An infrared treadmill session is a low-intensity walk inside a warm, enclosed chamber that surrounds your lower body, paired with near-infrared light. A first session usually runs about 30 minutes. You walk at a comfortable pace; this is not a run. You will sweat, probably more than you expect. Wear shorts or leggings and a T-shirt, bring water, and that is really the whole prep list. Most people finish feeling warm and loose rather than wiped out.
You do not need to be fit to do this. Walking pace is the entire point, and it is one of the reasons people searching for an infrared fitness session near them end up sticking with it.
What An Infrared Treadmill Actually Is
In plain terms, it is a treadmill built inside a heated chamber, with near-infrared light added on top of the movement.
That last part matters, because infrared gets used loosely online, and it helps to know exactly what you are stepping into. This is near-infrared plus movement. It is not a sauna; a sauna is passive heat with no walking involved. It is not one of our Wellness Pods either; those use far infrared heat while you lie still. And it is not our POLY red light service, which uses visible red light with no walking or heat chamber at all. Three genuinely different things, and an infrared treadmill sits in its own lane.
If you want the full breakdown of how infrared works in general, our guide on what infrared actually is covers that in more depth.
Still sorting out near infrared vs far infrared?
Totally normal question. Our team can walk you through which one actually fits what you're looking for.
Book a Free ConsultationBody Lab Infrared Treadmill vs A Regular Treadmill
Body Lab Infrared Treadmill | Regular Treadmill | |
Heat | Warm, enclosed lower body chamber | Room temperature air |
Light | Near-infrared light included | None |
Sweat response | Noticeably higher, even at walking pace | Depends mostly on speed and incline |
Circulation support | Heat plus, on the VacuTherm, gentle vacuum pressure | Comes from movement alone |
Joint impact | Low impact, walking pace by design | Varies with speed and incline |
Best for | Gentle movement days, recovery, easing into fitness | Building endurance, higher intensity training |
Neither one replaces the other; they are just built for different days. A regular treadmill is great when you want to push pace or distance. Our infrared treadmills are built for the days your body wants to move without asking it to work hard, while still getting more out of the walk than a plain cool room would give you.
Walking In: The First Ten Minutes
Nobody tells you what the first few minutes actually look like, so here it is.
What You Wear
Shorts or leggings and a t-shirt work best. Skip heavy fabrics; you will thank yourself later. Bring water and a small towel if you like to have one on hand. If you want more detail on why clothing choice actually matters here, we wrote a full piece on what to wear during infrared therapy.
What We Ask You Before You Start
A quick, casual conversation. How are you feeling today? Any injuries or concerns? Have you done anything like this before? Nothing formal, just enough for our team to set the session up around you instead of a generic default.
Getting Set Up On The Machine
You step onto the treadmill, and the lower body chamber closes gently around your legs and hips. Your head and upper body stay outside the chamber the entire time, so there is no closed-in feeling. The pace starts slow, and you and your session guide adjust from there.
What The Infrared Treadmill Session Feels Like
This is the part people actually want to know, so let’s be honest about it.
The First Five Minutes, Warmer Than You Expect
The warmth builds faster than many people expect. It is not uncomfortable, but it is noticeable, more like stepping into a warm car that has been sitting in the sun than a slow gradual heat-up. If it feels hot, that is normal, and you can always ask for the intensity to be adjusted.
The Middle, Where The Sweat Starts
Somewhere around the ten-to-fifteen-minute mark, the sweat really kicks in, even at a walking pace. This surprises almost everyone the first time. Your legs will feel warm and a little heavy in a good way, similar to how they feel after a longer walk outdoors, just faster.
The Last Stretch: How To Finish Comfortably
The last few minutes usually ease the pace down so you are not stepping straight from a sweat into stillness. By the time the chamber opens, most people feel loose through the legs and glad to grab that water bottle.
What To Expect Afterward
Plan on feeling warm for a little while after you step off; that is completely normal and tends to fade within twenty or thirty minutes. Many people notice they are thirstier than usual, which makes sense given how much you sweat. Some notice a bit more of an appetite later that day too.
