Infrared Saunas: Everything You Need to Know Before Stepping into the Heat
All the rage amongst celebs, these saunas provide relaxation and detoxification through increasing core heat and blood circulation.
What is an Infrared Sauna?
Infrared saunas are wooden boxes fitted with infrared heaters to create a space of relaxation and detoxification. The heaters produce light in an array of colors, though most infrared saunas typically use red light, to heat the body instead of the air like traditional saunas do.
The heat lamps can produce up to 150-degree heat, placing the body in a deep sweat and elevating your heart rate—just like exercising does. The sensation allows for a more manageable experience since the body instead of the air is being heated and the temperature is less than that of a traditional sauna.
What are the benefits?
Fawned over by everyone's favorite celebrity health guru Gwyneth Paltrow and other celebs—such as Selena Gomez and Jennifer Aniston—these saunas have garnered a reputation for detoxing the body, mind, and soul.
By heating the body, the saunas promote increased blood circulation, which leads to the activation of your sweat glands. Once the body begins to sweat, it releases built-up toxins like mercury, nickel, and alcohol. The deep heat and increased circulation also work to help ease a myriad of bodily concerns. For people who suffer from chronic pain, such as Gomez and Lady Gaga, the sauna works to reduce pain in the muscles and joints due to the deep heat and increased circulation brought on by the sauna.
Along with detoxifying and healing, the sauna also boosts metabolism, the immune system, and caloric burn, and when chromotherapy—color therapy—is incorporated into the session, it can help boost the body's collagen production, amend sleep patterns, and improve your mood.
How to Prepare?
Prior to any infrared sauna session, you should drink a lot of water and get a good night's rest. This will help ensure that you don't feel dehydrated or faint during the session.
You should also plan on bringing a source of entertainment to your session in case your studio doesn't provide in-session entertainment such as Netflix or music. Some studios, like Perspire, provide in-session entertainment.
What to Expect?
Upon sitting in the sauna, expect to sweat... and sweat a lot. Since the body is being heated directly, it could take some time for sweat to be produced, but once your body starts going don't expect it to stop. However, once the session is over, expect to feel like you're floating on cloud nine, relaxed and serene.
Sessions typically last around 30 to 60 minutes and the heat can range from 100 to 150 degrees, depending on how hot you like it. In terms of price, an hour session typically costs $60, but varies from studio to studio.
