My Favorite Benefits of Infrared Sauna Use

Benefits of Infrared Sauna Use

Why Use an Infrared sauna?

I purchased my far infrared sauna 5 years ago, and it is the best investment in my health that I have ever made.

I use it at least 4-5 times a week and more frequently when I feel a cold coming on, after hard exercise, or when I am begin to feel a little stressed or run down.

There are many reasons to use an infrared sauna and incorporate it into your wellness routine. Here are my top 6 reasons:

1. Self-Care: It feels amazing and indulgent. Remove yourself from “crazy life” and rejuvenate. Infrared lighting helps to reduce cortisol levels, the body’s stress hormone. The warmth of the sauna helps to naturally promote rest and recovery. Unplug from technology, listen to some relaxing music or enjoy the quiet and live in the moment with gratitude.

2. Eliminate Toxins: One of the best forms of toxin removal the body uses is sweating. The dry heat from an infrared sauna increases sweating more so than a traditional sauna because the radiant heat penetrates the skin more deeply, increasing sweating and toxin removal. You can control the heat of the sauna, slowly increasing the heat after consistent use, which is a nice benefit.

3. Weight Loss: When you increase your body temperature in an infrared, you increase your heart rate, too–just like you do when your exercising. This increase in heart rate burns calories. It has been estimated that a 30 minute infrared sauna session could burn up to 600 calories. 600 calories is the rough equivalent of about an hour of hard running. This passive caloric burn promotes can promote weight loss, a nice benefit to relaxation and toxin elimination.

4. Improved Blood Flow Promotes Muscle Recovery: The heat from the sauna can increase your body temperature, increase your heart rate, and increase your blood flow. When you increase blood flow by using your infrared sauna consistently, you can elminate toxins more efficiently, which: improves exercise muscle recovery, reduces pain and sore muscles from exercise, and reduces inflammation from exercise.

5.) Boost Immune System: The radiant heat increases blood flow, which stimulates white blood cell production, which helps prevent illness. Increased blood flow also promotes better lymph flow. The lymph system is the garbage system of the body. When the garbage can be cleared out, better health and an better functioning immune system follow. The improved blood flow also increases oxygenation to the cells, which promotes a healthy environment for cell growth, and slows cell death.

6. Younger Looking Skin: Increase circulation and toxin elimination through sweating clean out the pores and allow for more clear, soft, and healthier-looking skin and give the appearance of younger skin.

Which Sauna Level Is Best for me:

Levels vary from near, middle, and far.

The varying levels represent the wavelength of the infrared,  and correlate with the intensity of the infrared sauna treatment. In general:

• near-infrared levels are primarily used for wound healing and improved immune function
• middle-infrared levels promote increased circulation and muscle relaxation
• far-infrared levels are better for detoxification and lymph system cleanses

I prefer the far infrared sauna, since my primary goal is detoxification.

Most spas have an infrared sauna.  Contact a spa near you and discuss the cost to use their infrared sauna, and use it regularly so you can enjoy the benefits. If you live in Utah County, Seasons Salon has a sauna that you can use FREE with a spa service, or you can purchase a package of sauna sessions.

Or, save up and purchase one for your home.

I recommend Health Mate or Therasage if you decide to purchase your own sauna.

Always start with a lower temperature, and gradually increase both the temperature and time spent in the sauna over time so your body will build a toleranace to the temperature.

For example, Start with a temperature of 130-140 degrees if possible– if you have not built a tolerance to this temperature, start lower. Initially spend 5, 10, then 15-20 minutes in the sauna, and slowly workup to a time and temperature you can tolerate.

Overtime, your body will develop a tolerance to the temperature, and you will be able to increase both the time and temperature to what benefits you the most.

Alternatively, if you don’t have a lot of free time, and tolerate the high temperature well, you can optimize your sauna session by increasing the heat to 160-180 degrees, and reducing the time in the sauna to 5 minutes, then slowly working up to 10-15 minutes sessions.

A beneficial temperature goal would be to reach 150-160 degrees, after you have used the sauna several times. Some people stay in the sauna up to an hour. I find that 45 minutes at 165 degrees works great for me. If I don’t have 45 minutes to spend in the sauna, I will sometimes do 2 shorter 20-25 minute sessions at 165 degrees.

I suggest that you find what works best for your body, your lifestyle, and your time.

And of course, discuss sauna use with your primary care provider before you begin using an infrared sauna.

Live Life Optimally,

Kristie

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