Want to know more about saunas?

When I think of saunas, I think about rolling in the snow, a bunch of birch branches, little wooden rooms, hot stones, and cold plunge pools.

My mind drifts off to places like Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. . . Scandinavian countries where saunas are just part of their everyday life. In fact, I read somewhere that in Finland there are 5.5 million people and 3 million saunas, which is more than the number of cars in that country!

Saunas are starting to be more commonly used here in New Zealand, although the numbers will never be anywhere near the Scandinavian countries, but you usually can find one at a spa resort, retreat or even gym. Some people are lucky enough to even have their own!

Saunas are a heated, enclosed, wood-lined room with different options for seating and capacity. The intense heat provides what has been called, “a bath from the inside out.” The heat encourages detoxifying perspiration, relief from aches and pains, and deep relaxation, sounds divine.

A few minutes a day in a sauna will make you feel and look good. This must be why those people from those Scandinavian countries all seem to look young with the most glowing skin!

The temperature is usually around 160° F. People typically stay in the sauna for at least 5 to 20 minutes.

When a person sits in a sauna, their heart rate increases, and blood vessels widen.

If you have trouble sleeping, try having a regular sauna to help promote a deeper, more relaxed sleep.

You must also be aware when using a sauna, that if you start to feel dizzy, overheated or dehydrated that you leave the sauna straight away.

Essentially, traditional sauna benefits and infrared sauna benefits are one in the same. One is not particularly better than the other, it just comes down to personal choice.

Infrared saunas operate at a lower temperature, and this makes it a more gentler heat method, especially for people who find the traditional instant heat a bit hard to tolerate. Infrared heats your body directly where traditional heats the air around you first. When it comes to health benefits, they are both in the same camp.

If you haven’t tried a sauna. . . now is the time, especially if you are feeling the aches and pains of sport, exercise or even a health condition. It does pay to check with your doctor first though!