Saunas have been around for centuries, believe it or not, and if you’ve ever totally unwound and let all of your problems melt away under that red light then you kinda get why. A typical sauna is a wood-filled room that is heated. While the terms ‘sauna’ and ‘steam room’ might be used interchangeably at times, steam rooms are actually full of humid air, while saunas are full of dry air. If you guessed that things get pretty sweaty and sticky in a sauna, you would be correct – you may even feel as though you’ve exercised after being in one even though you just kinda sat there. Much like exercise, saunas offer a ton of health benefits, so let’s dive a little deeper.
Health Benefits of a Sauna
Is sauna does so much more than make you feel sweaty and amazing. Here are just a few of the health benefits you can expect from regular use of a sauna.
Heart Healthy
Trips to the sauna may help lower your risk of heart disease. Remember when we said a sauna might make you feel as though you’ve just exercised? Your body’s response to a sauna mimics exercise as well by experiencing an increase in heart rate, followed by a drop in blood pressure. Sauna bathing has also been known to improve the left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with congestive heart failure.
Radiant Skin
Spending time in a sauna can help increase circulation and increased circulation means more nutrients are being delivered to your skin. And more blood flow equals a healthy glow and complexion, so go ahead, book your sauna sesh.
Pain Management
Most people find that spending time in a sauna alleviates joint pain and improves their mobility. Studies have found this to be true in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory disorders. If you suffer from joint pain, and notice symptoms are far better or nonexistent in the sauna, this is also a good time to take advantage of your increased mobility and stretch your body the best you can.
Better Rest
Not only will the heat, silence, and solitude of a sauna help you relax before drifting off to sleep, but a sauna sesh can stimulate your pineal gland to enhance its function and incresase melatonin production.
Good for Mental Health
While saunas aren’t a quick or permanent fix for depression, stress, and ADHD, there have been studies that show regular sauna bathing can lessen symptoms and make conditions more manageable.
How Often to Use a Sauna
Ultimately the more you use a sauna, the more improvements you will experience. We recommend using the sauna 2-3 times a week for no more than 10-15 minutes at a time. The sauna may take some getting used to, so it’s okay if you start slow and work yourself up.
Sauna Tips for the Best Experience
The get the most out of your sauna experience, follow these few tips:
Shower Before and After
If you’re hoping to get extra sweaty, shower right before you step into the sauna for a super restorative experience. Showering also stimulates blood flow and removes all the icky stuff from your pores allowing you to get the most out of your sweat.
Exfoliate
Boosting circulation only maximizes the benefits. You can do this by brushing, lightly scratching or tapping the skin on your arms, legs, belly, and back. Doing this opens your pores up and boosts circulation. The smoothness of your skin later will be unmatched.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Don’t consume alcohol before or after the sauna and always make sure to enjoy 2-4 glasses of cool water after using the sauna. You’ll be sweating a lot so the goal is to replace what you’ve lost. Pro-tip: tomato juice after getting out of the sauna will help replace the potassium lost through sweating.
Big Stretch
If you’re able to stretch your arms and legs out and lie down in the sauna, we totally recommend. Not only will your whole body feel the temperature evenly, but you’ll notice a reduction of pain and stiffness throughout your whole body.