by Benjamin Deever
If you’re looking for an infrared sauna for sale, or if you’ve just started using one, follow these tips to get the most out of your session!
What are infrared saunas and what are the benefits of using them
Saunas originated in Finland and were used to socialise and help people recover from illness. They are now popular in many countries for their health benefits. There are two main types of saunas: traditional saunas and infrared saunas. Traditional saunas use heat to generate steam, while infrared and/or far-infrared saunas use infrared light to generate heat. Infrared saunas are said to be more beneficial than traditional saunas because the infrared heat penetrates past the skin for more deep heat and helps the body to release toxins from the body in ways that traditional saunas can’t.
What is infrared heat?
Infrared heat is a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye. It is produced by objects such as the sun, fire and even the human body. Because infrared light is invisible, we interact with it by feeling its heat. What makes infrared special is that this invisible light heats our bodies up from the inside, as opposed to traditional heating methods that warm the air to then warm the skin to raise the body temperature.
Why are infrared waves used in a sauna?
Infrared heaters are used in infrared saunas because they are extremely efficient at raising the core body temperature. Regular sauna (traditional sauna and steam sauna) will raise the air temperature and the extreme heat comes from the moisture in the air around the cabin touching the body directly. This is why a traditional sauna is known as a wet sauna. This traditional heat source uses more energy to create heat and needs more heat to warm the air. Infrared therapy instead uses radiant heat to easily penetrate human tissue for a more intense sweat. This allows for lower temperatures in the sauna so that you can sauna longer, removing toxins and minimising heat exhaustion. This is why infrared waves are used in saunas and why infrared sauna therapy is the best form of sauna treatment.
What are the benefits of using infrared saunas?
The health advantages of infrared sauna usage are numerous, ranging from detoxification to mental clarity. These health advantages have been well-established, and why infrared saunas are so beneficial to one’s overall health stem from a mix of positively influencing lifestyle habits, lowering stress, and stimulating the body’s natural response to heat stress. Below is a list of infrared sauna benefits:
Standard benefits:
- Improved cardiovascular function
- Reduced inflammation
- Reduced joint pain and sore muscles
- Improved blood pressure
- Detoxification
- Weight loss
- Better sleep
Emotional benefits:
- Increased relaxation and stress relief
- Enhanced mood
Tips for getting the most out of your infrared sauna session
Infrared saunas are fantastic at being the easiest, simplest way to achieve all of the health benefits mentioned above. All of this comes at the default of simply sitting in your infrared sauna regularly. But did you know that there are additional ways you can get even more out of your infrared sauna bathing?
Here are some tips on how to maximise the health benefits provided by an infrared sauna session:
Infrared sauna for blood pressure
Far infrared saunas have been shown to improve blood pressure in those who suffer from hypertension. The infrared heat helps dilate the blood vessels, which in turn reduces the blood pressure. Infrared sauna therapy is one of the best and most natural ways to lower blood pressure and keep it under control. To take this even further, you can pre-heat your body before getting into your infrared sauna. The warm water of a bath will begin to raise your core body temperature before you set foot inside your sauna. This makes it quicker for your blood flow and blood circulation to work optimally and the increased heart rate will begin earlier. The perfect additional tip if you have high blood pressure!
Infrared sauna tip for detoxification
To improve the detoxification prowess of your infrared sauna therapy you will need to incorporate cold therapy within your given sauna’s session. Once your core body temperature is high enough, and you can’t stay in the sauna any longer, drastically change your core temperature by jumping into an ice bath or cold shower. What happens with radiant heat is that the toxins that have been released from your fat cells are now in your bloodstream. The additional heat keeps blood vessels open and blood circulation active. By jumping into a cold bath, you constrict all of your veins and arteries, and the blood gets pumped through your liver, kidneys and lymphatic system. Your body then processes the toxins collected from your blood circulation. Repeat this 3 – 4 times.
Infrared sauna tip for weight loss
Peer-reviewed studies have found that infrared saunas are exceptional for weight loss, due to the dry heat causing the body to burn calories while relaxed. Contrary to belief, infrared saunas don’t just make you lose water weight. One study found on the Clearlight® Saunas website showed that participants lost 4% of body fat over a 3-month period only from using a Clearlight® Sauna and managed to keep it off following a 4-month review after the study had been completed. So, while this tip may not come as a surprise, the best way to enhance weight loss is to warm up 15 minutes prior with some light to moderate exercise. This will cause you to sweat before jumping in, and have your cardiovascular system working before you even start!
Infrared sauna therapy for pain relief
If you suffer from joint pain and you want more than just far infrared sauna therapy, you can try to incorporate magnesium drinks into your sauna routine. The added salts and magnesium from a nutritional juice will aid in muscle soreness and related health conditions on top of the benefits of infrared sauna therapy.
Always follow the basic rules of infrared sauna treatments; first, drink plenty of fluids before and after your session to help flush toxins from your body. Second, avoid eating a heavy meal before your session. And finally, be sure to relax and enjoy your time in the sauna. Whether you choose to opt for the standard benefits or dare to push to maximise your benefits, regardless be sure to enjoy your infrared sauna experience!
Sauna therapy has many benefits and in order to maximize the infrared sauna experience, the above are a few tips you should try. Rember to keep these things in mind when looking for an infrared sauna for sale to make sure you pick the right sauna for your needs.
