Heated vs. Non-Heated Yoga: What’s the Difference? | Balanced Planet Yoga

At Balanced Planet Yoga, we offer both non-heated and infrared heated yoga classes — and one of the most common questions we hear is:

“What’s the difference – Heated vs Non-Heated Yoga..… and how do I prepare?”

The short answer? Both styles offer incredible benefits. The longer answer? Let’s break it down.

Non-Heated Yoga: The Room Temperature Experience

Our non-heated classes are practiced in a comfortable environment, typically around 72–76°F. This allows your body to warm up naturally through movement, rather than relying on external heat.

Why People Love Non-Heated Classes

• Great for beginners or anyone sensitive to heat
• Easier to focus on alignment and breath
• Allows muscles to warm gradually and safely
• Ideal for slower practices like Yin, meditation, or mindful flow

From a physiological standpoint, your body is doing the warming itself — increasing blood flow to muscles and gradually improving tissue elasticity as you move.

In non-heated classes, you may sweat a little — but usually because of effort, not temperature. Think of it as your body saying: “We’re working… but we’re keeping it reasonable.”

Infrared Heated Yoga: What Makes It Different

Our heated classes use infrared heat — but the way we use it might feel a little different than what you’ve experienced elsewhere.

We have a single infrared panel positioned at the front of the room, rather than multiple panels surrounding you on all sides.

What That Means for Your Experience

• The room warms more gradually and evenly
• You’re not constantly being hit with direct heat from all sides
• You can choose where to place your mat based on your comfort level
• If you’re not a fan of the red light, you’re not stuck directly under it

It creates a heated experience that still feels spacious, breathable, and adaptable.

What Is Infrared Heat? (A Tiny Bit of Science)

Infrared heat works by radiating energy that is absorbed directly by your body, rather than just heating the air around you. This matters because your body responds differently depending on how it’s heated.

What’s Happening in Your Body During Infrared Yoga

• Blood vessels dilate (vasodilation), increasing circulation throughout the body
• Muscle tissue becomes more pliable, which can improve range of motion
• Your body activates thermoregulation (aka sweating to cool itself down)
• Heart rate increases slightly, similar to light cardiovascular work

So while it might feel like you’re “just sweating,” your body is actually performing a coordinated dance of circulation, cooling, and adaptation.

Is Infrared Heat the Same as Red Light Therapy?

Short answer: No.

While both exist on the light spectrum, they serve very different purposes.

Infrared Heat (What We Use in Class)

• Designed to warm the body and support movement
• Uses broader wavelengths that penetrate and create heat
• Works across your whole body during a full yoga practice

Red Light Therapy

• Typically used for targeted healing and recovery
• Uses specific wavelengths at close range
• You’re usually sitting still — not trying to hold Warrior II

So while they’re related, your yoga class is not secretly doubling as a spa treatment. (Although… it might feel like one after.)

How to Prepare for Heated Yoga Classes

A little preparation goes a long way. Here’s what we recommend before stepping into a heated class at Balanced Planet Yoga.

Hydrate Early

Start drinking water a few hours before class, not just on your way in. Hydration supports your body’s ability to regulate temperature and maintain blood volume — which helps you feel steady instead of lightheaded.

Eat Light

A small snack is fine — just avoid heavy meals right before class. Your body is already working to manage heat; digestion doesn’t need to be competing for resources at the same time.

Bring the Right Gear

No need to overcomplicate this. We recommend:

• A grippy yoga mat
• A hand towel
• Plenty of water

That’s it. This isn’t 26+2 — you don’t need to build a towel fort.

What If You Get Too Hot During Class?

Totally normal — especially if you’re new to heated yoga. Your instinct might be to immediately leave the room, but we actually encourage a pause first.

Try this sequence:

1. Slow your breath
2. Take child’s pose or simply sit down
3. Sip water
4. Let your body regulate before making a move

Here’s why this matters: Your nervous system and cardiovascular system are already adapting to the heat. If you suddenly move into a much cooler environment, it can disrupt blood pressure regulation and actually increase feelings of dizziness.

Staying in the room — even while resting — allows your body to gradually downshift, which is usually more effective than stepping out.

Of course: if you feel truly unwell, step out. Always.

The Real Secret: Your Body Adapts Faster Than You Think

The first heated class might feel like… a lot. The second? Still a lot. But physiologically, your body is actively learning:

• How to sweat more efficiently
• How to regulate temperature more effectively
• How to circulate blood with less cardiovascular strain

This process is called heat acclimation, and it happens faster than most people expect. Eventually, the heat stops feeling like something you’re fighting… and starts feeling like something that’s supporting you.

And yes — you might even start to like sweating. We’ll give you a moment to process that.

So Which Is Better — Heated vs Non-Heated Yoga?

Neither. They just meet you in different ways.

Some days you want the focus and steadiness of a non-heated class. Other days you want the fluidity and warmth that infrared heat provides. Both are valid. Both are valuable. The best class is the one that serves where you are today.

A Final Thought From Jenna

Yoga isn’t about extremes. It’s about learning how to listen to your body, regulate your breath, and stay present in the experience you’re in — whether the room is 72° or 85°.

And if you leave class a little sweaty, a little clearer, and a little more yourself?

That’s the whole point.

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Written by Jenna Kelly, Co-Owner of Balanced Planet Yoga. Jenna is passionate about making yoga accessible, science-informed, and genuinely enjoyable for every body — heated or not.

Looking to experience heated vs. non-heated yoga for yourself? View Our Class Schedule