By 
This post was originally published in May 2022. It was last updated in December 2024.
The first time I walked into a hot yoga class was back in 2017 at Modo Yoga. Fifteen minutos into the class, I walked out gasping for air. I was utterly horrified! Then, in early 2018, I found Hot Pilates thanks to the influx of celebrities that were seen coming in and out of that studio. Before I went to Hot Pilates for the first time, I made sure to prepare for my class by properly hydrating. Not only did I have an amazing class, but l was HOOKED!
Since then, I have never stopped doing heated workouts. Do you know that feeling when you step out of a sauna? You feel rejuvenated and relaxed, right? That’s exactly how I feel after a heated workout class.
What are the benefits of heated workouts?
Increases your flexibility and warms your muscles.
Cleanses your body.
Promotes blood flow.
Releases stress.
Nourishes the skin.
Tips on how to prepare for a heated workout:
Water, water, water! I always make sure to chug a bottle of water before the class. This is extremely important. When I went to my first heated workout, I didn’t know this and I almost passed out. You want to make sure you drink it at least one hour before the class. I’ve seen many people get dizzy and walk out of the room.
Pay attention to your breathing. When you’re in a hot setting, your heart rate will go up. At any heated workout, your breath will become your anchor. If you don’t want to pass out, you need to exhale through your mouth at all times! This is why instructors always encourage to exhale very loudly through the moves.
Plan accordingly and get there early! Most heated studios have a very strict no-late policy, and depending on the studio, you may be denied entry.
After your first time at these studios, you’ll most likely have to pay for a mat and a towel if you don’t bring your own.
LA is a big city, so you can find a hot boutique workout studio in every neighborhood: Pasadena, Manhattan Beach, Long Beach… it would be nearly impossible to include every heated studio in one post, but luckily, a few of these studios have multiple locations across LA.
Ideally, the less clothing you wear, the better. When I was new to heated workouts, I remember feeling very intimidated working out with my sports bra. However, I can assure you that everyone’s minding their own business and trying to get the most out their $30 class.
These are the most popular hot workout studios in LA:
Silver Springs
8710 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
When Silver Springs opened in early 2023, it was the best-kept secret in West Hollywood! I was one of the lucky ones who got an invite when the studio opened, but there was one condition: online media was not allowed to write about it. I could only take pictures and share it on my Instagram stories, but write-ups were not allowed at that time. When I asked Zach, the manager, he said: “We are staying super low key with our online exposure right now, so we have asked any media inquires not to write about us. That being said, we love to show people around the space and give you a sense of what we are all about.”
Silver Springs is located right across from the celebrity-studded nightclub Catch. The studio has their own parking lot, but it’s always very busy and unless you go there really early, I’d advise to park on the metered parking spots.
From the outside, it doesn’t feel like you’re about to enter a fitness studio, but rather a spa. I love how open the space is, the greenery, and the lounge area with the long curved couch — all thoughtfully designed to induce relaxation.
The instructors are so encouraging without pushing it too far, and the front-desk staff is always a pleasure to greet every time I walk through the door. On my first time, I took the HIIT class with Bailey and I almost couldn’t walk the next day. I was super sore, but in the best way. Since then, I’ve been back for the regular sculpting class and that one is my favorite class so far! As opposed to jumping and down, you do mat exercises with props.
The room at Silver Springs is extra hot, so make sure you hydrate very well! Unlike most studios, mats and towels at Silver Springs are complimentary! Lastly, the classes at Silver Springs are extra challenging, so like I said in the beginning of the post, go at your own pace. The instructors always encourage you to listen to your body and modify if something doesn’t feel right.
Bodytone Pilates Studio
335 W Broadway, Glendale, CA 91204
Located right across the Glendale Galleria, Bodytone opened at the end of 2023 right across from one of my favorite places in LA, the Glendale Galleria mall.
With one room for reformer classes and one room for heated sculpting classes, Bodytone is the perfect spot for an effective yet fun burn! I loved the chic aesthetic of the studio, with soft wood flooring and hot pink neon.
