The warm environment of Crunch's "hot Pilates" class facilitates deeper muscle stretch.

Even in the heat of summer, we remain a Bikram yoga devotee, encouraged by instructors who half-jokingly note that after the 100-plus temperatures in class, the steamy outside weather will feel milder. We love the way the heat enhances our flexibility and makes our muscles more pliable, so we decided to check out a hot Pilates class at Crunch — a mat class where the temperature is cranked to 95–100° F.

“The increased temperature releases the muscles and joints, promoting a deeper stretch and increased range of motion, while detoxifying the body,” says Michele Bastos, Crunch’s national Pilates director. We entered the lunchtime class — which seemed hot, but not overwhelming — and placed a towel over a yoga mat to catch perspiration. We also were instructed to grab a Pilates Magic Circle, a flexible steering-wheel-sized ring with small pads on opposing sides. Though props and routines vary from class to class, instructor Nancy Elkes used the circle to create extra resistance, as we were directed to apply pressure to it with our legs, arms and feet.

Intensifying the heat of the room was the burn in our thighs as we concentrated on a series of small leg pulses. “We love our legs, right?” Elkes encouraged the class. “That’s why we do this.” Some hot Pilates classes are 60 minutes, but the lunchtime version is 30 minutes — to allow people on lunch break to pop in and out — and is immediately followed by a 30-minute Vinyasa-based hot yoga class. We stayed for the hot yoga and found it a nice complement to the Pilates. We felt like we’d had a good workout, though we also were a little sleepy afterwards. “The heated room also gives [people] an overall sense of well-being and relaxation,” explains Bastos.

Currently, Crunch is offering hot Pilates only at its New York City locations; nonmembers can get a free guest pass to check it out. The gym has been offering hot Pilates for several years, but Bastos notes she’s recently seen more interest. New York’s Pure Yoga East location also offers hot Pilates; check out your local gym to see if classes are offered near you as hot classes increase in popularity.

What do you think about hot workouts — are they cool or do they leave you cold?

Tags: Alternative medicine, Bikram Yoga, burn in our thighs, director national Pilates, exercise, health, instructor, Michele Bastos, Mind-body interventions, Nancy Elkes, national director, New York, New York City, Pilates, Recreation, Vinyāsa, Yoga as exercise or alternative medicine, Yogilates