Red Light Therapy Pilates & Barre: What Is It and What Are the Benefits?

Pilates and Barre are already known for controlled movement, strength, stability and low-impact conditioning. But what happens when you combine these workouts with red and near-infrared light?

Welcome to Red Light Pilates and Red Light Barre — a fitness experience bringing together movement and photobiomodulation in one workout.

At The London Academy of Dance (TLAD) in Southwark, London, we've introduced Red Light Pilates and Barre as part of our fitness and wellness programme, with private sessions, group classes and standalone Red Light Recovery sessions available.

But what exactly is Red Light Therapy, what are its potential benefits, and why combine it with Pilates or Barre?

Let's take a closer look.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red Light Therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light. It is also commonly referred to as photobiomodulation (PBM).

Photobiomodulation has attracted increasing interest in sport, exercise and recovery research, with researchers investigating its potential effects on muscular performance, fatigue, post-exercise soreness and recovery.

Importantly, Red Light Therapy isn't the same as using a sunbed. Red and near-infrared light treatments do not rely on the ultraviolet (UV) radiation used for tanning.

What Is Red Light Therapy Pilates?

Red Light Pilates combines Mat Pilates with exposure to red and near-infrared light during the workout.

Instead of simply lying underneath red light, you're moving.

A typical Red Light Pilates class can include familiar Pilates exercises designed to work the core, glutes, legs and upper body while developing control and stability.

The result is a workout combining two different elements: the established physical benefits of Pilates and the emerging field of photobiomodulation.

At TLAD, our 40-minute Red Light Pilates classes focus on:

• Core strength

• Stability

• Controlled movement

• Mobility

• Posture

• Balance

• Muscular endurance

• Full-body conditioning

Because Pilates is naturally low impact and based around controlled movements, it works particularly well within a Red Light fitness environment.

What Is Red Light Barre?

If Pilates is about control, Red Light Barre brings a little more burn.

Red Light Barre combines ballet-inspired fitness exercises with red and near-infrared light.

Expect small but challenging movements including pulses, holds, squats, leg work and core exercises designed to build muscular endurance.

Red Light Barre particularly targets the:

• Glutes

• Legs and thighs

• Core

• Upper body

It can also challenge balance, stability and posture.

And despite the name, you absolutely do not need to be a dancer or have ballet experience to take a Barre class.

Barre takes inspiration from ballet technique but transforms those principles into an accessible fitness workout.

What Are the Potential Benefits of Red Light Therapy and Exercise?

This is where things get particularly interesting.

Photobiomodulation has been researched in connection with exercise and athletic performance, although research is continuing and outcomes can vary depending on factors including wavelength, dose, exposure and timing.

1. Muscle Recovery

One of the areas researchers have explored is whether photobiomodulation can support recovery of muscular function following exercise.

This makes Red Light Therapy particularly interesting within fitness environments, where recovery can be just as important as the workout itself.

2. Post-Exercise Muscle Soreness

That familiar soreness you experience a day or two after a challenging workout is often referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS.

Research has investigated whether photobiomodulation used around exercise may help reduce exercise-induced muscular soreness under certain protocols.

3. Muscular Performance

Another area of research involves muscular performance.

Studies have explored whether applying red and near-infrared light before or around exercise may influence measures such as muscular endurance, fatigue and recovery of strength.

That doesn't mean Red Light Therapy is a shortcut to becoming stronger.

Your training still does the work.

But it explains why photobiomodulation has attracted attention within sport, fitness and recovery.

Why Combine Red Light Therapy With Pilates?

Pilates and Red Light Therapy make an interesting combination because Pilates is already focused on controlled, intentional movement.

Rather than rushing through repetitions, Pilates encourages you to think about how your body is moving.

Exercises can challenge deep core strength, stability, coordination and muscular control without requiring high-impact movements.

A Red Light Pilates class therefore creates an environment where movement and recovery-focused technology exist within the same session.

It's particularly appealing for people who want something different from a conventional gym workout.

Why Combine Red Light Therapy With Barre?

