Have you ever been in a Sauna before? Maybe you enjoy it, maybe you don’t. Saunas aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s a reason that they’ve been around for so long and why so many people use them. Many people believe that sitting in a sauna for a few minutes every day helps your body rid itself of harmful toxins, and some even believe that it helps you lose weight. Is that true, though? Is using a sauna or steam room actually good for you? Join us as we find out.
When used regularly, saunas have been shown to help relax muscles, improve blood circulation, and encourage healthier skin by causing sweat and removing toxins from the body. In most cases, it’s suggested that you spend roughly 15 to 20 minutes in a sauna.
What Is A Sauna?
No one really knows the exact origin of the sauna, only that it dates back to around 2000 B.C, making it an extremely ancient practice. In traditional saunas, you’ll generally step into a small room made of wood. To create the steam, water is poured over rocks that have been heated up. Upon contact, the steam is created which heats the sauna and creates a 100% humidity too.
The Different Types Of Saunas
Modern times have produced several times of saunas, such as:
- Steam saunas, which are the more traditional sauna that uses hot rocks, as discussed above
- Wood-burning saunas are another type of sauna that creates steam through burning wood. These saunas often have lower temperatures and less humidity than steam saunas
- Electrical saunas have been created with technology, too. Like steam and wood-burning saunas, these saunas create steam but also have more control over the amount of heat, humidity, and steam released into the room
- Infrared saunas are relatively new and make use of infrared light therapy to heat your body instead of steam. Infrared is an invisible light that’s shown potential benefits in improving recovery and assisting with pain
Benefits Of Using A Sauna
Traditional saunas usually reach a temperature of 70 to 90°C, which you’re exposed to for roughly 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the session you opt for. As a result, your body temperature will increase, leading your pulse to increase, too, and your blood vessels to dilate. You’ll also sweat a ton. Here are some benefits that come as a result of these effects:
Improve Blood Flow
The first benefit we want to mention impacts the others we’ll discuss. Using a sauna improves your bloodflow. As said earlier, using a sauna & steam room heats your body, increasing its core temperature and causing your blood vessels to dilate allowing for greater volumes of blood to pump at a time without restriction. At the same time, this allows more nutrients and oxygen to travel through your body to each essential area, increasing your bodies ability to recover and flushing the toxins from your body.
Relaxes Your Muscles
During exercise, our bodies build up lactic acid, which is one of the components that limit our ability to continue exercising for longer periods. Residual lactate also leaves the muscles feeling uncomfortable after exercise, possibly leading to delayed onset muscle soreness. By dilating blood vessels in your body, blood can carry nutrients like oxygen and protein to the muscles while clearing byproducts from exercising, like lactate and hydrogen ions, more effectively.
The Right Way To Use A Sauna
For some, using a sauna is a foreign concept. If you feel the same, here’s how you can best use a sauna to get the most out of it:
- Consider showering before you get into the sauna and dry your skin. This is because dry skin sweats faster
- If you’re using the sauna for the first time, stay in it for about 8 to 10 minutes. You might not feel extremely comfortable in the sauna as it is set to 100% humidity, usually
- While in the sauna, lay your tile on the bench to avoid your body coming into contact with it. Most saunas usually have benches set to different heights. The higher you sit, the hotter it’ll be
- After the session, some people like to cool down by submerging themselves in cold water, creating a sort of contrasting therapeutic environment
- Alternatively, you could allow your body to cool down naturally with the outside air
- Once the session is done, drink some water to rehydrate yourself and take a shower to wash off the sweat and toxins from your body
Final Thoughts
Studies have shown that saunas can potentially assist in blood circulation, pain management, and relaxation. By making you sweat, they do, in fact, assist in removing waste products from your system and can prove to be a healthy habit when done in moderation. Remember to follow our sauna tips to safely use a sauna, and you’ll reap the benefits.
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