In Her Campus’s series The College Try, our writers test out viral wellness, dating, fashion, productivity, and pop culture trends firsthand. This month, Jayona Monique Dorsey gives hot Pilates the ol’ college try.
If there’s one thing I’ve been focused on this summer, it’s feeling my absolute best — not just physically, but mentally, too. Between late nights, summer events, traveling, and trying to balance work, freelancing, and a social life, I realized I needed something that would help me reset. I wanted movement that felt intentional, challenging, and maybe even a little transformative. Enter: hot Pilates.
Pilates itself wasn’t new to me. I’ve taken mat and reformer classes before and always appreciated how deceptively difficult they can be. The slow, controlled movements somehow manage to work muscles you didn’t even know existed. But hot Pilates? That was a different story.
To be honest, I’d attempted to try it twice earlier this summer, but time management had been kicking my ass. Between constantly being on the go and overestimating how much I could fit into a day, it just never happened. But, finally, I committed to a class at Pilates House in Baltimore, Maryland as a solo date.
Walking into the studio, I already knew one thing: it was hot. Really hot. The room was heated to nearly 100 degrees, creating an atmosphere that felt more like a heated sanctuary than a traditional fitness studio. The air was warm and heavy, and within minutes, I could feel the heat settling into my skin. Mirrors lined the room, reflecting a row of reformers, as soft music played in the background. There was a sense of calm before class began, but it was like everyone seemed to know that once we started moving, the intensity would quickly shift.
Hot Pilates combines the controlled, intentional movements of traditional Pilates with the added challenge of exercising in a heated room. Rather than relying on heavy weights or high-impact movements, the workout focuses on using your own body weight, resistance, balance, and core strength.
Throughout class, we moved through a series of stretches, planks, crunches, leg lifts, squats, lunges, and controlled pulses, with certain movements held for several counts to really challenge the muscles. Light weights, a small workout ball, and other small pieces of equipment can also be incorporated depending on the class, adding another layer of resistance without taking away from the Pilates emphasis on control and form.
As the instructor guided us from one movement to the next, I immediately noticed the difference between regular Pilates and the heated version. The warmth allowed my muscles to loosen and my body to sink deeper into stretches, making certain movements feel more fluid. At the same time, the heat made even familiar exercises feel significantly more demanding. A plank that might normally feel manageable suddenly required much more focus, while sequences of small, repetitive movements created a deep burn in my core, legs, and glutes.
And then there was the sweat.
Hot Pilates is designed to make you work, but the heat adds an entirely different physical element to the experience. My heart rate climbed, my muscles were working constantly, and I found myself reaching for my water bottle between sequences. But don’t get me wrong — I was also fighting for my life. The combination of heat, controlled strength training, flexibility work, and endurance made the class feel like a full-body workout rather than simply a stretching session.
Hot Pilates may look graceful from the outside, but once you’re on the mat, you quickly realize just how much strength, endurance, and mental discipline it requires.
By the middle of class, I understood why people are drawn to hot Pilates. It requires you to be present. There is very little room to mentally check out when your muscles are shaking, the room is nearly 100 degrees, and your instructor is counting down the final few seconds of a hold. But there was also something almost meditative about it. Between the music, the heat, the intentional movements, and the focus on breathing, the workout became as much about pushing through discomfort as it was about reconnecting with my body.
Hot Pilates may look graceful from the outside, but once you’re on the mat, you quickly realize just how much strength, endurance, and mental discipline it requires. At one point, sweat was literally dripping into my eyes, and I found myself wondering how something that looked so graceful on social media could feel so intense in real life. Still, somewhere between the shaking muscles, deep breathing, and endless sweating, something shifted.
Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the movement. Maybe it was simply carving out an hour to focus only on myself. But by the end of class, I felt lighter. Physically, yes — because I had sweat more than I thought was humanly possible. But mentally, too. Hot Pilates felt like a reset button.
There’s something oddly satisfying about doing something difficult on purpose. Showing up, pushing through discomfort, and realizing your body is capable of more than you expected. I also couldn’t help but laugh at the thought that I was probably sweating out every late-night cocktail, every summer indulgence, and every bit of stress I’d been carrying. And whether that’s scientifically accurate or not, it certainly felt true.
Would I do hot Pilates again? Absolutely. Was it challenging? Yes. Did I question my life choices halfway through class? Also yes. But I’d recommend it to anyone looking to switch up their workout routine, challenge themselves, and leave class feeling accomplished.
Hot Pilates reminded me that wellness doesn’t always have to be soft or easy. Sometimes self-care looks like stepping into a 100-degree room, sweating through a matching set, and proving to yourself that you can do the hard things. And honestly? That’s a pretty good feeling.
