Hot Yoga and Saunas: The 3 Best Saunas For Yoga
Just like spending time in a sauna, yoga is all the rage now for improving relaxation, relieving stress, and giving that “feel-good” energy.
So what if you did your yoga routine in the sauna? A spacious barrel sauna will allow you to practice yoga comfortably and if it can get really hot to warm you up, that’s a bonus.
To get you started on your sauna yoga journey, I’ve highlighted the best saunas for yoga including the following:
| #1 Most Interior Space | #2 Best for a Traditional Experience | #3 Best for Comfortable, Deep Heat Treatment |
| SaunaLife Model Barrel Sauna | Golden Designs “Marstrand” Barrel sauna | Golden Designs Monaco Elite Infrared Sauna |
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- 32 sq. feet (largest) - Airy, comfortable feeling - Limited lifetime warranty |
- Electric sauna heater - Sauna stones - 5 yr. warranty |
- 15 carbon infrared panels - 140°F max. temperature - Free shipping |
1. SaunaLife Model 6-Person Barrel Sauna
Most Spacious for Yoga
When looking for a sauna where you can practice yoga, usable interior space is a top factor. If you have limited space then you won’t be able to stretch comfortably.
The SaunaLife Model 6-Person Barrel Sauna has an internal footprint of 32.35 square feet so it’s only slightly smaller than a queen-size mattress. It’s 6.5 feet long and 6.42 feet high.
Now the sauna length (6.5 feet) is just a tad longer than a standard yoga mat that’s 6 feet long. If you’re of average height, then you can fit comfortably when lying down for a pose.
Additionally, the height of 6.42 feet is enough room for someone who’s 6 feet in height to do standing yoga poses like the mountain and triangle comfortably.
You’ll want to remove the benches for more flexibility with poses like the reclining supported twist that requires you to stretch your arms out across the width of the sauna.
This sauna has more interior space compared to the Monaco Elite 6-Person Sauna which almost occupies the same footprint as a full-size bed mattress.
2. Golden Designs "Marstrand" 6-Person Barrel Sauna
Best for a Traditional Finnish Experience
While size is certainly important, with hot yoga you must also consider the temperature inside the sauna. It’s literally in the name.
If you fancy a traditional experience with the option to create steam (and add soft heat) the Marstrand 6-Person Sauna will take your yoga experience to the next level.
This sizable sauna includes sauna stones and an 8kW electric sauna heater with built-in controls so you can control the heat.
Additionally, it includes a:
- Bucket and ladle so you can pour water over the stones
- Thermometer to ensure you maintain safe temperatures
- Sandglass to time the duration of a session
Simply place your sauna overlooking the garden, jump in, and do your yoga workout as you watch the sunrise.
3. Golden Designs Monaco Elite Infrared Sauna
Best for Comfortable, Deep Heat Treatment
This, I’d have to say is by far my favorite sauna to practice yoga.
As we established, heat is a huge factor in hot yoga, and the Monaco Elite Infrared Sauna provides comfortable heat that penetrates deep into the body.
It includes 15 infrared carbon heating panels that emit far infrared heat which improves circulation, reduces stiffness, and improves relaxation—reasons why people do yoga in the first place.
So really, doing yoga in this sauna will improve the benefits since the heat warms up your muscles, making your body limber and more flexible.
Though the Monaco Elite Sauna comes with tiered seating, you’ll have plenty of room for a yoga mat on the base level if you remove the first two benches.
Transform Your Routine: Doing Hot Yoga at Home
While some people can enjoy the practice of hot yoga in a studio, many can’t.
For some, it's because there aren’t yoga studios around while for beginners, yoga classes can be intimidating.
With different etiquette rules to follow that they may not know about, beginners may feel like they can’t keep up with the more experienced class members.
People searching for a way to do hot yoga without the hassles of going to a studio now have a great option: a large home sauna.
STOP! Doing Yoga in a Hot Sauna?
While doing a warrior pose in your home sauna seems pretty straightforward, there are several things to keep in mind as you set up your home yoga studio or sauna.
Temperature and Humidity
While the standard temperature for hot yoga in a studio is 105 degrees Fahrenheit, an electric traditional sauna is going to get up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
Given the super hot temperature in a traditional sauna, Just keep in mind that it's unlikely you'll be doing an entire yoga class like you would at a 105-degree studio.
