10 Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

For centuries people have used the power of heat for healing purposes. Saunas have come a long way in recent years, and treating yourself to the relaxation and detoxification benefits of infrared technology is now safer and more affordable than ever before.

In disciplines such as Yoga, a daily sweat is acknowledged as one of the single best things you can do to stay healthy. Here we have listed 10 of the major health benefits of regular Infrared Sauna usage.

1. Stress Relief.

Sauna bathers most frequently cite stress reduction as the number one benefit of infrared sauna use. Many studies have confirmed that stress in our daily lives can negatively affect our health. In fact, many diseases have been proven to be at least partially stress-related.

Bathing in an Infrared Sauna provides stress relief in a number of ways. It’s a warm, quiet space without any distractions coming from the outside. The heat from the sauna relaxes the body’s muscles, improves circulation and stimulates the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain killer, and their release triggers a wonderful positive feeling through your whole body!

2. Relax + Soothe Muscle and Joint Pain.

The heat provided by an Infrared Sauna relaxes your muscles and eases aches and pains in your joints. Infrared Sauna use can also help relieve the pain of arthritis and muscle soreness from intense physical workouts.

Your Body temperature also rises from the heat of the sauna. This causes blood vessels to dilate, which then causes an increase in your blood circulation. This increased blood flow quickens your body’s natural healing process.

After participating in physical sports, use the heat of an Infrared Sauna to encourage relaxation by helping to reduce muscle tension and eliminate lactic acid and/or other toxins that may be present.

3. Flush Out Toxins.

Many of us do not actively sweat on a daily basis. Deep sweating, however, has multiple proven health benefits. Through the perspiration process, acid and waste residue are removed from the blood, actually increasing the capabilities of your kidney’s to filter out impurities.

As heat from the blood begins to move toward the skin’s surface, your body’s nervous system then sends signals to the millions of sweat glands that cover your body. As the sweat glands become stimulated, they produce sweat. Sweat production is primarily designed to cool the body, and is composed of 99% water. Deep sweating in an Infrared Sauna can also help reduce levels of lead, copper, zinc, nickel, mercury and chemicals – which are all toxins commonly absorbed just from interacting with our daily environments.

A big reason for the increased popularity of Infrared Saunas is that they are one of the most effective ways to detoxify our bodies.

4. Clean, Clear Skin.

Heat bathing is one of the oldest beauty tricks in the world for keeping your skin clean and fresh. When your body begins to produce sweat, the skin is then cleansed and dead skin cells are replaced – keeping your skin fresher, healthier and more youthful in appearance. Sweating rinses bacteria out of the epidermal layer and sweat ducts. Cleansing of the pores has been shown to improve the capillary circulation, while giving the skin a softer-looking quality.

Bathing your skin in sweat on a fairly regular basis, deters collagen breakdown that can ultimately result in wrinkles and sags. Enjoying a regular soak in an Infrared Sauna will help bring back vitality, tone and a healthy glow to your skin, combatting symptoms of acne to keep your skin cleaner and clearer than ever.

5. Get a Deep Sleep.

Research has shown that a deeper, more relaxed sleep can result from Infrared Sauna use.

In addition to the release of endorphins (see above), body temperatures, which become elevated in the late evening, drop at bedtime. This slow, relaxing decline in endorphins is key in facilitating sleep. Numerous Infrared Sauna users say they now experience deep, restful sleep as a result of bathing in the soothing, calming heat of their saunas before bed.

6. Varicose & Spider Veins.

All blood vessels – whether veins or arteries – expand in heat. As a result, people say you should avoid warm baths and warm climates if you suffer from vein disorders, so as not to put yet more strain on veins which are already enlarged.

With an Infrared Sauna, however, the brief dilatory stimulus is followed by a cold stimulus which makes veins and arteries contract suddenly. So it’s like targeted exercise for your blood vessels. Using an Infrared Sauna improves your blood flow to such an extent that it actually reduces the risk of thrombosis, varicose veins and other vein disorders such as Spider Veins.

7. Improved Cardiovascular Performance.

In the high temperatures of an infrared sauna, skin heats up and core body temperature rises. In response to these increase heat levels, the blood vessels near the skin dilate and “cardiac output” increases. Medical research has told us that the heart rate can rise from 60-70 bpm (beats per minute) to 110-120 bpm in the sauna (140-150 with more intensive bathing), and can often sink to below normal after the cooling off stage. With regular Infrared Sauna usage, we not only train our heart muscles and improve the heart rate/cardiac output, but we also help the body’s regulatory system. Even more cardiovascular conditioning takes place when the sauna bathing is taken in multiple “innings”, with sessions in the sauna separated by a cool shower or a quick dip into a pool or lake. Each time you rapidly change temperature (from hot to cool or vice-versa), your heart rate increases by as much as 60%, which is very comparable to the increase experienced during moderate exercise.

8. Weight Loss.

You probably already know that taking a sauna can be relaxing and can relieve stress but can you really use a sauna to lose weight?

Sweating and overheating forces your body to work harder, your heart to pump faster and so, this therapeutic activity can indeed be helpful for weight loss. Sauna use increases your circulation; makes you sweat and helps you shed salt and water, thereby allowing you to lose extra weight. It also helps boost metabolism so your system will be revived and you will lose weight more quickly.

9. Immune System Boost.

German medical research shows that Infrared Saunas are able to significantly reduce the occurrences of colds and flu. As the body is exposed to the heat of a sauna it produces white blood cells more rapidly, which in turn helps to fight illnesses and helps to kill viruses. In addition, Infrared Saunas can relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of sinus congestion from colds or allergies.

10. Feel Great!

An Infrared Sauna not only feels good, it’s good for your body, mind and soul. Whether it’s the physiological and/or mood changes that occur during the warmth of an Infrared Sauna, or if it’s simply the time spent in the calming Oasis of the sauna. Every seasoned Infrared Sauna bather agrees – it feels Amazing! A fantastic escape from our stressful everyday lives, an Infrared Sauna provides a pampering retreat – where we can relax and restore body and soul.

Find the Right Sauna for You

The Sundance Spa Store is a provider of high quality Infrared Saunas who service the GTA and Niagara Region. We have locations in Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville, Mississauga, St. Catharines & Vaughan. In addition to our collection of luxury Sundance Spas, we also carry saunas from Finnleo.

Whatever your taste, budget or space challenges, there is an Infrared Sauna for you! Come in and see us for more information.