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What Are Those Things on the Ceiling? The Myriad Benefits of Radiant Heat

 

First let me say: I love that you’re into your practice, health, and this community enough that you’re reading this rather niche article about radiant heat. You’re great – just saying.

If this is your first time to the Modo Journal – welcome! I’m Jess, Modo Co Founder and Community Documentarian.  The Modo Journal is my bi-monthly love letter to the entire Modo family. After 20 years of collectively offering sustainably operated hot yoga studios, I thought I could dedicate some time and heart to looking at the fabric, the countless incredible humans, the scaffolding, and the many contributing factors that help us evolve, change, and thrive. So let’s dive in and talk about the illustrious subject of – duh duh duhhh – radiant heat.

Conventional, or forced air heat, can heat a room faster but can increase the amount of airborne toxicants like allergens.

 

Why is this subject even Important?

The way the hot rooms are heated at Modo Yoga plays a huge part in curating the environment of every class.  You probably know this from the way the room feels.  It’s different.  You may notice that your body and your muscles feel different.  There’s a reason for that feeling and that’s what we’ll explore.

The Difference Between Radiant Heat and Convection Heat

From a basic scientific perspective there are two kinds of heat – radiant heat and convection heat. Radiant heat includes heat from the sun, a fireplace, or heating systems you see on the ceilings of Modo studios.  The convection heat you’re likely most familiar with is the forced air systems in office buildings.  Convection heat warms air.  Radiant heat emits warmth that directly heats objects and people, mimicking the natural warmth of the sun’s rays.  Radiant heat also penetrates objects which is why your muscles feel more relaxed in this environment and why there’s a general feeling of ‘aaahhh’ right when you step into the hot room.

A Slice of Radiant Heat History

Fun fact? Radiant heat was first invented in 1939 by scientist John Hays Hammond Jr. at the Philadelphia Zoo to replicate the sun’s warmth for animals. This innovative technology has since evolved into efficient heating solutions, including the radiant heat panels used in modern spaces like Modo Yoga studios.

Why Radiant Heat?

Modo (and when we began “Moksha”) has only ever used radiant heat.  When we put the panels in we were – to our knowledge –  the first yoga studio to do so in North America.  Kudos to Ted Grand, Modo Yoga Co Founder for coming up with this wacky idea in the first place!  We chose radiant heat for the same reason we continue to use radiant heat today – for the health and environmental benefits. Because our intention in every studio is to inspire sustainable solutions it is great to see that Radiant Heat caught on and is now popular in many hot yoga spaces.

Heating Panels at Modo Yoga LA – Echo Park

 

The Sustainability of Radiant Heat – Efficiency and Environmental Impact

Radiant heat’s energy efficiency stems from its direct heating approach.  It requires much less electricity compared to traditional forced-air systems.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was the first organization to recommend radiant heat for its eco-friendly benefits, reducing carbon emissions, but since then there has been a growing body of sustainable energy and construction organizations recommending radiant heat to decrease our environmental footprint.  As this study of radiant heat implementation across the world highlights “the adoption of a radiant system, and of an appropriate primary energy system, always results in a reduction of energy sources exploited.”

The health benefits of Radiant Heat

I got into hot yoga because of a life lived in chronic back pain.   For anyone that has lived through chronic or acute pain you know that heat feels, well, amazing!  I’m free of chronic pain – just in case you’re an empath and you’re wondering (That story is for another day!).   Radiant heat feels good on the muscles because it penetrates through objects rather than warming the air.   The benefits of the already super-charged healthy benefits of hot yoga are thus amplified with radiant heat. A study by WJ Crinnion in the Alternative Medicine Review discussed the benefits to the radiant heat (used in saunas) for cardiovascular function, detoxification through sweating, and potential relief for chronic health problems like autoimmune diseases and conditions induced by toxicants. Another relevant study highlights the improvement to air quality when radiant heat is used. 

It is studies like, and those also covering the benefit of radiant cooling systems that have led many hospitals and health care centers to jump on the radiant heat bandwagon. 

In comparison to forced air heat, radiant heat reduces the risk of transmission of infections. 

Forced air heating systems, while popular for their efficiency in quickly heating spaces, can pose several health risks, like increased allergens and contagions in the air.

In conclusion

As we appreciate those unassuming panels on the ceiling we also appreciate that nothing would be on the ceiling if it weren’t for each and every one of YOU.  

Thank you for being an important part of this community.  And kudos to you for choosing an environment for your practice that is healthy for you and the environment.

Q & A

Can I use radiant heat in my home?

I love this question because it aligns so directly with what we are trying to accomplish with Modo studios – to inspire a ripple effect from the studios out into the world.  And in short – yes! Radiant heat can also be installed in your floor, on the walls and ceilings and because it is now so popular the market is filled with options that fit not only the goal of efficiency but a wide array of aesthetic preferences.  You can start small – if you’re renovating one room – like a bathroom or kitchen, you can put radiant heat in the floor!

How do you get the room so hot with the Radiant Panels

Any Modo studio owner knows that the most important factor in creating a hot room is your R Value.  The R Value is an insulation number that denotes how much a particular wall will keep heat (and cool air) in.  In standard construction interior rooms have an R Value of 10-14. In Modo studio hot room the R Value is between 30-40. In other words the room is insulated in such a way to keep the heat in the room. This is also a step toward greater efficiency. 

Article Citations
1.  A study by WJ Crinnion in the Alternative Medicine Review 

2.A review of integrated radiant heating/cooling with ventilation systems- Thermal comfort and indoor air quality


 


Jess Robertson is Modo Yoga’s Co Founder, Senior Advisor, and Community Documentarian.  She is also a writer, musician, yoga teacher and Co Founder of the New Leaf Foundation. She lives in Montreal, Canada with her 2 kids.