🔥This 15-minute workout was not a breeze
Plus: Top news of the week — Early voting ends today; Remembering Lynn Wheeler; Panthers practice facility to expand; County issues back-to-office order; Lawmakers say roads first
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Heat up your fitness routine: Hotworx sauna workout promises results in less time.
Is exercising more this year on your to-do list? Check out our occasional series exploring offbeat fitness facilities, where unconventional workouts keep things interesting.
by Lindsey Banks
When I returned to my car drenched in sweat from a 15-minute workout inside a Hotworx sauna one winter Tuesday afternoon, I promptly opened the Google app on my phone.
“Has anyone ever died at Hotworx?” (Google says no. In fact, infrared heat therapy has many health benefits, much to my surprise.)
The fitness studio appropriately gets its name from the line of saunas that replace the typical rows of workout machines and equipment. At first, the 7-by-9-foot saunas might look cozy and inviting after being out in the winter weather, as if you’re returning from a long day of skiing and wanting to warm up before dinner.
But then you step inside one of the saunas, and a virtual instructor is queued up on the screen, ready to push you through your chosen workout, whether it be yoga, cycling or pilates.
As a 23-year-old former long-distance runner, I thought a 15-minute cycling workout would be a breeze.
Instead, I found that it made my heartbeat echo in my skull, turned my face the color of a cherry tomato and caused me to rejoice upon stepping outside into the cold winter weather.
Oh, how I was humbled.
Hotworx offers virtually instructed workouts inside saunas 24 hours a day, including a 15-minute cycling workout.
How it worx: The appeal of this style of exercise is that you can spend less time in the gym but get the same benefits, according to Hotworx.
The heat of the sauna causes your metabolism to speed up, which warms your body faster. (The recommended temperature is 125 to 130 degrees to get the full effects.) The sauna also emits infrared energy, Hotworx says, which penetrates your skin and activates the regenerative process. Then, when you get your body moving and complete one of the 15 or 30-minute workouts, you’re getting the full benefits of a longer workout.
Another appeal that’s not necessarily advertised as a selling point is privacy. Each sauna holds up to three people. Although it’s possible that you could be sharing a sauna with a stranger, a Hotworx employee told me that it rarely happens. The studio is open 24 hours, there are eight saunas and workouts are short. When I went on a Tuesday afternoon, only two other people were there.
You can download the Hotworx app to snag a spot in a sauna and track your burned calories.
Once inside the sauna, there’s a screen on one of the walls with video instructions from a trainer. There are other people on screen for modified versions of the workout if you need more of a challenge or something lighter. The video automatically starts over when the workout ends.
There’s a control panel inside to adjust the temperature of the room, and the Hotworx employee told me that you can leave the sliding-glass sauna door open or closed. (I chose to close mine for some privacy.)
There are also cubbies outside the sauna to hold your belongings. When I asked if I should leave my phone in a cubby, the Hotworx employee told me it would be fine inside the sauna, but she recommended leaving it by the door or outside in the cubby. (I brought my phone inside and left it by the door.)
Hotworx offers a free first class. After that, membership costs $59 a month at one location or $79 a month for access to all locations. There are over 500 locations nationwide, with five in Charlotte. Members are also required to purchase a Hotworx mat and towel for $75. (For your free trial class, you aren’t required to buy anything.)
The studio also has a free-weight workout area if you want to get in an extra workout and offers challenges each month for prizes.
Since Hotworx is open 24 hours, members are given a code that grants them access to the building whenever they want. If it’s your first time, you’ll have to wait at the door for an employee to let you in.
My take: As with any form of exercise, consistency is key, so I can’t comment on the long-term benefits or results of Hotworx. But I left feeling like I got in a solid workout and was sore for a few days after.
The privacy of working out alone and the 24-hour accessibility are the biggest selling points for me, but I would have to get used to feeling overheated and being more intentional with my water intake throughout the day.
If you decide to give it a try, make sure to enter the sauna fully hydrated and plan to shower before heading to your next outing.
If you’re claustrophobic or heat-sensitive, you might want to sit this one out.
Lindsey Banks is a staff reporter for The Ledger: lindsey@cltledger.com
Today’s supporting sponsor is the event venue at McColl Center. McColl Center is the unique and artistic venue where your company's event, celebration, or social gathering becomes a masterpiece. Schedule a tour and learn more.
This week in Charlotte: Asian boom hits CMS; city’s first social district launched; hospital laws face scrutiny; Senate race heats up over DEI claims; local economy looks strong
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
Growing Asian population in CMS: (WFAE) Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the fastest-growing racial demographic in North Carolina, with Indian Americans being the largest subgroup. The quality of public schools in areas like Ballantyne is a draw for Indian American families, contributing to the increasing Asian enrollment.