I was also surprised to see Bala Beams on the wall. For those who don’t know, Bala takes pride in their minimalist and functional equipment, and these ergonomic weight bars are very expensive!
I went there for the first time in December and the atmosphere was very welcoming. The class was challenging and our instructor played amazing music throughout the class.
As opposed to other studios on this list, Bodytone uses infrared heaters. Even though the room was set at 90F, the heat didn’t feel as suffocating as in other studios. Since my body is already so used to heated workouts, I personally would have preferred more heat. I broke a sweat, but I wasn’t sweating profusely like I usually do at Silver Springs.
Burn
11910 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
12080 Ventura Pl Unit 1-2, Studio City, CA 91604 (new location)
After three successful years in Honolulu, Hawaii, Burn’s founder Maria Chase opened a second location in Brentwood. In 2024, they opened a third location in Studio City.
As opposed to other heated classes that you can find in LA, Burn provides red and blue light therapy during the classes. You may have seen LED therapy masks before. It has many benefits for the skin and your cardiovascular system.
I haven’t been to BURN yet, but I’ve watched a few of their Instagram stories and everyone seems to agree on the fact that the classes are very challenging! The props that are used in the classes are ankle weights, bands and hand weights. You do have to bring your own towel, so keep that in mind — and like most studios, mats are available for rental.
Burn offers 5 types of classes that vary from high-intensity to low-impact. Although you’ll still get a nice burn in all of them (no pun intended), each class is curated differently.
New client special: $40 for 3 classes.
Sweat EXT
11301 Camarillo St Suite A, North Hollywood, CA 91602
Whenever I’m in North Hollywood, I always seem to drive past Sweat EXT.
This studio was started by the founders of Sweat Cycle in Toluca Lake, the only heated studio spinning class in LA (also included in this post). Sweat EXT only offers one type of class which includes a mix of pilates, barre and HIIT in a 80-86F room. I haven’t been yet, but from looking at pictures on their website, I like that the instructor teaches the classes from a platform where you can easily see them from anywhere in the room.
The only con about this studio is their limited schedule! They only have evening slots two days a week. So, if you work full-time, unless it’s a weekend in the morning and you don’t live nearby, it’s a bit of a challenge to book a slot in their morning schedule.
First class: $15.
New client special: $30 for 3 classes
Hot Pilates
8604A Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
This was the first hot pilates studio in LA! Although I started going there in early 2018, Hot Pilates was actually founded in 2014 by Shannon Nadj. In the mid 2010’s, there were a few hot yoga studios in LA, but not a hot pilates-focused studio. In 2018, Selena Gomez helped make the studio very popular as she was photographed going in and out of Hot Pilates on a weekly basis. Other celebrity clients include Shay Mitchell, Emma Roberts, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Shanina Shaik.
Once I found out about Hot Pilates, I was stoked to see it was available on Classpass. On the Classpass app, it says that this is my most visited studio of all time! I loved it so much that I even wrote an article about it back in 2018. After I successfully got through the heat, my endorphins were at an all-time high. I couldn’t stop booking classes and challenging myself in every class.
I’ve done pilates next to Selena Gomez, SZA and many influencers. I’ve also had many memorable workouts with these amazing instructors: Alexis Fischer, Maria Leguizamon aka Colombian Mafia, Sora Connor and DaLette. Many of these instructors don’t teach at the studio anymore, but if you see any of their names pop up on the schedule, I encourage you to book a spot in their classes!
At first, Hot Pilates might look like a very intimidating place due to its high-profile celebrity clientele, but that could not be further from the truth! Don’t let this hold you back from trying it! I remember I was super intimidated when I first started going there but after two classes, I got past those initial nerves. The girls at the front-desk are super nice and the overall atmosphere is very supportive and non-pretentious. I’ve seen people off all shapes and sizes at this studio.
The best time to book a spot is on a weekday in the morning. But if you’re going to book a spot through Classpass in the afternoon, I suggest doing it days in advance! The studio isn’t that big and the afternoon slots fill up pretty fast!
