Combined Benefits of Yoga, Pilates and Sauna

SaunaYogaPilatesStudio
Written By Eleanor Braithwaite

There are many benefits of Yoga and Pilates that overlap with the many benefits of Sauna use. Did you know that there is a way to time certain styles of yoga with your sauna session to maximise the potential of both activities?

We were lucky enough to be chosen as the home for Sweaty Penguins in the south of Tasmania. Having the private barrel sauna directly next door to our boutique studio offers limitless potential and is a fantastic opportunity for sauna goers and yogis alike.

Let’s explore a handful of each of these overlapping benefits!


The Benefits of Yoga and Pilates

  • Improves Flexibility - Regular practice increases range of motion in joints and muscles. 

  • Builds Strength - Focus on core stability and overall muscle tone to gain stability and trust in your body. 

  • Enhances Mindfulness - Promotes mental clarity and stress reduction through breathwork and intentional movement.

  • Supports Posture - Corrects alignment and reduces the risk of injury in day to day activities or sports. 

The Benefits of Sauna 

  • Detoxification - Sweating helps eliminate toxins from the body through the skin. 

  • Improves Circulation - Heat enhances blood flow, benefiting cardiovascular health and again supporting toxin removal.

  • Muscle Relaxation - Alleviates tension and soreness after workouts.

  • Skin Health - Promotes a clearer complexion and hydration. 

  • Stress Relief - Creates a calming environment that aids in relaxation and mental well-being.

As you can see there are many great benefits for Yoga, Pilates and Sauna on their own. So what benefit would you gain from doing them both together? Here a are a few thoughts:

Why combine these Modalities?

  • Deepens Relaxation - Combining both practices leads to a more profound state of relaxation and stress relief.

  • Improved Flexibility - The heat from the sauna prior to a yoga class can enhance flexibility during yoga/pilates sessions. 

  • Holistic Wellness: Together, they promote a balanced approach to physical and mental health.

  • Encourages Mind - Body Connection: Both practices foster awareness and mindfulness, enhancing overall wellness.

Things to consider when deciding what is right for you: 

  • Hydration. As with any exercise you must ensure you remain hydrated before, during and after.  Sauna before any exercise can decrease the time until exhaustion. 

  • Your own pace. Warming up the body before exercise doesn’t replace warming up the muscles. Always work with your body where it is at. Take care to work within your range of movement and stop immediately or tell your teacher if any movements don’t feel right for you. 

  • It is important to take care and take into consideration your personal fitness and health when starting anything new. It will always be best to speak to a trusted practitioner who is familiar with your body and its nuances.

A sauna session can be a fantastic way to warm up before a restorative or gentle style session, allowing you to enter your class in an already calm and open state. It can also be a great way to aid recovery after a more fast paced class and help to remove any toxins that you stirred up during your session while allowing you some down time.

An Example:

Let’s take Wednesday 4th of September as an example. If you were to book:

That would give you the perfect flow, stepping out of the sauna and taking roughly 10 steps in to the yoga studio ready for your restorative session. The perfect combination to send you home, ready for bed and a fantastic night’s sleep! Don’t forget to plan dinner before so you can go home and crash out ;)

There are so many benefits that we could list. The top ones are of course detoxification, improved strength, flexibility, improved cardiovascular health and many more. There are also many benefits that are harder to quantify, such a mental clarity, improved sleep which in turns improves creativity and supports healthy relationships. The more you look after yourself, the better equipped you are to support those you love.

Have you already tried this combination? Or are you planning to give it a go?

We would love to hear your experience! Click/Tap the top menu at the top of the page to find all the booking details.


Yours in Wellness,
The Beach Road Collective

Eleanor Braithwaite