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For most healthy adults, an infrared workout is a reasonable way to exercise, as long as you understand what the heat is actually doing. The cardio part is just cardio. You walk, climb, glide, or pedal on a machine, and the exercise itself gives you the usual benefits any movement gives you.
The infrared part adds warmth on top of that, which can make an easy pace feel like more effort and can make the session more comfortable on your joints, but it has not been studied enough on exercise machines specifically for us to promise it improves your fitness beyond the workout itself.
The sweat you see is water, not fat, and the results still come from showing up week after week. It also costs more than a basic gym membership, and the heat is not something everyone enjoys.
If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, take blood pressure medication, or do not handle heat well, check with your doctor before you try it. Here is the honest breakdown from Body Lab Studio, an infrared fitness and recovery studio in Myrtle Beach.
What An Infrared Workout Actually Is
Every fitness machine at Body Lab warms you with its own bank of infrared heat lamps while you move. The movement is a normal cardio workout. The infrared lamps add heat on top of it, so you are doing cardio and sitting in gentle warmth at the same time. Sessions typically run 30 to 45 minutes depending on the machine and your pace, each machine has three levels of infrared intensity, and every session starts on the lowest level before staff adjust from there.
Here is what that looks like across the Body Lab Studio:
Machine | How you move | Good to know |
Walking or light jogging | Full body coverage from the lamps | |
Gliding | Low impact, easy on the joints | |
Stepping | Works upper and lower body | |
Walking inside a sealed chamber | A walking infrared sauna for the lower body | |
Seated pedaling | Beginner friendly, no special technique needed |
The Infrared Body Roller pairs a rolling massage with an infrared lamp built in, and the Infrared Wellness Pod is an infrared sauna you lie down in, with your head staying outside the pod. The Pod is a rest option, not a workout.
Find the Right Infrared Workout for You
Explore our fitness machines, compare your options, and find a session that fits your comfort level and fitness goals. Our team is here to help you get started.
Explore Our Fitness Sessions
The VacuTherm Treadmill is a popular choice for people curious about infrared workouts because it combines familiar treadmill walking with infrared heat. Six infrared lights warm your lower body inside a chamber that fits loosely around your waist, while air circulates through the chamber throughout the session. It is one of five fitness options available at Body Lab Studio, each offering a different way to move.
If you are looking for an infrared sauna in Myrtle Beach, Body Lab Studio offers two distinct ways to experience infrared heat. The Wellness Pod is a true infrared sauna where you lie down with your head outside the pod, making it a good option for rest and relaxation. The VacuTherm Treadmill, on the other hand, keeps you moving throughout the session inside a heated walking chamber.
Neither uses the hot rocks of a traditional sauna or the steam of a steam room. Both use infrared lamps to warm your body directly, whether you are resting in the pod or walking on the treadmill.
The Pros: What's Established And What's Still A Feeling
Exercise has well-established benefits, while the added warmth may make the experience more comfortable or enjoyable for some people. Research on these additional effects is limited, so we distinguish between what studies have shown and what clients report feeling.
So here are the pros of infrared workouts…
The Workout Is Still a Workout
Walking, climbing, gliding or pedalling gets your heart working, regardless of the temperature around you. Heat adds another demand because your body has to work to regulate its temperature while you exercise. Whether that leads to better fitness results over time than the same workout without heat remains unclear.
Low-Impact Machines Put Less Stress on Your Joints
The Elliptical and VacuTherm Recliner Bike are designed to make movement easier on the knees and back. That comes down to the equipment, not the infrared heat. If high-impact exercise feels uncomfortable, these machines offer a lower-impact way to get moving, with warmth as an additional feature.
The Warmth May Help You Feel More Relaxed
Some people say they feel less stiff or more relaxed after a session. These are individual experiences, not established outcomes of infrared exercise. The warmth may make movement feel more comfortable, but there is not enough evidence to promise that it will improve flexibility or reduce stiffness.
Guided Sessions Without the Crowds
You do not have to figure everything out on your own. Before a session, staff ask about how you are feeling and whether you have any injuries or concerns. Sessions begin at the lowest heat setting, with adjustments made as appropriate. For anyone who finds a busy gym overwhelming, this offers a more structured and quieter setting for exercise.
Exercise That Feels Easier to Return To
For some people, the warmth and quieter setting make a workout more enjoyable. That matters because finding a form of exercise you like can make it easier to stick with a routine. The benefit here is the experience itself, rather than any proven additional effect of infrared heat on fitness.