Hot 8 Yoga
Multiple locations (Beverly Hills, Koreatown, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, El Segundo)
I had my first class at Hot 8 Yoga in Beverly Hills towards the end of January 2020. My all-time favorite class there is the Barre Class. During the pandemic, Hot 8 Yoga indulged us in free live Barre classes on their IG live, and trust me, even though there was no heat, they were still super challenging!
I’m going to go ahead and say that the Barre classes are even more challenging than Hot Pilates! Here, you use the bar and more props. I used to go religiously to their 5:30 pm class at least once a week pre-pandemic. Cami was the instructor at most of these classes, and boy were her workouts challenging!
In mid-2021, once the gyms opened back up, the Barre class was my first in-person class after lockdown. I was so pumped that I even brought my Bala ankle weights to amp up my workout! I shed a tear or two after the class because that’s how happy I was to be back in a room working out with people.
After the grueling session, the class ends on a spiritual note thanking your body for the hard work you’ve just done with a quick mindfulness body scan. Every time I left that class I truly felt rejuvenated from the inside out.
The Barre class at Hot 8 Yoga remains my all-time favorite heated class in LA, followed by Hot Pilates.
Sweat Cycle
10620 Riverside Dr, Toluca Lake, CA 91602 (Toluca Lake)
Doing pilates in a heated room may sound daunting, but what about hot spinning? I was terrified, but excited to challenge myself.
Previously called Sweat Shoppe, Sweat Cycle is a studio I randomly found in the People Magazine online article below. After doing my research, I found out that Zendaya and her mother have been longtime regulars at the Toluca Lake location! If I hadn’t done my research on hot workout classes in LA, I’d never have found this place. I’m surprised this studio isn’t more popular. Not only because of Zendaya, but because it is the first and only heated spinning studio in LA.
I went there in 2022 on Easter Sunday and made sure to get there extra early. As soon as I saw people getting back to their cars in the parking lot dripping in sweat, I knew that the prior class was over. I headed over to the register and they gifted me a bag and a towel. If it’s your first time, everything, from the shoes to the towel are free. After that, it’s $3 for the shoes and $3 for the towel, so make sure to bring your own if you don’t want to pay. Latosha Lynn was my instructor that day. She emanated a special calming energy that was so irresistible to everyone around her.
The first thing that struck me was how incredibly diverse the age-range was. From people in their 20’s to people in their 60’s, men and women of all shapes and sizes were represented there. Natasha got me set up on my bike. I don’t do spinning that often, so unclipping myself was a mission! But don’t worry, make sure to flag someone down and they’ll rush to help.
In this type of class, like all heated classes, the breath is your best friend, but more so in hot spinning because there’s a lot more cardio involved versus a yoga or pilates class. Instead of being assigned my bike that I booked online, Latosha put me in the front row! At first, I was mortified, but the nerves subsided pretty quickly. She let everyone know that I was a first-time rider, and everyone cheered for me in unison. If you haven’t been to a spinning class in a while, know that your butt will be sore the next day! Every time I’ve gone to a spinning class, I’ve had the same issue. When you sit on a bike, your body weight lies on the tiny bones in your pelvis. Generally, the pain goes away after a few classes, but it’s very important to ensure that your bike is set correctly according to your height to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible.
I thought that Rise Nation was the class that I sweated in the most, but I lied. At Sweat Cycle, sweat was oozing out of every single cell of my body: triceps, armpits, you name it.
I could see signs of exertion from people halfway through the class, but we all powered through it. The moves at Sweat Cycle are pretty easy. There are no crazy synchronized movements and no hand weights.
Prior to entering the class, I met a girl named Karla at the lockers who could tell it was my first time. “It’s so much fun”, she said. She also asked me if it was my time taking a heated class. When I told her about Hot Pilates, she said she went there for the first time three weeks ago and that she was in child’s pose most of the time because it was very hard!
Heated Room
8231 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Heated Room opened in 2021 on 3rd Street, right next to Bunda. The aesthetic is very modern and minimalist. I was in awe of how spacious the room was.
