Saunas

If you are a gym goer especially in the morning, you’ve probably seen a group always going in or out of the saunas.  At one gym I’m a member at in Cleveland, some of the members are only members that go for the sauna or steam.  These groups I usually see using the saunas are people that are established in their careers and are well off, as well as the seniors who refuse to wear a towel while in the locker room or sauna, but I digress.    

 

One way I think about things is, if you want to be successful do what successful people do.  I’ve never been a sauna person, to me just sitting somewhere not able to do anything productive is just a waste of time for me. But the more and more I see professionals using them I figured there had to be something to it.  

 

Now what I have learned there are differences between a sauna and an infrared sauna, so before you jump into being a sauna guy make sure you know which one you are going in.  I don’t think either sauna is bad for you just don’t use a regular sauna thinking you are getting the benefits of infrared.

 

Saunas can be a good routine to help with relaxation and pain relief.  Sauna uses a dry heat, this dry heat elevates your heart rate which will dilate your blood vessels.  This helps blood flow throughout your system.  

 

 

Probably the most sought out reason why saunas are used.  The dry heat from a sauna helps your nervous system be more active to maintain the heat, the end result your body is more calm.  If you can practice mediation while in a sauna that is a double whammy for relaxation.  

 

 

As I mentioned earlier saunas help with blood flow.  By the blood flowing faster throughout your system its able to help your recovery from soreness and well as calming the body down.  By calming the body it will reduce tension in joints and muscles.  

 

 

 

Now a lot of people feel the saunas help remove toxins from your system,  this is false there is no data to say that saunas do this.   When we sweat we assume that is toxins leaving the body, this is false.  We sweat to cool our body’s core temperature down.  Toxins and waste DO NOT leave our body from sweating.  The kidney and liver production is how toxins and waste are removed from our body.  

 

 

Another myth that saunas are good for weight loss, is just that a myth, they do not help with weight loss at all.  The only weight you can lose in a sauna is water weight.  And soon as you are drinking something that weight is back on.  

 

 

Now this is something us men may want to hear or may not.  A study showed that men who spent two 15 minute sessions per week for a 3 month period had less production of their swimmers.  Now the good news is it’s not permanent and production can increase.  

 

 

What is the difference from a regular sauna and an infrared sauna?  Your regularly sauna uses heat and humidity to warm the air.  While an infrared sauna uses light to warm the air with some heat.  Roughly 80% is from light and 20% from heat.  

 

 

While a regular sauna shows no research of helping to eliminate toxins from the body, an infrared sauna does.  Since the body is heated from the core it helps your liver and kidney process toxins.  

 

 

Again while the body is heated from the core, it makes your body active, the same process as  it helps with kidney and liver, you body is active in the infrared sauna, helping your body burn calories.  

 

 

As non-infrared sauna help with pain relief and relaxation the infrared sauna does the same.  While there are clearly more benefits from an infrared sauna than  a regular sauna, both offer good health benefits and can be incorporated into your weekly routine.

 

15-45 minutes a session 3 to 4 times a week will help optimize the benefits of a sauna.    Have any questions for me?  Please send me a message or start a discussion below.  Someone like you is think the same thing, however they are waiting on YOU to start the discussion.