Imagine the setting. The lights are dim and the temperature in the room is way up. The muscles in your legs tense as your virtual coach counts down the minutes left in your high intensity interval. Beads of sweat drip from your hairline as your heart rate steadily rises. You look to your left to see just two other people—lost in their own workout, focused on the goal in front of them. After what seems like forever, you take a deep breath in…and your workout is complete. When you take a look at the clock, you notice that just 15 minutes have passed, though you feel like your body’s done much more work than that.
This is what the workouts look and feel like at Hotworx, a 24 hour infrared fitness studio housed in the Millenia community in East Chula Vista.
Michelle, Franchise Owner and powerhouse of motivation, says that their model is crafted for people in every stage of their fitness journey. Whether it is your first time joining a gym or you are a professional athlete looking for unique benefits of a new kind of workout, there’s an appropriate and approachable workout routine for you at Hotworx. Their workout model is made up of a combination of heat, exercise, and infrared energy, what they call “3D Training,” and offers benefits far beyond that of a workout in a traditional gym. From extended calorie burning times to detoxification and improved blood circulation, Hotworx Millenia offers more than just physical fitness—they offer a way to heal your body from the inside out.
When you arrive at the Hotworx studio, you’ll notice some unique features. First, each member has their own code to open the door. When you sign on to be part of the community, you become a VIP, gaining access to workout rooms and weight training at any hour of the day.
Around the corner there are a handful of infrared sauna workout rooms, perfectly sized for small groups of one to three people and dedicated to varying types of exercise like yoga, pilates, isometric compression, bands, cycling, rowing, and cardio HIIT.
Classes range from 15 to 45 minutes long and are led on screen by professional trainers. You book your class ahead of time on the app, and then show up for your workout, ready to sweat.
Though the workouts are short, they definitely pack a punch. The combination of infrared technology and high temperatures paired with your exercise means that in as little as one short session you receive the same benefits as an hour-long workout in a more traditional environment. Don’t believe it? Try it for yourself! You’ll notice right away that it doesn’t take long to feel the burn.
The Hotworx studio also has a functional exercise area called the “FX Zone.” This area contains free weights, ropes, and workout equipment that you can use to cross train or lift weights, if that is more your style. This space can be used at your leisure or as part of a guided workout hosted by a silent trainer before or after your infrared session.
The Mighty Benefits of Infrared Workouts
The added layer of infrared to a Hotworx workout provides a number of benefits to promote health and healing, something Michelle says is essential. “It’s no longer a luxury to do this,” she says, “it’s a need for us to detox our bodies.” The world looks different today than it did in the past. Our environments are full of toxins and pollutants, and levels of stress and inflammation are higher than ever before. “It’s necessary to take that time to care for our insides,” she says.
Here are eight of the incredible benefits of working out in an infrared environment:
- Detoxification. Infrared light penetrates the body approximately 1.5 to 2 inches below the skin’s surface. That kind of deep heating activates warming of muscle tissue, joints and organs, causing a deeper sweat and helping the body release toxins through the skin.
- Improved Circulation and Oxygen Flow. Because infrared light warms the body from the inside out, it increases blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles, supporting endurance, recovery, and overall cardiovascular health.
- Accelerated Calorie Burn. The depth of the heat from infrared waves causes your heart rate to naturally increase, allowing you to burn more calories in the same amount (or less) time compared to a non-heated workout, even at lower intensity levels. The best part is that the calorie burn continues long after you’ve left the studio.
- Muscle Recovery. Infrared heat helps relax muscles, reduce stiffness, and speed up recovery after intense workouts. It’s often used by athletes and trainers to support joint mobility and healing.
- Anti-Aging Through Cell Regeneration. Infrared heat stimulates collagen production, increases circulation to the skin, reduces inflammation, and promotes cell regeneration, leaving you with a post-workout glow that lasts.
- Immune System Support. By slightly raising the body’s core temperature, infrared workouts can mimic the effects of a mild fever, helping the immune system fight off infections and build resilience.
- Stress Reduction and Mood Boost. Infrared heat promotes deep muscle relaxation and reduces stress hormones, helping lower cortisol and minimize anxiety while improving overall mood and focus during and after workouts.
- Better Sleep & Hormone Balance. Each of the benefits listed above lead to an overall sense of well-being, reduced inflammation, lower cortisol levels, healthy circulation, and recovery leading to better sleep and an overall more relaxed state of being.
What more could you want from a workout? If you’re looking to take your health seriously in 2026, there is no easier way to do it. Short classes, round the clock access, and a HUGE return for minimal time commitment make trying Hotworx a no-brainer. Plus, the team at the studio is friendly, energetic, and 100% on your team. They host calorie burn challenges for their “Hotties” (the affectionate name for Hotworx gym-goers) with valuable prizes for top achievers. And with regular mottos like “Earn the Burn” and “Embrace the Shake,” you know they mean business right alongside the fun.
Start Now and Show up for Yourself Today.
We asked Michelle what she’d like to say to people who are ready to take their holistic health seriously in the new year. With a matter of fact, no nonsense tone, she shares: “Start now. Show up for yourself. Walk in the door. That’s it. It can’t get any simpler.” And with how accessible they’ve made it to take your health seriously at Hotworx, she just might be right about that!
“It’s no longer a luxury—it’s a need for us to detox our bodies. Our environments are full of toxins and pollutants. It’s necessary to care for our insides.”
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How Hotworx Members are Healing.
Michelle says that Hotworx workouts are about more than just fitness goals. “How are you healing?” she says, is a more appropriate question.
Elvira says that Hotworx unequivocally helped her come out of her depression. “You guys have helped me physically, emotionally, and spiritually [...] Just the energy when you walk in here is so good, and then you get to sweat all the toxins out.”
Staff member Jessica says it was the first place she could work out after her knee surgery that didn’t cause pain. The heat and infrared helped reduce her inflammation and she was able to move her knee in ways that had been impossible before. She’s also suffered from fibromyalgia and pcos for most of her life, both of which have been reduced since starting infrared workouts.
Finally, member Angelo says that his Hotworx workouts helped him turnaround his health. After his doctor informed him that he had high cholesterol, he began regular workouts at Hotworx and started taking his health seriously. Since then, he’s lost significant weight, lowered his cholesterol to healthy levels, and improved his overall life.
If holistic health is on your resolutions list this year, it’s time to take Michelle’s advice and “show up” and Earn the Burn!