We will not promise a specific result here; everyone’s body responds a little differently. If you are curious how infrared fits into a broader weight management picture, our honest take is in infrared and weight loss.
Curious if this fits your schedule?
A short, no pressure conversation with our team can help you find the right time and session length to start.
See Infrared Fitness SessionsWho It Suits, And Who Should Check With A Doctor First
Most healthy adults can try an infrared treadmill session without any special preparation. That said, a few situations are worth a quick check with your doctor before your first visit. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, take blood pressure medication, or know you are sensitive to heat, talk to your doctor first. This is not us being overly cautious for no reason; it is genuinely the responsible thing to flag, and heat-related exercise carries real guidance from health professionals worth following.
For the full detail on this, our piece on is infrared therapy safe walks through it more thoroughly.
The Two Machines at Body Lab
The VacuTherm Treadmill
The VacuTherm pairs a lower body vacuum chamber with infrared heat from Philips infrared lamps. The gentle vacuum pressure draws blood flow toward the legs and glutes while you walk, which supports circulation on top of what the heat alone does. If your legs also tend to feel heavy or swollen, this pairs naturally with the same circulation support we talk about in our piece on why lymphatic drainage matters. You can see full details on the VacuTherm treadmill page.
The Infrared Power Treadmill
This one skips the vacuum chamber and keeps things simpler: infrared heat plus a standard treadmill walk. It is a good fit if you want the warmth and the sweat without the added vacuum sensation, or if you are just easing into infrared fitness for the first time.
How Often People Come Back
There is no single right frequency here. Some people come once a week as a reset. Others build it into a two or three-day-a-week routine alongside their regular workouts. What matters more than hitting a specific number is finding a rhythm you will actually keep, which is really what habit building is about in the first place. If you are brand new to Body Lab entirely, our guide on where to start can help you find your first session before you even think about frequency.
See What Your First Session Feels Like
Reading about it only gets you so far. The heat, the sweat that shows up faster than you expect, the loose feeling in your legs afterward – that part is easier to understand once you have actually felt it yourself.
Ready to try it for yourself?
No experience needed, just walking pace and a warm room. Come see what an infrared treadmill session actually feels like.
Book Your First SessionFrequently Asked Questions
What is an infrared treadmill?
A treadmill inside a heated, enclosed chamber that surrounds the lower body, combined with near-infrared light. You walk at a comfortable pace while the chamber keeps the area warm.
How long is an infrared treadmill session?
Usually around 30 minutes at a walking pace. Sessions can be adjusted if you are brand new to it.
What should I wear to an infrared treadmill session?
Shorts or leggings and a T-shirt. Bring water and skip heavy fabrics.
Does an infrared treadmill burn more calories?
Walking in a heated chamber can raise your heart rate and sweat response compared to a cool room, and many people feel like they worked harder than the pace alone suggests. Exact calorie differences vary person to person, so we would rather be honest about that than promise a specific number.
How often should you do infrared treadmill sessions?
It depends on your goals and how your body responds. Some people go weekly; others build it into two or three sessions a week alongside their routine.
Do I need to be fit to use an infrared treadmill?
No. It is a walking-pace session, not a run. The heat does not require athletic fitness, but if you have a heart condition, high or low blood pressure, are pregnant, or are sensitive to heat, check with your doctor first.
Is an infrared treadmill the same as an infrared sauna?
No. A sauna is passive heat with no movement. An infrared treadmill combines gentle walking with near-infrared light inside a warm chamber. Our far infrared pods are the separate, passive option if that is what you are actually looking for.
Where can I try an infrared treadmill in Myrtle Beach?
Body Lab Studio offers infrared fitness sessions on both the VacuTherm treadmill and the Infrared Power Treadmill.
References
- Mayo Clinic Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Safety tips for summer activities, hydration and heat guidance. https://sportsmedicine.mayoclinic.org/news/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-safety-tips-for-summer-activities/
- Photobiomodulation, Red and Near Infrared Light Therapy for Mitochondrial Stimulation and Biological Recovery in Athletes, A Narrative Review, Quality in Sport, 2026. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/73741
