Why Temperature Matters in Your Yoga Practice
Ever walked into a yoga studio and immediately felt like you were stepping into a sauna? Yeah, us too. While some people love the idea of sweating buckets in a 105-degree room, at Zen + Tonic, we take a different approach.
We believe warmth is powerful, but it doesn’t have to be extreme to enhance your practice. That’s why we keep our space comfortably warm—not scorching—using a controlled forced-air system. It’s the perfect balance: enough heat to help you move safely and deeply, but never so much that you feel like you’re training for survival.
Not all of our classes are heated! 🌡️ While we keep the studio comfortably warm for certain classes, we also offer non-heated options for those who prefer a cooler environment. Whether you're looking for a little warmth to help open the body or a fresh, room-temp practice, there's a class for you at Zen + Tonic. For now however, lets explore the benefits of heat + some science.
The Science of Warmth in Yoga
A warm environment (not to be confused with “hot” yoga) offers real benefits:
✅ Increases flexibility – Muscles respond better in a warm setting, reducing strain and injury risk.
✅ Enhances circulation – A little warmth helps blood flow, bringing oxygen to muscles more efficiently.
✅ Encourages breath awareness – When your body is warm, you’re naturally more attuned to your breath, creating deeper focus.
✅ Relaxes the nervous system – Ever notice how a warm room makes you feel at ease? That’s because warmth helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which signals your body to chill.
Not All Heat is the Same
A lot of people hear “heated yoga” and assume we’re cranking things up Bikr*m-style, but that’s not the case here.
🔥 Traditional Hot Yoga = Extreme temperatures (95-105°F) with humidity, often using radiant heat.
🌡 Zen + Tonic’s Warm Yoga = Forced-air heating from mini-splits, keeping the studio comfortably warm (think mid-80s, rarely over 90°F), which varies seasonally.
This means you get the benefits of practicing in warmth—without the intensity of extreme heat. It’s accessible, sustainable, and actually enjoyable.
What to Expect at Zen + Tonic
Here’s what makes our warm yoga experience unique:
No fire, no radiant heat, no suffocation. Just clean, forced air that warms the space without making you feel overwhelmed.
It’s warm enough to deepen your practice, but you won’t leave feeling like you ran a marathon.
Summer naturally gets warmer, but we adjust airflow to keep things comfortable.
How to Prepare for a Warm Class
1️⃣ Hydrate, but don’t chug water right before class. Sip throughout the day instead.
2️⃣ Dress light, but breathable. You might sweat a little, but you don’t need high-performance heat gear.
3️⃣ Take rest when you need it. Just because the room is warm doesn’t mean you need to push harder. We do strongly recommend NOT leaving the room, bc… well, it just makes it harder. trust us.
4️⃣ Breathe deep (through your nose as you can, use mouth to exhaust). Warmth helps, but your breath is the real MVP when it comes to moving safely and mindfully.
Final Thoughts: Warmth with Intention
At Zen + Tonic, we believe in balance. Our warm studio environment is intentional—warm enough to support your body, help you move with ease, and create a calming atmosphere, but never so hot that it takes away from the practice itself.
Come experience it for yourself. Book a class, find your flow, and feel the difference.
📍 zenandtonicyoga.com
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