The health benefits of infrared saunas are amazing. But here’s the thing: I’ve never considered myself a “sauna girl.” Sure, I’ve jumped into a sweaty, damp, hot box a few times, but never for more than 10 minutes before I felt suffocated.
Then I had my last birthday.
My husband treated me to a 3-hour detox spa experience in a neighboring town. Hmm, heaven. And surprisingly, my favorite part of this whole experience was the time spent in the infrared sauna. I felt so calm, rejuvenated, and refreshed when I stepped outside. And my skin was glowing like never before.
So I did what any “normal” hippie girl would do… I convinced my husband to get rid of the sofa set and buy an infrared sauna instead. After all, it’s a sauna.
Well, getting rid of the sofa was a long time coming. I will have to explain this in detail in another blog post. (In short, it’s much cooler to have more space to stretch, squat, move, and dance than to sit on a couch that hurts your back.)
where was i? Yes, it’s a sauna. After selling our lovely living room furniture, we decided to take the plunge and buy our own sauna with the extra money. (I purchased my sauna from this lovely local company. No, I am not affiliated with that company. I just really love my sauna and wanted to share it.)
You guys. I love infrared saunas. This is seriously one of the best investments I’ve made in my health.
What is a far infrared sauna?
An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that combines heat and light. This light emits infrared waves, which generate heat within the body and cause sweating. Many people struggle with regular saunas because they feel hot and “suffocated.” Using an infrared sauna, the environmental temperature is kept at a more comfortable temperature, and the infrared rays provide a lower temperature and more active sweating. (That means no stuffiness! Wow!)
Essentially, infrared rays heat your body directly, without heating the surrounding air like in a traditional sauna.
6 Amazing Benefits of Infrared Sauna:
relaxation
This may seem pretty obvious, since usually when we hear “sauna” we think “relaxation,” but it’s still true. Unlike traditional saunas, infrared is gentle and soothing. The heat from infrared rays relaxes muscles, relieves tension, and reduces stress throughout the body. For such mothers, sauna time is a special “me” time. I love it.
painkillers
Another benefit of infrared saunas is pain relief. If you are suffering from muscle or joint pain, an infrared sauna is the best choice as it increases blood circulation and reduces muscle inflammation. Not only did getting rid of the couch help my lower back, but the sauna experience helped speed up my recovery process.
improved circulation
For someone like me who suffers from blood circulation disorders, this is a big deal. The increased core body temperature caused by infrared light naturally increases blood circulation, and infrared light stimulates blood flow up to twice the normal rate. If you use an infrared sauna consistently, you’ll find that this increased blood flow continues to reduce pain and inflammation, while also helping your muscles recover from a recent intense workout.
detoxification
Sweating is one of our bodies’ most natural ways to eliminate excess waste products. Sweating is a great and safe way to heal and stay healthy. Sweating eliminates toxins that tend to accumulate in your body. Other benefits of infrared saunas come from the use of infrared light. It increases your core body temperature and helps create a deeper detoxifying sweat at the cellular level.
weight loss
An increase in core body temperature increases heart rate. When your heart rate increases, your body lowers its core temperature or works harder to keep up with the increased heart rate, burning calories and promoting weight loss. There was an article titled. Effects of sweating published in Journal of the American Medical Association They conclude that a 30-minute infrared sauna session can burn around 600 calories. Yes, that’s right.
Improved skin health
Sweating can cleanse your pores. When toxins are removed from the skin, you get clearer, softer, and healthier-looking skin. Certain infrared treatments can also stimulate collagen production, which can help reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin tone. Every time I step out of the sauna, I feel like I just got the best facial.
The benefits of far infrared saunas are great, aren’t they? So the question becomes, how do you choose a good sauna?
How to choose the best infrared sauna:
While there are quite a few things to look at when choosing an infrared sauna (trusted seller, safety certifications, etc.), here are some things you may not have known when choosing an infrared sauna.
Carbon fiber heater/panel. Carbon heaters offer the most advanced infrared heating system available, as opposed to steel heaters and ceramic rods/tubes.
Large heating pad. Thermal surface area is an important number to note. Infrared heat emitters are only as effective as the total surface area of the heat emitter itself. So look for one with large wall-mounted heating panels, including back, side, and front panels, floor panels, and leg panels. Full-body coverage provides more benefits and better results in less time.
The right type of wood! Use cedar or hemlock wood. Other woods such as pine, fir, poplar, and redwood can cause problems such as splitting, becoming too soft and beginning to rot, and developing a distinctive odor. Cedar and hemlock are strong, durable, and resistant to moisture and heat. Additionally, both are excellent insulators.
Very low EMF. Many infrared saunas produce notoriously high levels of harmful electromagnetic frequencies. EMFs interfere with the body’s detoxification and rejuvenation processes. Look for infrared saunas with very low EMF.
Well then, here you go! Getting a sauna may seem like a bigger investment than many people can afford, but seriously, ditch the couch and give it a try. Even if you have limited space and funds, you can still get many of the great benefits of an infrared sauna with something like this portable sauna found online.
Have you already benefited from an infrared sauna? If nothing else, find your local gym or spa and give it a try. You too may find a happy and wonderful place.
source:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/infrared-sauna/faq-20057954
https://draxe.com/infrared-sauna/
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12265/6-benefits-of-infrared-sauna-therapy.html
http://www.sunlighten.com/infrared-sauna-health-benefits.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/240539-infrared-sauna-benefits-risks/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/224557-infrared-sauna-vs-traditional/
http://www.saunas10misstoavoid.com/
https://www.evolutionhealth.com/Infrared_Saunas/Suana-Guide.html
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