After 6pm, the only available classes were the Heated Flow Sculpt, so I signed up for that one twice in the same week to take advantage of their new client special. Even though they’re technically yoga classes, the pilates moves we did were so intense that I could feel them the next day!
Besides the Heated Flow Sculpt class, they have a Core Sculpt class, a Full-Body Burn Sculpt class and semi-private, non-heated pilates classes on reformer machines. Basically, all the things you need to get a full-body workout! They have a parking structure on Harper Avenue, which couldn’t be any more convenient, especially in this area of LA.
Y7 Silver Lake
4300 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Y7’s twist on traditional yoga revolutionized the fitness industry when they opened their first location in Brooklyn in 2015, a time when heated classes were not so common. A few celebrity fans of Y7 are Meghan Markle, Olivia Wilde and Dua Lipa.
With 4 locations in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn, they opened their first LA location on Melrose Avenue in 2016 (now permanently closed). A year later, they opened their second LA location in Silver Lake.
At Y7, the classes are candlelit and the moves are synchronized with hip hop music. Additionally, the classes are devoid of mirrors. Founder Sarah Larson-Levey said that she wanted to avoid distractions, self-judgment, and create a space where everyone felt comfortable and safe.
I’ve been to both LA locations, and nothing beats the experience I had at the Silver Lake location: the sleek design, the lockers that are located in an open-air space, and the shipping container where the classes take place definitely added to my overall experience. The layout is so different from other yoga studios in LA!
The first time I took the “We Flow Hard” class, I remember sleeping like a baby that night. The music was very energizing and fun. There was something so invigorating about sweating in the dark. The class started out very mellow, but the intensity gradually built up as the class progressed! We did 3 flows: the first one was a slow, guided flow; the second one was at a faster pace and on the third, we flowed on our own. We finished off with an ab workout. If you want a peaceful and meditative yoga class, this is not the place!
Modo Yoga
Multiple locations (La Brea, Echo Park, Venice)
This was the first heated class I ever took in 2017! In the class I signed up for, we had to hold the poses. It was very slow and honestly, a drastic change from my usual workout routine at that time. I remember walking out mid-class gasping for air and wondering how anyone could endure that. Of course, I hadn’t done any research on heated classes, nor had I had water prior to the class. Before I started, I could feel the sense of community at this studio. Everyone seemed to know each other.
Modo Yoga was one of the first heated yoga studios in LA. In 2011, Canadian Emily Morwen opened the first Modo Yoga location on La Brea Avenue. They received multiple accolades, like being featured as one of the best yoga studios in Los Angeles Magazine. In 2017, they expanded to Echo Park and Venice. These locations are now permanently closed.
I was recently looking at the class schedule and saw that they now offer a high-intensity interval training class called The Workout! I can’t wait to try it.
Modo Yoga flies under the radar when it comes to their celebrity clientele and their appearance in the media. Actress Dakota Johnson has been photographed leaving the Modo Yoga location on La Brea Avenue multiple times.
White Heat Yoga
11049 Magnolia Blvd #500, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Hot sculpting classes never cease to amaze me, which is why I’m always on the lookout for new places.
Located in North Hollywood, White Heat Yoga has an incredible variety of classes that range from beginner yoga classes to intense HIIT classes. Since White Heat Yoga is a smaller studio, they don’t offer amenities like lockers or showers.
I signed up for the Hot Sculpt class. If I thought Hot Pilates and the Barre class from Hot 8 Yoga were the most challenging classes, the Hot Sculpt class at White Heat deserves to be in the top 3 when it comes to difficulty level.
The room was extra hot, which made the workout extra challenging. When I don’t go to a workout class, I do Pilates at home through the T-F Studio app with Tasha Franken. In the last half of the Sculpt class, I felt like I was at home doing a pilates class. The arms series, the fire hydrant moves with the rubber band…It was so familiar because I do it 3 times a week at home. That was my favorite part because I loved doing those in the heat for a change.
The first half of the class was very intense. We had to do three series of jumping jacks, planks and split squats with a yoga block. A middle aged woman next to me kept looking at me saying “He’s crazy”, while “Work Bitch” by Britney Spears was playing in the background. He noticed the woman talking to me and yelled “Britney says you gotta woooork!” and proceeded to turn up the volume and break out into dance.
