Welcome to ELLE\u2019s 2026 Modern Wellness Guide. From food that might help you live longer to yoga classes in 100-degree heat, we put the year\u2019s buzziest trends under the microscope.
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Everything is hot now. The Earth, teddy coats<\/a>\u2014and, especially, our workouts. While hot yoga<\/a> classes have been around for decades, the super-warm workouts du jour include Bikram at full blast, featuring lightweight dumbbells, upbeat playlists, and sauna-like<\/a> temperatures. Hot Pilates in Los Angeles has gained a following among celebs such as Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner<\/a>, and Fuze House<\/a> in Miami and New York City is crowded with TikTokers in matching workout sets. CorePower Yoga<\/a>, across the U.S., has near-constant wait lists. Cole Mattera<\/a>, an influencer who goes by \u201cSweaty Girl\u201d on TikTok, calls hot classes \u201csuch an amazing workout, but the endorphins you get after are just unmatched. It\u2019s literally a natural anxiety or depression pill.\u201d<\/p>\n Your body naturally generates heat as you exert yourself\u2014it\u2019s evidence of the energy your muscles are producing. A hot workout piles on with infrared heating panels or mats. \u201cIt loosens your muscles. You can strengthen and stretch them better,\u201d says Tricia Donegan<\/a>, co-founder and director of teacher training and class development at ID Hot Yoga<\/a>. She notes that the heat may help boost metabolism, which could be backed up by a 2020 study<\/a> in Acta Physiologica that showed higher temperatures had some metabolic benefits for overweight subjects. Julia Iafrate, DO<\/a>, a sports medicine specialist in New York, points to a 2024 study<\/a> in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research that found that resistance training in the heat might lead to somewhat better performance and muscle building. And talk to anyone who enjoys hot workouts, and they\u2019ll likely mention the mental clarity that comes from sweating buckets in a sweltering room.<\/p>\n Hot workouts aren\u2019t for everyone, Iafrate cautions, stressing that if you\u2019re not used to heat, you may experience hyperthermia or dehydration, which could cause heatstroke. Some people should avoid hot classes altogether, including anyone who is under 18 or over 65, has a history of fainting or cardiovascular issues, or is taking medications such as diuretics.<\/p>\n Because of these factors, it\u2019s important to talk with your doctor before trying a heated workout and to go to a studio that prioritizes safety. When weights are involved, Iafrate recommends staying at or under body temperature (98.6\u00b0F) if possible. Look for classes that meet you where you are. Heather Peterson<\/a>, chief yoga officer of CorePower Yoga, says that no heated class should push your body past its limits, and you should have the option to drop your weights and take breaks at any time. Above all, hydration is key. \u201cThese hot workout classes need to provide access to fluid during and after the workout,\u201d says Iafrate. \u201cThey shouldn\u2019t say you can\u2019t leave the room for any reason.\u201d<\/p>\n That said, hot workout classes might be your preferred option. Iafrate says that at the end of the day, she wants her patients to engage in both aerobic exercise and resistance training, and hot workout classes offer a combination of both. \u201cSome people are low on time and want to get a good strong workout and have the cardiovascular ability to tolerate that heat,\u201d Iafrate says. \u201cThose are the people I\u2019ll advise, \u2018Yeah, this might be a good workout for you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n A version of this story appears in the December 2025\/ January 2026 issue of ELLE.<\/p>\n