New to heated classes
Never Done a Heated Class? Start Here.
Hot yoga for beginners can start gently: a warm 32°C room, a spot near the door, and rest whenever you need it. Here’s what to expect at VATA Studios Brighton and Noarlunga.
- Start in
- Warm (32°C) or non-heated classes
- Gentle firsts
- Hatha, Restore, Yin, or Pilates booked warm
- Bring
- Mat, large towel, water bottle
- Arrive
- Ten minutes early
The heat
How Hot Is Hot Yoga, Really?
VATA Studios runs warm classes at 32°C and hot classes at 40°C, and some recovery classes aren’t heated. The timetable shows the heat for every class.
Infrared panels warm you and the room directly instead of blowing hot air, and many people find that gentler. Make your first class Warm (32°C) or non-heated, and move up when you’re ready. A warm class is a complete practice in itself.
What to bring
What Should I Bring and Wear to Hot Yoga?
Bring a mat, a large towel, a small towel and a full water bottle. Wear close-fitting, breathable clothes that stay put when you fold forward; choose natural fibres or quick-drying fabrics and whatever feels most comfortable. Avoid heavy, non-breathable clothing. Classes are barefoot. Mat hire at Brighton is $5; bring your own towels.
- Yoga mat
- Large towel for your mat
- Small towel for your face
- Full water bottle
- A change of clothes
Find Your First Class
Three quick questions to find a starting point that feels right for you.
Choose one answer in each question to see your class suggestion.
How Would You Like to Feel?
| If you want… | Start with… | Heat |
|---|---|---|
| A slow, steady start to yoga | Hatha | Warm (32°C) |
| Rest, stretch and quiet | Restore or Yin | Warm (32°C) or non-heated |
| Calm, through the breath | Breathwork | Non-heated |
| Core strength and posture | Classical Pilates | Book a Warm (32°C) class |
| Toning with light weights | Sculpt Pilates | Book a Warm (32°C) class |
| Flow, focus and renewed energy | Vinyasa | Warm (32°C) or Hot (40°C) |
| Your strongest session | Strength or VATA Signature, once the heat feels familiar | Hot (40°C) |
Your first visit
What Happens When You Walk In
Arrive Ten Minutes Early
Brighton is Level 1, 447 Brighton Road; Noarlunga is 58B Beach Road, Christies Beach.
Tell Your Teacher You’re New
Mention any injuries, and set up near the door, where the air is cooler.
Settle in
Towel on your mat, water within reach, and a minute lying down while your body adjusts.
Go at Your Own Pace
Take the simpler options, and rest in child’s pose whenever you like.
Cool Down Slowly
Sit before you stand, drink some water, and take your time heading out.
Your pace
Can I Rest or Leave the Room During Hot Yoga?
Yes. At VATA Studios you can rest whenever you need to and step out for cooler air at any time, no reason needed.
Child’s pose, sitting or lying down are all welcome. Give your teacher a nod as you go, and come back in when you’re ready.
Is Heated Yoga Safe for Me?
Heated classes suit many people, but not everyone, every time. Pregnancy guidance advises avoiding exercise in high temperatures, so if you’re pregnant, ask your GP or midwife which classes suit you. If you’re managing blood pressure or a heart condition, recovering from an injury or surgery, recently unwell, sensitive to heat, or on medication that affects heat tolerance, check with your GP first, and if you have epilepsy, do the same before Breathwork.
Tell your teacher anything they should know. If you feel dizzy or nauseous, stop, rest or step out, and let them know. We never ask health questions online. More in our hot yoga safety guide.
Food and water
Should I Eat or Drink Before Hot Yoga?
Drink water through the day before a heated class, and keep food light: a small snack an hour or two before suits most people better than a full meal. Sip during class, keep drinking afterwards, and if a health condition affects what you eat or drink, follow your GP’s advice.
The $49 intro offer
How Do I Make the Most of My First Two Weeks?
Explore Yoga, Pilates and Recovery at your own pace. Choose classes around how you want to feel, notice what you enjoy, and leave space for rest. There’s no set number of classes to complete.
Use the quick quiz to find a starting point, then book via the VATA Studios app. Your two weeks are a chance to discover a rhythm that suits you.
Take the Quick QuizCompare Memberships and PassesBeginner questions
Hot Yoga for Beginners: Your Questions
Yes, if you start gently. At VATA Studios we suggest a Warm (32°C) or non-heated class first; the timetable shows the heat for each one. Hatha, Restore and Yin are slow and steady, and Classical or Sculpt Pilates can be booked warm. Rest Whenever You Need To, and try a Hot (40°C) class once the warmth feels familiar.
Close-fitting, breathable clothes that stay put when you fold forward, such as leggings or fitted shorts and a fitted top. Natural fibres or quick-drying fabrics are a good choice; avoid heavy, non-breathable clothing and wear what feels comfortable. Classes are barefoot, and a change of clothes makes the trip home more comfortable.
No. Flexibility can develop with regular practice; it isn’t a requirement to begin. The warmth helps many people move with more ease, and teachers offer simpler options. Bend your knees, use a block, or rest. Your practice starts wherever you are today.
There’s no need to match anyone else’s pace. Your teacher can help you adapt your practice, and you can pause, rest or step out for cooler air. Resting is part of learning how your body responds to heat.
Yes. Classical Pilates and Sculpt Pilates run as Warm (32°C) or Hot (40°C) classes, so book a warm one first. VATA Studios teaches mat Pilates with no reformers: your bodyweight, light weights and breath set the challenge, at your own pace.
There’s no set number. Choose a rhythm that fits your week and how you feel, with time for rest. Use your intro offer to explore the classes you enjoy; the quick quiz can help you choose a starting point.
There’s no commitment, and the offer ends without rolling into a membership. When your two weeks end, you can choose The Foundation ($35 a week, 12 months, both studios), The Essential ($39 a week, 6 months, both studios) or The Flexible ($49 a week, minimum four-week commitment, then no lock-in, both studios), or pay as you go with a $30 single session or a class pack.
Begin Where You Are
New to VATA? Begin with two full weeks of unlimited classes across both studios. Every class type, no commitment.
Claim My Intro OfferNew members only
$49
Two weeks unlimited access
- Unlimited classes for 14 days
- Yoga, Pilates and Recovery classes at both studios
- Begins when you purchase the pass; once per person who has never visited
Keep exploring
Read Before Your First Class
- Is Hot Yoga Good for Beginners?
Starting in the heat.
- What to Bring and Wear
The full checklist.
- Is Hot Yoga Safe?
Heat, pregnancy and blood pressure.
- Hot Yoga
Vinyasa, Power, Hatha and Ashtanga.
- Heated Mat Pilates
Strength, precision and control on the mat.