Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 1 hr ago
Hot sculpt grows in popularity, but may not suit exercise beginners
Hot sculpt combines strength exercises with Pilates-, yoga- and ballet-inspired moves in classes that can take place in rooms heated to about 35°C.
The practice spread in the United States before gaining attention in Brazil, where searches for hot sculpt rose sharply in 2026.
The workouts can be physically demanding, even when they use light weights, because repetitions and the time spent moving add to the effort.
A physical education professor says the practice can improve strength and endurance, especially for people with lower fitness levels, but is less effective for building muscle than conventional weight training.
Experts say it may not be the best choice for beginners, and classes vary between studios, with some held at room temperature instead of in heated spaces.
Regular exercise in heat may help the body adapt by starting to sweat earlier, which supports temperature control.
Interest and class offerings are growing in Brazil, but the reported growth includes different forms of sculpt, not only heated classes.
Hot sculpt combines strength and muscular-endurance exercises with movements inspired by Pilates, yoga and ballet, often in rooms heated to about 35°C or higher.
The practice is growing in popularity, but a professor says it may not be the best choice for people starting to exercise.
Repeated movements and the duration and load of exercises can make sessions physically demanding, even when light weights are used.
Regular exercise in heat may improve tolerance to high temperatures, while hot sculpt may be less effective for building muscle mass than conventional weight training.
Different versions of sculpt are expanding in Brazil, and reported growth figures include practices both with and without heated rooms.
- Who
- People taking hot sculpt classes, including beginners, and fitness expert Alessandro Moura Zagatto. Zagatto is a physical education professor at Unesp.
- What
- Hot sculpt combines strength and endurance exercises with movements inspired by Pilates, yoga and ballet, often in heated rooms. The article examines its growth and cautions that it may not suit exercise beginners.
- When
- The article was published on October 26, 2026. It reports popularity and class data from 2025 and 2026.
- Where
- The practice is spreading in Brazil, including at studios in São Paulo. It became popular in the United States first.
- Why
- Interest is increasing alongside the expansion of different sculpt classes. The article says the exercise can improve strength and endurance, but heated sessions can be demanding.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Google Trends searches for hot sculpt in the United States rose 550%.
Gangga Studio began offering hot sculpt classes in São Paulo.
Searches for hot sculpt in Brazil reached a peak.
TotalPass bookings for classes with “sculpt” in the name were 295% higher than the total for 2025.
Folha published its report on hot sculpt’s growing popularity and suitability for beginners.
- Hot sculpt room temperature
- Around 35°C at Gangga Studio; rooms can exceed 35°C
- Gangga Studio session length
- 50 minutes
- Wellhub partner establishments
- Nearly 90% growth from January to August 2026 compared with the same period in 2025
- TotalPass sculpt bookings
- Up 496% in 2025 compared with 2024
- TotalPass bookings by September 15, 2026
- 295% above the total for 2025
What people are saying
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