As if this class wasn’t intense enough, White Heat Yoga also offers the Dolafit class, a full-body strength and endurance workout with cardio bursts.
If you decide to sign up for a class, make sure you get there early because once the class starts, they lock the doors! The front-desk person that checks you in is also the class instructor.
LEKFIT
346 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
It was 2018. A year when Busy Phillips released her book This Will Only Hurt A Little and uploaded a video of herself every day working out at LEKFIT. She was always covered in sweat and doing exercises on a trampoline.
Founded by Lauren Kleban, LEKFIT is a dance-inspired workout that originally started in the garage of her house in Hancock Park. Back then, once you purchased the class online, the address was sent in the email confirmation.
I remember pulling up in that beautiful neighborhood and walking into Lauren’s impressive gated house. What I didn’t know until I got there was that the class was HEATED!! Knowing that I was going to be on a trampoline, I made sure to hydrate before the class so luckily, I didn’t pass out.
The class was very intense! The instructor was very nice and energetic. The space wasn’t that big and the trampolines took up a lot of space in the garage. Outside, there was a waiting area with a few lockers.
I enjoyed this class, but I couldn’t say I loved everything about it. The crowd was a very close-knit group of moms affiliated in the entertainment industry, and the hours were also very limited. The last class they had at that time was 11 AM.
In 2019, Lauren moved the studio from her house to a location on La Brea Avenue with a nicely decorated interior.
Since Lekfit now operates out of a regular studio, the space is bigger and the team has also expanded. If you’ve never been, I recommend trying it at least once! Jumping on a trampoline is so much fun and it doesn’t hurt your joints! Remember to hydrate very well before the class! Some of the moves Lauren incorporates into her workouts reminded me of Tracy Anderson.
Tracy Anderson Method Studio
12345 Ventura Blvd suite l, Studio City, CA 91604
A quick Google search on “Tracy Anderson Studio Los Angeles” will show you a vast amount of celebrities leaving the studio with a sweaty glow. With the Tracy Anderson Method, Tracy has created a fitness empire: Over 100 DVD workouts, and countless features in magazines and TV show interviews.
Although Tracy has had a cult following among celebrities for a long time, her biggest advocate is Gwyneth Paltrow, who has been a longtime client and is also a business partner.
The classes, which are done in a 95F room, are comprised of a dance-cardio workout, which you can freestyle and do at your own pace, and a mat exercise sequence. If you watch any of her videos, you’ll see that these classes are not for the faint of heart. They’re very fast-paced and some of the moves will be foreign for anyone who’s not familiar with this method. There’s even a class called Multitask band, where you workout using the long ceiling resistance bands!
This is a very exclusive studio and it wasn’t until very recently that they started offering single drop-ins for $45. The pricing is higher than the average heated boutique studio in LA, but it should come as no surprise given the name and prestigious clientele.
You can see all the class offerings when you book your session. If it’s your first time, I would recommend the Custom Training class. I read that in the cardio classes, the instructors don’t talk or give you any guidance, whereas in the Custom Training, the trainer ensures you have proper form.
In 2020, as I was walking down a street in my hometown of Madrid, I randomly saw a window glass steamed up. The door opened and girls with beet-red faces were leaving the studio. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that it was the Tracy Anderson Studio! Besides LA and NY, Madrid and London are the two only European cities with Tracy Anderson studios. If you don’t live in any of these cities, you can do her workouts through her subscription streaming platform.
Sweat Yoga
Locations: West Hollywood, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Little Tokyo
This studio offers a comprehensive class schedule. Besides the regular flow classes, their endurance classes are the Ignite Bootcamp and Ignite 50. If you’re a new member, you get unlimited classes for $30 on your first week! In the reviews, people say that the classes are relaxing, but very challenging! At the end of the class, they give you a cool lavender infused towel.
Have you been to any of these studios? What’s your favorite heated workout studio in LA?
What do you think?