Popular Boutique Fitness Studio That Utilizes Infrared Heat To Open In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — It's time to turn up the heat in Greenwich.

HOT PHIIT, the popular boutique fitness studio that combines high-intensity workouts with muscle toning, cardio and FAR infrared heat, is set to open up a new location at 138 E. Putnam Ave., in the Cos Cob neighborhood of Greenwich.

There is also a studio in Darien at 25 Old Kings Highway North, and in Bronxville, N.Y., at 79 Pondfield Road.

"We're so excited. Greenwich was always a place that seemed right," said HOT PHIIT CEO and founder Monique Crous. "There's such a great market there, the community is amazing, and we're so excited to be a part of it."

An official opening date has not yet been finalized, but the studio is expected to open in mid-January, Crous said.

Crous, who also owns the Darien studio, is teaming up with Bronxville studio owner Jessie Lambiase to open the Cos Cob location, which features a 1,200-square-foot studio and room for 21 participants.

A National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified personal trainer and a certified Bikram Yoga instructor with a specialization in corrective exercise, Crous opened her first fitness studio in lower Manhattan in 2013.

It was there that she added a heat component to what's known as High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).

With the addition of FAR infrared heat to high-intensity workouts, the body is pushed to work harder which leads to an increased heart rate and enhanced calorie burn in the same duration as a regular class. The studio reaches a temperature of around 98 degrees.

"[Infrared heat] has so many benefits, including increased metabolism, higher calorie burn, it's mood-boosting, it's very detoxifying, it's great to work out for your joints because you warm up more quickly and you're working out more safely. You always leave feeling stretched out and clean," Crous said.

HOT PHIIT offers a variety of full-body, beat-based classes, and each class incorporates a focus on the body's core. Classes can range from 40 minutes to 55 minutes.

"There's something for everybody. It's for all ages, all types. We very much encourage form over speed, and we encourage people to make modifications if they have injuries," Crous said.

Several years ago, Lambiase was not part of the health and wellness space. After deciding to make some life changes, she started taking Bikram Yoga classes and eventually started taking Hot HIIT classes.

"That was it for me," Lambiase said. "I was totally hooked."

Lambiase became certified to teach fitness classes in 2018 and opened the Bronxville HOT PHIIT studio about four years ago.

Admittedly, Lambiase said she was intimidated at first about working out in the heat.

"What I found was it was not nearly as hot as I thought it was going to be. I was so comfortable, especially in the infrared heat, because it works gently to warm your body from the inside out, so it wasn't like walking into this wall of hot air that I was expecting," Lambiase said. "I also saw it regulate my body's ability to regulate its own temperature where I became less hot and less cold. My metabolism started to change in a very good way. I found it really addicting and just felt really natural and comfortable."

For Crous, she's enjoyed building a wellness community and sharing workouts with people.

"That's what it's all about," she said. "It's wonderful to see the community grow, and it's wonderful to see people get healthier and happier. It's unbelievably rewarding."

The hope is to expand even more in the future in Fairfield County, Crous said. A location in Rowayton is a possibility.

Both the Darien and Greenwich studios are offering a 14-day intro package at a special reduced rate of $59 through January.

Session packages will include bonus classes if purchased before the Greenwich studio opens in mid-January.

For more information on classes and packages, visit the HOT PHIIT website, or follow the Greenwich location on Instagram.