Hot Yoga and Saunas: The 3 Best Saunas For Yoga
Wes McMahon
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 sauna will allow you to practice yoga comfortably and if it can get really hot to warm you up, that’s a bonus.
While you could theoretically do yoga in any indoor sauna, to get you started on your sauna yoga journey, I’ve highlighted the best saunas for yoga including the following:
| #1 Best Overall for Yoga | #2 Best Compact Sauna for Yoga | #3 Best Outdoor Traditional Sauna for Yoga |
| Golden Designs Catalonia Elite 8-Person Infrared Sauna | Maxxus S-Line 3-Person Infrared Sauna | SaunaLife E8 6-Person Barrel Sauna |
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- 82" x 70" interior - Removable benches - 145°F max. temperature |
- Removable benches - Floor heater - 120V power |
- 6'5" diameter barrel - Electric heater + stones - Thermally modified spruce |
1. Golden Designs Catalonia Elite 8-Person Infrared Sauna
Best Overall 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 Golden Designs Catalonia Elite was built with yoga in mind. Its interior measures 82" wide, 70" deep and 82" tall, so a yoga mat lies flat on the floor with room to spare, and the benches come out when you want the whole floor.
Twenty-three near zero EMF far infrared panels keep the heat even at up to 145°F, a comfortable range for a longer flow. It's built from Canadian hemlock and needs a 240V, 30 amp dedicated circuit.
Want full spectrum? The Catalonia Full Spectrum adds near infrared.
2. Maxxus S-Line 3-Person Infrared Sauna
Best Compact Sauna for Yoga
No room for an eight-person sauna? The Maxxus S-Line 3-Person has removable benches, so you can clear the floor for stretching, seated poses and standing poses, with 68" of interior height.
Seven low EMF panels, including one in the floor, keep the heat even. It runs on 120V power with a dedicated 20 amp circuit.
It also comes in an Elite ultra low EMF version and a full spectrum version.
3. SaunaLife E8 6-Person Barrel Sauna
Best Outdoor Traditional Sauna for Yoga
While size is certainly important, with hot yoga you must also consider the temperature inside the sauna. It’s literally in the name.
The SaunaLife E8 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.
For traditional heat, choose a Harvia Kip or HUUM Drop electric heater with sauna stones, then pour water over the stones to create steam.
It's built from thermally modified Nordic spruce and also comes in the E8W and E8G with more glass. See all SaunaLife barrel saunas.
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
Expect it to feel intense, but never push through dizziness or weakness.
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.
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.
3 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.
Improves Flexibility
As we age, our muscles stiffen. The best way to prevent this is through regular stretching and activity.
The heat of the sauna warms up your muscles, which can make your yoga poses feel easier and give you a greater range of motion.
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 SaunaLife E8 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 October 6, 2026, with current picks for yoga: the Catalonia Elite, the Maxxus S-Line 3-Person and the SaunaLife E8.
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.