Hey, going to sauna is nothing new. Heck - the Finns have been doing for thousands of years.
But it is healthy? Or is just a fun idea some Finnish people had after few vodkas?
Well the good news is that they’re generally good for you (everyone’s different though and your age and state of your health could mean saunas aren’t the best idea for you - if in doubt ask your medical professional).
What happens when you Sauna?
Saunas (or Sweat Lodges) are usually little rooms (or devices) that are designed to get really hot. They come in a few different flavours - hot & steamy, hot & dry, or infra-red.
Unless you’re super-human and have incredible heat-resistant super powers, usually a whole lot of sweating goes on, and this is fabulous for detoxing your body.
But other good things happen too.
Why Saunas are good.
Sitting in a hot/steamy sauna, dry/hot sauna or infra-red sauna not only makes us feel good it also:
- Cleanses your skin
- Increases circulation
- Eases muscle pain
- Strengthens the immune system
- Releases stress as true sauna is a meditative experience
- Stimulates the cells that help fight off infections
- Speeds up injury recovery time
- Improves joint mobility
- Makes you sleep better
- Increases your cardio performance
So it looks like the Finns have been onto a good thing for some time now.
Some things to be mindful of
But before you go run out the door to have a sauna there are some precautions to be mindful of.
- Do not use a sauna more than the recommended time. You don’t need a marathon session to get the benefits
- Stay hydrated. Saunas are hot and you will sweat a lot.
- If you feel ill during a sauna leave immediately.
- Overheating can cause serious health problems so you should check with a medical professional to make sure that you are ok to get hot for little bit.
- Saunas + alcohol don’t mix.
So who wants to come for a sauna?
