Red Room

Neon-lit workout spaces appear to be on the rise and, as a Personal Trainer who self-identifies as a Disco Moth, I couldn't be happier.

Red Room is one such spot—having been magicked into existence by founder Dominique Francis in a space in City Works Depot that was formerly known as Studio Red (no relation, despite the penchant for rosy tones). But Red Room’s rouge or, more accurately, Pantone 7653 C a.k.a. “Femme Fatale” is inspired by the restorative effects of red light therapy. 

Skeptical? That’s only healthy. And, evidently,  so is exposure to red light. According to Pubmed, in 1903 Danish physician Niels Ryberg Finsen (who's touted as being the founder of phototherapy in dermatology) received a Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work treating skin conditions with concentrated light rays. And in 1993 NASA scientists using red LED wavelengths to boost plant growth noticed their skin lesions healed faster than expected. Oh sh*t.  

But first, the vibe. Feeling more akin to a boutique beauty hub than a gym, you’ll arrive to a stunning, spacious reception that’s kitted out with an aesthetic, practical curation of lifestyle, beauty, and wellness products. The lineup includes things like vegan treats by Tauranga-based Breakfast Babes, SWR Laboratories supplements, Skincycles cosmeceutical skincare, beauty oils, the prettiest gym merch we’ve ever laid eyes on, and more. Shout out to their Liquid Lightning cold-pressed juice collab—a blend of watermelon, pomegranate, hyaluronic acid, collagen, camu camu, and green-tea they’ve named “Better Than Botox” (I’m still giggling about that). 

Slide into your workout ‘fit in their sleek changing rooms, then make your way into the studio itself—a large infrared heated room lit in red neon or whatever colour your instructor has matched to that session’s movements. The signature class offering revolves around pilates, yoga, and strength plus wellness events that dip into breathwork, meditation, and journaling (and some exciting hybrids still in development). 

For the full Red Room experience, attendees are encourage to book a post-class 10-minute red light therapy session three times per week. This involves standing in front of one of 12 full body red light therapy panels affixed to the studio wall (I’d definitely take their offer of glasses—these lights aren’t messing around when it comes to brightness). The session is said to boost recovery by easing muscle soreness and joint stiffness, decreasing inflammation, promoting circulation, and increasing energy levels by enhancing mitochondrial function. “Mitochondria” ring a bell? It’s the “powerhouse of the cell” your high school biology teacher enjoyed casually dropping into conversation. 

Science aside, taking time to be still and giving body and mind time to transition out of a work phase and into a living phase rather than rushing straight back out into the freneticism of daily life can only be a good thing. 

Bookings are through Red Room’s website. 

Words: Alice Rich | Image credit: Red Room