Ready to Try an Infrared Workout?
Start at the lowest heat setting and ease into your first session at your own pace. Our team will help you get comfortable with the equipment and find the right place to start.
Book Your First SessionThe Cons: Realistic Disadvantages Of Infrared Workouts
Every workout has trade-offs. These are the ones worth knowing before you book your infrared session:
The Heat Isn't For Everyone
Some people simply do not enjoy exercising while warm, and that is a legitimate reason to pick something else. You can build up your heat tolerance gradually by starting on a lower level and shorter session, but if you genuinely dislike heat, more time in the studio will not change that for you.
Sweat Is Water, Not Fat
The sweat you see is your body cooling itself. Any drop on the scale right after a session is water you need to drink back, not fat you lost. What changes your fitness over time is the repeated movement, not how much you sweat in any single session.
Higher Cost Than a Standard Gym Membership
Infrared fitness sessions typically cost more than a basic gym membership because they use specialised heated equipment and offer a more guided studio experience. For those who value this combination of technology, personal attention and a focused workout environment, the added cost reflects a different approach to fitness. You can explore our infrared fitness sessions to compare the available options and pricing.
It Isn't A Strength Workout
These are cardio machines. If building strength is part of your goal, you will still want some strength work alongside this, whether that is at home, at a gym, or with a trainer.
Some People Need To Check With A Doctor First
Exercising in heat puts extra demand on your body. Check with your doctor before trying an infrared workout if any of these apply to you.
- You are pregnant
- You have a heart condition
- You take blood pressure medication
- You are sensitive to heat or have had trouble with it before
- You have had recent surgery
If one of these applies to you, it does not automatically mean no. It means ask your doctor first, and let their answer decide.
Is An Infrared Workout Safe?
Yes, for most healthy adults, infrared workouts are safe. You just need to hydrate and start gently, though heat still adds real demand on your body, which is why the checklist above exists. A few practical rules cover most of it.
- Drink water before and after your session
- Start at a lower heat and a shorter time if you are new to it
- If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, sick to your stomach, or notice your heart racing, stop the session right away, step out of the heat, and move somewhere cooler. Tell a staff member as soon as you can so they can help.
For the longer answer on infrared safety, including who should be more cautious, our piece on whether infrared therapy is safe covers it in more depth.
Who Infrared Workouts Suit, And Who Can Skip Them
Worth trying if:
- Regular cardio bothers your joints and you want a lower impact option
- You find regular gyms intimidating and want a shorter, guided session
- You enjoy warmth and think it would make exercise more pleasant
- You are restarting after time off and want a gentler pace to begin with
Fine to skip if:
- You dislike exercising in heat
- Your current routine already works and your joints feel fine, since infrared is not required to stay fit
- You are looking for a fat loss shortcut, because this will not give you one
Wondering If Infrared Fitness Is Right for You?
Every person has different comfort levels and fitness goals. Talk to our team about your needs, explore the available options, and get help deciding which session might suit you best.
Book a Free ConsultationSo, Is It Worth Trying?
The benefits of an infrared workout still depend on the exercise you do and how consistently you do it. The added heat may make a session more comfortable for some people, while others may find it unpleasant. Research has yet to establish how much it adds to the benefits of exercise alone.
If you prefer low-impact machines, a quieter setting or guided sessions, it may be worth trying. If your current workout routine works for you, there is no compelling reason to change it just for the infrared heat.
Try Your First Infrared Workout In Myrtle Beach
Body Lab Studio is located at 5001 N Kings Hwy, Unit 110, Myrtle Beach. On your first visit, staff can help you choose a machine if you are unsure where to start. You can move at your own pace, and it helps to bring water and a small towel. If you want to know what to expect before arriving, our guide to your first infrared treadmill session walks you through the process.
The fitness machines use their own infrared lamps, while the Body Roller has infrared built in. The Wellness Pod is a separate option for those who want to relax rather than exercise. If you are weighing up the two treadmill options, our comparison of infrared and regular treadmills explains how they differ. Bulb counts and session lengths vary by machine, so check the individual service pages for details before booking.
Already in Myrtle Beach this week?
Come see the studio, pick a machine, and let our team walk you through your first session.
Visit Body Lab StudioFrequently Asked Questions
References
- Mayo Clinic. Heat exhaustion, symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-exhaustion/symptoms-causes/syc-20373250
