I tested for you: the yoga class under infrared light

When a girlfriend suggested I take an infrared yoga class, I reluctantly went for it. I’m neither the stretch queen nor the tan queen, and the prospect of getting a sunburn in the lotus position didn’t delight me. I pictured myself already slathered in SPF50+, struggling to keep my balance from slipping on my cream-covered carpet.

My friend wanted to be reassuring: but no, you’ll see, they are just small soft lights that give a zen atmosphere and warm up the room just enough to feel the movements “. When in doubt, I nevertheless took a pair of dark glasses in my bag and went to the Yuj Yoga studio, located in the 9ᵉ arrondissement of Paris.

What is Yoga under infrared light?

On its website, the Yuj Yoga studio sells the merits of infratherapy: “ The heat [des lumières infrarouges] directly reaches the muscle tissue to deeply cleanse, eliminate toxins and gain flexibility “. This technique, with virtuous properties, would be imported directly from Japan. It allows for better perspiration, which, according to the site, evacuates the ” digestive wastes and up to 97% heavy metals It didn’t take me long to feel the benefits.

How does an infrared yoga session work?

For this initiation we had chosen a Gentle Flow course, ideal for beginners. As usual, I’m on my way in extremis, having had to pass several crowded subway trains. Sweaty before I even started, I changed in seconds and joined the class, plunged into darkness. Struggling to see where I’m stepping, I nearly run over one of my co-yogis. At this very moment, I understand that my sunglasses are not going to help me.

The teacher has a soft voice, she invites us to leave all our worries outside the door… There’s no need to make me pray, I forget the torpor of line 2 and sink into the postures of the dog upside down or the greeting to the Sun.

I feel the enveloping heat of the infrared, which is not suffocating, I listen to the playlist that cradles me… After a few giggles, and the unpleasant sensation of being ungainly compared to the others (because yes, your eyes get used to it and you end up seeing clearly this neighbor who masters the position of the goddess perfectly), I let myself be carried away by the game and appreciate the feeling of fullness that pervades me. The course concludes with a well-deserved period of rest, enhanced by a sweet scent of eucalyptus, delicately diffused…

Do we go or avoid?

There are still a few downsides to consider, including the high per-unit class cost (which I was lucky enough not to pay, thanks to my free trial classpass, I also recommend the ‘hack!).

I also had the impression, at times, that I didn’t fully understand the positions that were being described to me in the dark. For better visibility, e when you are not an experienced yogiI recommend trying to stay as close to the teacher as possible.

But overall, I really enjoyed the experience. I came out both energetic and relaxed, which at first seems almost paradoxical. The infrared heat is not suffocating, on the contrary, it is perfectly dosed work your muscles while stretching. There are classes for all levels and you really take the time to feel the relaxing benefits of the practice, without feeling rushed between positions.

Being in dim light means you can worry less about your appearance (impossible to know if I look ridiculous!) and invites you to focus on your movements. However, I recommend arriving a little early to start the session in good conditions. Why not, get some air after class, to gently reconnect with reality without being too brutal (walking out, I felt like I was floating, wondering if eucalyptus was more like ayahuasca! I had to walk a bit to hit the ground). Ideal at the end of the day, for a guaranteed restful sleep behind.