End of CMS e-book app: (Observer) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools discontinued use of the Epic library app due to concerns about violating Senate Bill 49, prompting a shift to the Sora app and raising debates over access to LGBTQ-themed content in digital libraries.
Politics
Early voting ends today: (Ledger Election Hub) Today is the last day of early voting in the 2024 primary election, with voting available at 22 locations in Mecklenburg from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The general election will be held on Tuesday (March 5), when polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Visit The Ledger’s Election Hub for all the info you need to make an informed choice.
N.C. Senate race heats up: (Ledger) N.C. Senate District 42 candidate Jaime Daniell's staffing company filed a $250,000 complaint against opponent Stacie McGinn, alleging false statements about DEI practices.
Remembering Lynn Wheeler: (Ledger) Lynn Wheeler, who served 14 years on the Charlotte City Council from 1989 to 2003 and was chosen as mayor pro tem, passed away at 80, leaving behind a legacy of political service and a vibrant personality.
Local news
Charlotte’s first social district: (Ledger 🔒) Plaza-Midwood has launched Charlotte's first social district, but it won't be a wild drinking spree. With 12 bars and restaurants offering to-go cups initially, and limited availability of the official reusable cups, the focus is on controlled enjoyment and boosting local businesses while upping foot traffic in the area.
County directs employees back to the office: (Ledger 🔒) Starting July 1, all Mecklenburg County employees must return to their offices or workspaces full-time, as the county shifts away from remote work due to concerns over organizational health.
Billy Graham's last surviving sibling dies: (Ledger) Jean Ford, the last surviving sibling of evangelist Billy Graham, died at 91 after a stroke.
Business
Charlotte's sturdy economy: (Ledger 🔒) The Ledger spoke to three economists in North Carolina, who see a solid economy in the Charlotte region, with job growth and diverse sectors performing well. However, concerns linger over high inflation and interest rates, along with challenges in commercial real estate.
Real estate “whispers”: (Ledger 🔒) The Ledger’s “Charlotte Commercial Real Estate Whispers” column returned this week and was chock-full of intrigue, from a beef Crescent Communities has with one of its former tenants at One Independence Center, to what’s happening with the Delta Sky Club lounge to brokers buzzing about the possibility of a tenant for the ghostland that has become the former Centene complex.
Sports
Panthers expand practice facility: (Biz Journal) The Carolina Panthers are planning a major expansion of their practice complex on South Cedar Street, including 8.6 acres of city-owned property already used for practice fields and an adjacent 2.8-acre city property.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Re-examining hospital laws: Three North Carolina lawmakers are considering revisiting a 1943 law granting special privileges to hospital authorities, like Atrium Health, due to concerns that today's multi-billion-dollar hospital systems differ significantly from those originally envisioned.
House speaker says no ABC law changes expected: House Speaker Tim Moore stated that no changes to North Carolina's alcohol laws are expected in the upcoming legislative session, amid his congressional campaign in a favorable district, with potential revisions anticipated in 2025 or later.
Symphony director enthused about electronic dance music: David Fisk, CEO of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, discussed community outreach, audience changes post-Covid and plans for innovative events at a recent Rotary Club of Charlotte meeting.
Courts’ electronic filing system: Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden and courts clerk Elisa Chinn-Gary have been added as defendants in a federal civil rights lawsuit due to delays in releasing arrested individuals caused by glitches in the new e-filing system, with similar lawsuits underway in Raleigh.
Cotham campaign finance report: Tricia Cotham, a Democrat-turned-Republican, is gearing up for a competitive November race, as she amasses a significant war chest of nearly $54,000 raised mostly from sources outside of Mecklenburg County.
Bea Romano, got a bumblebee tattoo at age 85, symbolizing her vibrant spirit and refusal to let age limit her adventures. Bea died at home on Jan. 15 at 95.
‘It has to be roads’: House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger visited the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, discussing upcoming legislative priorities. Moore emphasized road improvements and traffic congestion, citing funding for I-485 at the I-85 interchange and the need for more river crossings. He stressed roads as the primary mode of transportation, expressing concerns about traffic's impact on economic growth and workforce retention.
Next challenge for ‘proper’ coach: New Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith's emphasis on set pieces and solid defense led to a 1-0 victory in the team’s season opener against New York City FC. While the team aims to improve, their promising start indicates a positive trajectory under Smith’s leadership.
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