DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK?

Scientific jiggery-pokery has upgraded the sauna from spa-day treat to key fitness component. Lured by the promise of relaxation and recovery, a WH staffer sweats it out

It’s all about the infrared sauna

I’m in a hot box situation. No, not that kind – this isn’t LA. I’m in an actual hot box, an infrared sauna actually, sweating away at boutique fitness and wellness club KXU in Chelsea. Saunas are the latest traditional offering to be given a wellness upgrade – swapping dry heat for infrared heat. It’s said to penetrate the skin more deeply than the conventional warm air of a standard sauna, working its way into your fat tissue and neuromuscular system. It means that instead of cooking you like a steamed clam, the heat targets your muscles. Small surprise then that infrared saunas are setting the fitness world on fire. But it’s no mere trend that’s brought me here – it’s mild tendinitis, presenting as a niggly pain in my ankle that makes it tricky to even walk if I put my foot down at a slightly dodgy angle. I’m a seasoned runner but, just weeks away from upping my training to prep for the London Marathon, I was getting nowhere fast – so I headed down to KXU as quickly as my inflamed ankle would carry me. ‘The theory is that time in the infrared sauna improves blood circulation, sending it to areas in particular need of recovery and renewal,’ says KXU health, fitness and nutrition manager Gideon Remfry. A win for tired, overtrained muscles. And it’s not just sales spiel. In a 2015 study, Finnish researchers measured the effects of infrared sauna bathing on recovery after endurance training sessions, versus traditional sauna bathing. They concluded that the infrared kind was preferable, given that it raised participants’ heart rates less and provided a more ‘comfortable and relaxing experience’. Back to my private wooden hut. Seduced by the promise of some chill-out time in the heat while my muscles get a bit of TLC, I multitask by doing some diaphragmatic breathing. Reclining in the wooden chair, I can control the room’s lighting, hue, scent and even sounds, setting the tone to something relaxing or invigorating. In reality, though, my options are relaxing, soporific or comatose (in the best way). The absence of the clamminess you would usually associate with a sauna makes for an infinitely more serene experience. Though I still sweat, it’s at a lower heat (we’re talking 40-50°C rather than up to 80-90°C), plus I don’t feel as hot. In total, I had four 25-minute sessions: my first foray, once after a workout, once on a rest day and once as a pre-emptive de-stress sesh before hitting the office. Is my ankle fixed? Nearly. Do I have the infrared to thank? I’m not convinced – I think hours of tedious physio exercises probably deserve more of the credit. But it did ease the pain – physical and mental – of an injury-induced fitness break. Tasked with a training schedule that’s, ahem, more of a marathon than a sprint, the thought of having some dedicated, diarised time to recover is pretty appealing. At £35, a 25-minute session every few weeks is realistic. If you’re after a bolt-on for your training or recovery, this one’s a hot tip.