It’s getting close to summer time and everyone is talking about spending time in a pool or a hot tub. But what about saunas? Saunas are a great addition to any home. Plus, they’re not just for the cold weather or for after a workout. Saunas provide amazing health benefits for people of any age and ability. Here is the ultimate guide to sauna health benefits.
So how many benefits are there exactly?
The benefits a sauna provides may surprise you. From your head to your toes, the heat of a sauna helps your whole body. Some of these benefits include:
- Increased blood flow and circulation
- Pain relief
- Immune system boost
- Better sleep
- Stress relief
- Weight loss
- Decreased risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia
- And more
However, some benefits may not surprise you. If you’re familiar with saunas, you may recognize them as an after-workout ritual. When you use a sauna, the heat increases your blood flow and circulation, helping to relax and heal your muscles.
As you can see, saunas provide a great amount of benefits. This means you should use a sauna all year long, even in the summer. But the benefits don’t stop here. Some of the best benefits are yet to come.
Better Sleep and Less Stress
Raise your hand if you need more sleep and less stress. (We can’t see you through the screen, but we know your hand is up!) We have some great news for you: a sauna can help you get better sleep and reduce your stress levels.
Good sleep is important for a healthy life. Have you ever been really irritable for no reason, or just feel like you aren’t all the way awake? It may be because you had a bad night’s sleep. By spending just 30 minutes in your sauna before bed, you prepare your body for a better night’s sleep. The time you spend in the sauna winding down, plus your body’s temperature regulating once you get out of the sauna, gets your brain and body ready to sleep soundly. Say goodbye to melatonin and say hello to steam!
If you struggle with anxiety and/or depression, a sauna can also help improve your mental health. Like sleep, just spending 30 minutes a day in a sauna can boost your mood. The dry heat releases endorphins (also known as the happy hormones) into your brain. Plus, regular sauna use will lower cortisol (a stress-related hormone) levels in your body. The best part is, it doesn’t matter when you spend 30 minutes in the sauna — it could be in the morning, at night, or after a workout.
Maximize Mobility
We all know that hot tubs are great for people with mobility issues and individuals with conditions such as arthritis and Fibromyalgia. But what if you can’t use a hot tub because of your mobility issues? Hot tubs can be accessible with additional accessories, but saunas are a great option for all mobilities, especially those in wheelchairs. Saunas are level with your floor or have a small ledge, making it much easier to get into your sauna than a hot tub. Plus, saunas are easy to clean and maintain.
The heat in the sauna provides similar relief to heat in a hot tub as well. As you spend time in the sauna, the heat works to loosen your muscles. In addition, the increased blood flow and circulation help to relieve pain in your muscles and joints. Spending time daily in a sauna can increase your flexibility exponentially. You can even do stretches during or after your sauna session for even more mobility.
Even More Benefits
We tend to associate heat therapy with better sleep, less stress, pain relief, and muscle relaxation. But, saunas can do so much more than that. Sitting in a sauna for just 30 minutes a day can help you with some other common problems.
While saunas cannot kill COVID-19, a daily sauna session boosts your immune system. So, if you do contract the coronavirus, your body may be better prepared to fight it. And while you’re stuck in quarantine or just spending more time at home, time in a sauna can help with your self care.
The heat therapy and immune system boost don’t just help with viruses, though. Saunas also help with allergies. Again, the immune system boost helps fight allergies. But the heat from the sauna also helps in other ways. For example, the dry heat can help clear your sinuses from congestion. With a sauna, you’ll be able to breathe again.
The sauna heat can also help with skin problems, such as puffy eyes caused by allergies. The heat from the sauna flushes out toxins from your body and cleanses your pores, resulting in beautiful, clean skin.
Making the most out of your sauna
If you are getting a sauna for the health benefits, you want to make the most out of it. Try spending at least 30 minutes in your sauna per day to get the most benefits, But, this doesn’t have to be all at once. You can split it up between the morning and evening, or you could even give yourself a cold shock between sessions to break them up.
A great way to maximize the mental and weight-loss effects of a sauna is to work out before your session. Your workout will raise your endorphins and burn calories. Then your endorphins will continue to raise, and you will continue to burn calories just sitting in the sauna. If working out isn’t your thing, try stretching in the sauna to maximize loosening your muscles.
Bring home a sauna today!
Now that you’ve read the ultimate guide to sauna health benefits, are you ready to get one of your own? At Texas Hot Tub Company, we only sell the best saunas. Our Finnleo® saunas come in traditional or infrared, and can be custom designed to fit whatever space you have in your home. Give us a call today at 817-952-5984 or visit one of our four locations to find the right sauna for you.