Is an Air-Conditioned Gym Too Cold for a Good Workout?

As summer temperatures rise, many people prefer to train in air-conditioned studios and gyms, but the article asks whether a cold workout space is always best for the body. The piece explains that sweating is a normal and healthy part of thermoregulation, and that sweat volume does not determine workout quality or how many calories are burned.

Professor Yuval Halperin, an expert in human physiology and exercise physiology, says exercise is essential for health, but the ideal environment depends on the goal. If the aim is to improve fitness elements such as cardiovascular endurance, strength, muscular endurance, or speed, he recommends a comfortable, cooled room. Training in heat increases physiological heat stress, can limit performance, and may lead to earlier physical and mental fatigue.

Halperin adds that if the goal is to improve tolerance to heat, then controlled, low-intensity exercise in hot conditions can help the body and mind adapt, as often happens with soldiers and athletes. For most people training in a studio or gym to improve health and fitness, he says cool, air-conditioned conditions are preferable for both performance and safety.

The article says there is no single perfect temperature for every workout, but 20 to 24 degrees Celsius is considered comfortable and effective. Below that range, people may experience muscle stiffness at the start of exercise, reduced flexibility and range of motion, and respiratory sensitivity, especially those with asthma or allergies. Some may also develop coughing, wheezing, or a mild feeling of breathlessness during exertion.