Saunas have been around for ages in different forms: sweat lodges, hot springs, and steam rooms have been a part of cultures worldwide for thousands of years. So while saunas aren’t new, modern technology has taken this traditional health treatment and turned it into something accessible around the world with targeted health benefits.
Types of Saunas
You thought all saunas were created equally? Think again! There are three main types of saunas – dry saunas, steam saunas, and infrared saunas. Dry saunas use fire, hot stones, gas, or electricity to heat the air inside the room, while steam saunas use—you guessed it— steam. Here in our Sanford gym, we use an infrared sauna.
Infrared saunas differ from the others because they use infrared heaters to deliver radiant heat absorbed by your skin. There are three main types of infrared saunas—near infrared, far infrared, and full spectrum. At our gym, we have a far-infrared sauna, which uses the longest wavelength of light. Research suggests that this type can help eliminate toxins from your body, stimulate your metabolism, and support your cardiovascular health.
How Can A Sauna Help You?
Saunas have been linked to a range of health benefits. For example, with regular use of a sauna, you can:
- Lower your stress levels: Saunas promote physical relaxation, and the quiet atmosphere can provide the perfect opportunity to quiet your mind. Allow the heat to relax you and focus on slow, deep breathing to calm your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps regulate your body’s energy.
- Reduce your risk of disease: Since saunas support cardiovascular health, it makes sense that regular use may help prevent issues like high blood pressure. Sauna use may also help prevent or mitigate the effects of arthritis, headaches, and the flu. Sauna use may also reduce your risk of neurocognitive diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Support your mental health: Saunas have long been used for physical relaxation, and early research is showing a positive link between sauna use and improvement among those experiencing depression. When you use a sauna regularly, you support your mental wellbeing alongside your physical health.
- Improve your skin: Not only do saunas increase your skin’s moisture retention potential, they benefit patients with psoriasis and other skin conditions.
Saunas provide a host of benefits, specifically for those who use them regularly. If you’re interested in adding regular infrared sauna treatments to your wellness program, see our pricing information or contact Roni at (407) 718-6635.