For the first time, sit a bit, then do a couple of poses and sit down again.
Then the next time, you can try pushing the poses a little longer.
Listen to Your Body, Always
Remember that hot yoga, or sauna yoga, isn’t supposed to be comfortable.
The extreme heat is uncomfortable, but this is part of the process—the best part of the process. The discomfort is part of growing, strengthening, and focusing.
However, it's important to listen to your body. You have to know the difference between pushing through some discomfort and becoming dizzy or weak from doing too much.
Breathing is so important when doing yoga in the sauna. Breathe in a controlled and focused manner: slow, deep, and steady while you move through your poses.
If you take quick, shallow breaths, it's possible to become dizzy and faint, especially with the sauna’s high heat.
You're probably overdoing it if you're having difficulty maintaining slow, deep breaths.
If this happens, hop out of the sauna, take a break, drink some water, cool off, and get back in when you're ready.
Drink Water!
Doing yoga in a sauna will make you sweat a lot—like a lot, a lot.
There will be wayyyyyy more sweating than a trip to the sauna where you just sit still. It's super important you replace these fluids.
Ensure you bring a huge bottle of ice-cold water with you and drink away. Flushing your body with water also increases the detoxifying effect of doing yoga in the sauna.
Rehydrate during and after your session.
Have a Buddy
While it's fine to do yoga by yourself in your sauna, it's a good idea to check in with a friend or loved one so they can keep an eye out on you in case you pass out.
Not likely, but better to err on the side of caution here, at least the first couple of times you do yoga in your sauna.
4 Surprising Benefits of Doing Yoga in Your Sauna
Improves Core Strength
The abdominal and back muscles that make up our core are vital for good posture, back injury prevention, and an overall sense of confidence and well-being.
Yoga is one of the top functional fitness methods that build core strength.
As you stand in unbalanced, awkward poses, you are forced to engage your core muscles to stay upright, resulting in amazing benefits that will stay with you all day long.
Performing these challenging poses in a sauna only increases the level of difficulty and gets you stronger and stronger.
Promotes Detoxification
The intense sweating will clean your pores and help your body detoxify from all the impurities in the food you eat and liquids you drink (especially booze).
Make sure to drink plenty of clean, pure water to flush out those toxins before, during, and after your yoga sauna session.
Improves Flexibility
As we age, our muscles stiffen. The best way to prevent this is through regular stretching and activity.
The intense heat of the sauna loosens those muscles even more, allowing your yoga poses to work better and giving you an increased range of motion.
Dancers, runners, golfers, and just about everyone else will see better performance after doing hot yoga in a sauna, regardless of the skill level.
Stress Relief & Focus
As your mind focuses on the poses and as you deliberately breathe deeply and slowly, you tune out all the stresses of your life.
You can focus on what is right now in the moment. The benefits of doing hot yoga in a sauna will be felt long after you leave the sauna and cool off.
Transform Your Yoga Routine With Sauna Sessions
Sticking to a yoga routine and using the sauna are both useful in reducing stress and improving flexibility.
If you can practice yoga in the sauna, then it will supercharge the benefits you get more than if you practiced only one thing.
Since space is a critical factor that would influence how you move in the sauna, we’ve highlighted three spacious saunas.
In addition, if you’d like a sauna that gets as hot as a Finnish sauna you can buy the Golden Designs "Marstrand" 6-Person Barrel Sauna.
However, it’s important that you hydrate well, listen to your body throughout, and sauna with a buddy if you can.
Author’s Note: Updated on January 30, 2024, to highlight specific saunas for practicing yoga and unique benefits like space and deep heat treatment.
Wes McMahon, is the founder of Sun Valley Saunas and a seasoned ski town sauna enthusiast. In early 2021, Wes transitioned from being an attorney and sauna aficionado in Sun Valley, Idaho, to founding Sun Valley Saunas. His deep appreciation for the Finnish sauna tradition has helped him understand and select high-quality, hand-built saunas for customers throughout North America. Combined with his understanding of the therapeutic and communal benefits of sauna culture, he advocates for the wellness practices that saunas can bring to your overall health. Got questions? Get in touch by calling 1-855-963-5665 or info@sunvalleysaunas.com
Important: The information provided in our articles about saunas and related topics is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare practitioner before using saunas, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are pregnant. Individual health needs vary, and what benefits one person may not be suitable for another.