One of the newer boutique fitness facilities that I’ve seen pop up is HotWorx. I feel like over the last year or two these studios have started to show up, and I was intrigued by the idea. This facility is set up to have individual saunas, holding only a few people at a time, host a handful of different virtual classes. Another barre instructor is a member at one of the local HotWorx studios, and says good things about it! I normally don’t like to work out in the heat on purpose, but figure this would be another fun way to step out of my comfort zone. This is my experience at a local HotWorx studio!
How It Works
What makes HotWorx unique is that it’s designed to have you working out under pretty extreme heat in a sauna. I learned the saunas in these studios are patented, so you can’t find them anywhere else! They are set up to hold no more than 3 people, which is great in my opinion considering how hot it is in there to begin with. The classes are taught virtually on a TV mounted inside the sauna that plays on a loop. There are a multitude of class options, and the studio is open 24/7! On top of the work out saunas, there is also a small weight room floor. They have dumbbells, kettlebells, a small rig, TRX bands, medicine balls, and a few other pieces of equipment available. I also learned that on the HotWorx app there is an option for a personal trainer to help with weight floor exercises.
The Classes
The class range at HotWorx is amazing. They have 2 different categories of classes, which coordinate with how long the class times are. There are 8 different Isometric workouts that last 30 minutes, and 2 HIIT workouts that last 15 minutes. The Isometric workouts include Iso, Pilates, Yoga, Buns, Barre None, Core, Warrior, and Bands. The 2 HIIT workouts are Cylcing and Blast. Remember, these studios are open 24/7 so there is no limit to scheduling a session! You can literally do a class at 4:15 am, or 11:00 pm. With this many class options, along with the weight floor, I would say it’s almost impossible to get bored or complacent here.
First Visit: HIIT
My first visit to HotWorx I tried the 15 minute HIIT Cycling class. Going into it, I really thought I would be able to do another class right after. When I talked to the studio manager Kamryn, she said if I felt like it afterwards I was more than welcome to try an Isometric class. We walked through the studio together as she explained how everything worked. I got set up in the cycling studio and was in there alone for the class. She set the temperature in the studio to 117 degrees, while the maximum is around 130. The cycling class itself was similar to group fitness classes I have done at regular gyms, but the heat adds a whole new element! After those 15 minutes, there was no way I was doing a 30 minute class!
I did go to the weight training area to do a quick dumbbell arm workout before leaving. Here’s what my Apple watch tracked as results from the 2 short workouts:
Second Visit: Isometric
My second visit the plan was to do 2 of the Isometric classes back to back. When talking to Kamryn during my first visit, we settled on the Warrior class followed by the Core class. I really enjoy core work, so I was excited to get to experience that class for sure. The Warrior class is described as an advanced series of isometric postures. Again, I got set up in a sauna at 117 degrees and got started with the first Warrior class. To say the very least, this class totally kicked my butt! I was sweating, shaking, trembling, the whole 9 yards. I couldn’t wait to open that sauna door at the end of the 30 minutes! Needless to say, I did not take the Core class immediately after finishing the Warrior class. Here are my Apple watch results from just that 30 minute class:
Pricing and Final Thoughts
The pricing for HotWorx is honestly great! The unlimited monthly membership is $59/month with a 3 month commitment. That’s unlimited classes at all hours of the day, every single day of the week. You can upgrade to $69/month to include the app’s personal trainer and be able to workout at any HotWorx studio in the US. HotWorx also has a rewards program that tracks your calories burned and gives you money back to spend however you want! That includes apparel, energy drinks, snacks, and can even be applied towards your monthly membership fee. Basically, if you go and workout you’ll end up getting money off of your membership, which is the best incentive!
I think that HotWorx is an amazing option to incorporate into your fitness routine. I will say that I don’t think it would be my primary and only workout, but it would be an amazing addition. The heat from the saunas is so good for your muscles and recovery. The pricing makes it affordable on top of any other memberships you already have, and the benefits are too good to pass up. There are multiple studios locally in the Knoxville area, as well as around the country. Click HERE to go to the HotWorx website and find your nearest studio to book your first free workout!