Barre challenges the muscles differently.

Those tiny pulses and long holds might look simple from the outside, but anyone who has taken a Barre class knows how quickly they can become challenging.

Because Barre focuses heavily on muscular endurance and controlled repetitions, combining it with a Red Light environment creates a distinctive boutique fitness experience.

It's ideal if you enjoy workouts that target the legs, glutes and core without jumping or other high-impact movements.

Red Light Pilates vs Red Light Barre: Which Should You Choose?

It depends on the type of workout you enjoy.

Choose Red Light Pilates if you want to focus particularly on core strength, stability, mobility and controlled full-body movement.

Choose Red Light Barre if you love pulses, holds and strength-based movements with more emphasis on the glutes, legs and muscular endurance.

Or don't choose at all.

Alternating between Pilates and Barre can bring variety to your weekly fitness routine.

Can Beginners Do Red Light Pilates or Barre?

Yes.

You don't need previous Pilates experience to start Red Light Pilates, and you certainly don't need ballet experience to try Red Light Barre.

Exercises can be modified or progressed according to experience and fitness level.

If you're completely new to Pilates or Barre and would prefer more individual guidance, a private session can also be a useful way to learn technique before joining group classes.

Private vs Group Red Light Pilates & Barre

There are advantages to both.

Private Red Light Sessions

A private session gives you one-to-one attention from an instructor.

The workout can be adapted around your ability, goals and experience, and your instructor can spend more time correcting technique and progressing exercises.

At TLAD, private Red Light Pilates and Barre sessions last 40 minutes.

Group Red Light Classes

If you prefer the atmosphere and motivation of exercising alongside others, you can join a 40-minute Group Red Light Pilates or Red Light Barre class.

Our classes are kept small to maintain a more intimate boutique fitness experience.

Can You Use Red Light Therapy Without Exercising?

Absolutely.

You don't necessarily need to combine red light with a workout.

At TLAD, we also offer 20-minute self-guided Red Light Recovery sessions.

Instead of completing a Pilates or Barre workout, you can simply lie down and spend dedicated time under the red and near-infrared light.

This makes it easy to incorporate Red Light sessions alongside an existing Pilates, dance, Barre or fitness routine.

Is Red Light Therapy Safe?

Red Light Therapy does not use the UV radiation associated with tanning beds, but that doesn't mean every treatment is automatically appropriate for every person.

People with certain medical conditions, photosensitivity or those taking medications that increase sensitivity to light should seek appropriate medical advice before using Red Light Therapy.

The manufacturer's recommended exposure times and safety instructions for the specific Red Light equipment being used should also always be followed.

Is Red Light Therapy a Medical Treatment?

At TLAD, Red Light Therapy is offered as a complementary fitness and wellness modality, not as a treatment or cure for medical conditions.

Research into photobiomodulation continues to develop, and individual results vary.

We therefore don't promise that taking a Red Light class will cure an injury, eliminate pain, cause weight loss or produce any particular medical outcome.

Instead, think of it as another element you can incorporate into a wider approach to movement, fitness and recovery.

Where Can I Try Red Light Pilates and Barre in London?

You can experience Red Light Pilates, Red Light Barre and Red Light Recovery at The London Academy of Dance in Southwark, London SE1.

Our location is convenient for people living or working around Southwark, London Bridge, Borough and Waterloo.

We offer:

Group Red Light Pilates — 40 minutes

Group Red Light Barre — 40 minutes

Private Red Light Pilates — 60 minutes

Private Red Light Barre — 60 minutes

Red Light Recovery — 20 minutes

Whether you want the energy of a group class, individual attention from an instructor or simply dedicated recovery time, you can choose the Red Light experience that works for you.

Ready to Try Pilates in a Different Light?

Pilates and Barre don't need reinventing — but changing the environment in which we experience them can create something completely different. BOOK NOW

Move. Sculpt. Strengthen. Recover.

Discover Red Light Pilates & Barre at The London Academy of Dance in Southwark, London.

View our Red Light classes and book your session today.