Do you want the experience of going for a sauna session but struggle to tolerate the conditions? Well, it’s time to give infrared saunas a go! Infrared technology utilised in a sauna gives you all the benefits of a traditional sauna, but the experience is generally a lot drier and more tolerable. So, what are these benefits we’re talking about, and how does an infrared sauna work?
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How do infrared saunas work?
Infrared saunas use a concentrated infrared heater that focuses infrared light onto your body, allowing it to penetrate deeply into your skin, warming your body temperature and causing you to sweat like in a traditional sauna. We’re exposed to Infrared light more than you may think. Infrared light is a part of the light emitted by the sun.
In an infrared sauna, you’ll be subjected to room temperatures between 44°C and 58°C, offering a more comfortable session than in a traditional sauna while offering many of the same benefits.
How can an infrared sauna session benefit your health?
You might wonder why someone would subject themselves to a 10 to 30-minute session in a room with temperatures that reach around the hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth from the sun (56°C, depending on who you ask). Well, it’s simply because there are some great health benefits when doing so in moderation, like:
Improved cardiovascular health
The first thing we would love to point out is that attending an infrared sauna session can improve your hearts health. When you sit in an infrared sauna, you’re bodies core temperature increases, triggering it’s natural response to widen blood vessels and increase your BPM (beats per minute) in order to pump larger volumes of blood throughout the body.
Essentially, this mimics what happens when you exercise to a degree. Studies show that this increase in your heart rate for the set time can increase your heart’s overall health and even reduce your blood pressure.
Chronic pain relief
For individuals who struggle with chronic pain, studies have shown that attending sessions in an infrared sauna can help alleviate this pain for a period, offering patients a break from their pain for a while.
Soothing muscular pain
It’s common for athletes or gym enthusiasts to make use of the recovery and muscular pain benefits of an infrared sauna, too. Because infrared saunas get your blood pumping, they increase the amount of oxygen and nutrients transported to your muscles. As a result, your muscles get what they need to repair themselves sooner, speeding up your recovery time and soothing the pain you feel during the recovery process.
In addition to that, we all know what happens to atoms when they experience heat, they expand. Thus, sitting in the sauna will also loosen muscles that are tense, making them feel more relaxed.
Improved sleep
Studies have also produced evidence that suggests using an infrared sauna frequently can improve your sleep conditions too. In an experiment done with 572 people, 83% of them recorded that they used an infrared sauna on a regular basis and suggested that their sleep improved as a result of using it.
There can be a few reasons for this. Stress, anxiety, muscular pain and tension can all disrupt your sleep cycle. Infrared saunas have been known to relax a person, releasing tension in their muscles and reducing their stress. This could result in providing them with better sleep.
Having a detox
Like traditional saunas, infrared saunas make you work up quite a sweat! This is believed to assist the body in getting rid of toxins built up as waste in the body. As you sweat, the toxins are released. Remember to shower after your session to ensure you wash the residue of these toxins off your skin.
Tips for using infrared saunas
Using an infrared sauna is nothing to be afraid of, but we can understand that some patients may be a bit hesitant at first. Here are some tips to help you for your first session:
- Take it slow the first time. Set the temperature lower and only do a 10-minute session
- To avoid putting too much stress on your body, keep your sessions to a maximum length of 30 minutes
- Remember to stay hydrated during your session. There is a chance that you could get dehydrated from the heat
Book your sauna session
Ready to give an infrared sauna a try? TH7 Body Labs offers infrared sauna memberships to those looking for a reputable place to have infrared therapy. Go and enjoy their professional services as you relax and recover from your week’s difficulties in an infrared sauna.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re an athlete looking for a faster recovery or someone who simply has a stressful job and needs to destress, infrared saunas can provide the relief you’re searching for. And, to top it off, you’ll also sweat out the same toxins you would in a traditional sauna, benefiting your overall health and revitalising your appearance, too!
