchi, sports medicine specialist at NYU Langone Sports Health.