Infrared therapy as part of wellness + recovery
Infrared Saunas and the thermal therapy they provide are a great way to improve your overall health and well-being and speed up recovery. They work by emitting infrared light waves, which penetrate the skin and warm the body's tissues from the inside.
This gradual infrared therapy means you won't feel the excessive heat burning your skin like traditional saunas, making your time spent in a far infrared sauna more enjoyable and therapeutic.
The increase in core body temperature achieved is thought to have a number of beneficial effects on the body, including:
Reducing pain and inflammation
Improving circulation and oxygenation
Promoting cellular repair and regeneration
Relaxing muscles and reducing muscle spasms
Improving immunity
Improving skin health
Improving sleep quality
Reducing stress and promoting relaxation
Helping with detoxification
Far Infrared therapy is suitable for a wide range of people, including those with chronic pain, injuries, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions that can cause inflammation and pain. It’s also beneficial for athletes looking to recover from workouts and improve their performance, and for people looking to improve their overall health and well-being.
Infrared therapy is safe for most people to use, though there are a few conditions that it should not be used for, such as pregnant women, those with heart conditions, or those with metal implants. If you have any concerns about whether infrared radiation is right for you, be sure to speak to your doctor before beginning treatment.
Keep in mind that the ambient temperature is not an effective measure of the effectiveness of an infrared sauna, unlike steam saunas. The benefits come from being in direct alignment with the infrared heaters and from being exposed to infrared wavelength for extended periods of time, so it is better to use the sauna for longer sessions at a lower temperature rather than having shorter and hotter sessions.
If you do like the sauna hotter you can increase the preheating times, however, it is not necessary per se as the infrared is the main driver for perspiration. In other words, with infrared you will still sweat even if the cabin temperature is lower, because the infrared warms the body up from within.
8 Tips for using the Infrared Sauna
Enter the sauna as dry and as clean as possible and avoid entering if saturated from a shower or plunge.
When using your infrared sauna, use a towel on the bench and under your feet. This will provide another layer of comfort, whilst also preventing stains forming in the wood from sweat, body oil, dirt, and dead skin cells.
Whilst using the sauna monitor yourself. Everyone’s heat tolerance is different and can vary from day to day. If you are feeling light headed or unwell, finish your session immediately.
Optimise your vitamin and mineral intake on sauna days including ensuring your replenish your salt loss from a sauna session
Keep it social - enjoying a sauna with a friend is a great way to relax and the distraction can help with heat tolerance
Exercise prior to a sauna session is a great way to pre-heat your body
Drinking water increases heat tolerance and helps with the detoxification process
Take a warm then cold shower after the sauna to help remove the toxins sweated out and prevent them being re-absorbed.