I Did Yoga with This $1,200 Red Light Therapy Mat, and I Don’t Think I Can Go Back to Traditional Workouts

As a working toddler mom, I’m constantly looking for how to make the most of any free time. There’s a lot of buzz about “habit stacking,” or developing a ritual that combines two or more elements of self-care. So, when the Montage Laguna Beach invited me to try out their brand-new Pacific Glow Method—an exercise class with red light and near-infrared therapy mats—it was an immediate “yes.”

Red light therapy has a host of benefits, like promoting collagen production, clearing up skin, encouraging muscle recovery, and providing a general sense of calm. When combined with movement, this dual-purpose training appealed to my interest in both working out and chilling out. 

Courtesy of HigherDOSE

“Pacific Glow Method creates an incredible synergistic effect which amplifies the benefits of movement, red light, and infrared light,” explains Cherie Rodriguez, the director of spa and retail at Montage Laguna Beach. “Red and infrared light are widely used in sports medicine for the benefits of cellular repair and reduction of inflammation, and adding movement to this increases the body’s ability to flush metabolic waste, prevent stiffness, and speed recovery after workouts.”  

The HigherDOSE Full Body Red Light Mat costs a cool $1,199, a staggering price compared to the traditional yoga mat. But when you look at it next to the $159,500 Ammortal Chamber (a 2026 Sunset Wellness & Beauty Award winner!), it’s a significantly more approachable way to bring red light therapy into your home. 

Courtesy of HigherDOSE

Spa Montage is ushering in a new era, rolling out even more than these mats. The updated menu features new ocean-inspired treatments and experiences that connect to the property’s natural environment. Their yoga and Pilates classes are hosted in the dreamy Movement Studio, an oceanfront oasis that fits up to six guests and an instructor. 

There were only three people during the 50-minute training, so we could easily ask questions and receive individual feedback from our guide. As we prepared for the class, we had the option to place a more cushioned yoga mat underneath the HigherDOSE mat for additional support. 

Like other wellness offerings at Spa Montage, this was all about a bespoke experience—we had the opportunity to end each flow with a chaturanga dandasana to upward facing dog to downward dog, or simply meet everyone in downward dog. The gentle routine, soothing voice of the instructor, and crashing waves contributed to a truly restorative experience. Add in the red light therapy mat, and I found myself feeling more relaxed and flexible than usual. Each exhale was noticeably more rejuvenating, and my recovery was significantly easier, with fewer aches and less soreness overall. 

Blake Bakkila

According to the brand, an hour on the mat “delivers deep, head-to-toe rejuvenation, ideal for those experiencing burnout or fatigue.” The two-in-one class was shockingly effective for me, and I am officially a believer. Plus, exposure to the healing red light is recommended for pre-workout energy boost or post-sweat R&R before bedtime.

While I certainly can’t recreate a full spa resort experience at home, I’ve officially added this mat to my wishlist—to break a sweat or stay in shavasana and soak up all the red light therapy on my own time.