We tried Canberra’s hottest new workout – here’s why Hot Mat Pilates has us hooked
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It’s (literally) the hottest workout of the year, and with the opening of a new Hot Mat Pilates studio in the city, the HerCanberra team had to try it for ourselves.
You can’t avoid it – Pilates is everywhere. From new studios opening across the city to video after video of Pilates girlies showing off their skills on a reformer, it truly is the “it” workout of the decade. Who else remembers the discourse of Miley Cyrus’s ‘Pilates arms’ following her performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards dominating our social media feeds? On TikTok alone, #pilates has 339.8 million posts and counting, while on Instagram thousands of posts appear when you search the term.
But now a new iteration has entered the chat: Hot Mat Pilates. And it’s quite literally the hottest workout of the year.
My first introduction to the workout was TikTok (surprise, surprise). So, when I heard that Love Athletica was opening a Heated Mat studio, I knew I wanted to try it at least once – and as a certified Pilates instructor, I was very curious to experience the Love Athletica studio.
What exactly is Hot Mat Pilates?
The concept is simple: it’s a Pilates workout in an infrared heated studio. An elevated take on classic Pilates (the mind-body practice created by founder Joseph Pilates in 1926 as a response to World War I injuries), it’s still low impact, but it’s also high intensity. And the heat adds an extra burn.
Every Pilates studio is different, and while the basics of Pilates remain the same (think: control, precision, and flow), you’ll find that the style of teaching will vary wherever you go. Performed in an infrared heated room where temperatures during class at set between 30 and 35 degrees, at Love Athletica you’ll find much more than the classic mat Pilates movements – instead, it’s all about creating a fast-paced and strong workout that will leave you feeling very sweaty by the end.
Also using props such as light weights, bands, and Pilates rings, Love Athletica offers three Hot Mat class types: Hot Mat Pilates (think of this as the basic, no-fluff class), Hot Mat Functional (hello, heavier weights and more reps) and the signature classes, which include a full-body workout fusing elements of Pilates, cardio and strength training, and ends with a mindful yoga-inspired recovery.
What are the benefits?
Like any Pilates class, the benefits are numerous. With a focus on strength and endurance, improvement in joint range of motion, and a strengthened core are just two of the highlights. But add heat and you also have improved blood circulation, loosened muscles and increased flexibility – plus, research has shown that heated workouts increase your metabolism.
But – as with any heated workout – there is an increased risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration, and anyone with medical issues might want to double-check with their doctor before booking themselves in.
What to expect during class?
Before we go any further, I will preface this by saying that I am a die-hard Pilates girl – it has been my workout of choice for years, so I am a little biased (and obsessed).
So, obviously, you’ll get sweaty. But at Love Athletica, it’s not just about the class itself. Located around the corner from their Reformer Pilates studio, their Hot Mat studio is curated specially to enhance your experience.
From colourful mood lighting and extra space between mats to really make the space your own, to iced tea at reception and a luxe bathroom complete with showers (both things you will want post-class), it feels very fancy. Which is lucky, because by the end of the first class, I wasn’t sure if I loved it or hated it.
Starting with a slow but spicy warm up – including reminders to drink lots of water and that if you feel dizzy, to lie on your mat or step outside – the workout incorporated a full-body burn with strength and HIIT bursts, and for 45 minutes I sweat my way through lunges, squats and more, using a booty band as a prop.
As someone who lives for the heat and struggles to get warm in winter (a 30-degree day is my ideal temperature), I was expecting to get sweaty, but I wasn’t expecting to be soaked by the end of class. And I don’t mean a light sheen – I looked like I had been caught in a rainstorm, with sweat dripping off me onto the mat.
Relief comes from an overhead cooling spritz to balance out the heat – something I never thought I would be excited for on a 15-degree Canberra day.
Ending the class with a moment to reconnect your body and mind (a nod to classic Pilates), the endorphins were incredible. And while during the workout I was questioning everything, as I walked out the door, I felt like I could conquer the world.
So, I booked in for another class two days later. The result? I was well and truly feeling the burn.
Again, I was dripping in sweat, and this time a killer lunge series had me wondering if I could actually call myself a Pilates instructor (side note: shout out to the Love Athletica instructor for teaching in that heat). But again, by the end, I felt amazing and the next day, I was sore and happy.
Consider me hooked.
How much is it?
Challenging, effective, and fun, and with no pressure to ‘keep up’, for anyone interested in heating up their Pilates workout, it’s worth booking a class – especially with the Love Athletica Unlimited Foundation Membership costing only $44 a week.
Any tips?
Wear as little as possible, take a big bottle of water and get ready to sweat it out. Once you experience that post-class endorphin high, you’ll be booking your next session before you’ve even towelled off.
For more information visit loveathletica.com.au/canberra-hot-mat
Images supplied.
