Why Take a Sauna

Taking a sauna has more benefits than simply providing relaxation and a feeling of well being. Perspiration is a way of flushing out toxins and disease. Releasing these toxins allows people to maintain optimal mental health. Saunas have been used for thousands of years. History and literature contain many references to steam baths in ancient Rome.

Improved Blood Circulation

• Whether you use a dry sauna or a wet sauna, which is similar to a steam bath, the high temperatures of a sauna affect the body in many ways. A quick spike in skin temperature and a 30% increase in heart rate are common. As the temperature of the skin increases, blood moves into skin capillaries.

Weight Loss

• Sitting in a sauna is equivalent to moderate exercise. Sitting in a sauna for 10 to 15 minutes burns around 300 calories. Sauna use, when combined with proper diet and exercise, is a good way to maintain a healthy weight. In addition, the profuse sweating of a sauna session can help temporarily reduce water weight.

Skin Cleansing

• Saunas are very good for cleansing the skin. The profuse sweating generated by the heat of a dry sauna or the heat and humidity of a wet sauna do a deeper cleaning of skin pores than simply showering. To use a sauna most effectively as a skin cleanser, take a very quick ice-cold shower to close skin pores before taking a post-sauna shower.

Physical Relaxation

• Saunas are also good for physical relaxation. The nature of sitting in a sauna is relaxing on its own. The heat of the sauna helps to relieve tired and sore muscles. A sauna's heat and humidity are also good for relieving joint aches and pains.

Mental Relaxation

• The combination of physical relaxation and heat usually result in mental relaxation. Many people take regular saunas as an antidote to the stress of work and daily life. Many people increase the effectiveness of a sauna's relaxation by spending several sessions in a sauna interspersed with cool or cold baths or rinses.

Sauna Cautions

• Staying in a sauna more than 15 to 20 minutes can cause a dangerous increase in body temperature. Many people will stay in for a period of time, then come out for a cool down period. Then, they will re-enter the sauna. People with heart disease, high blood pressure or low blood pressure should consult a doctor before using a sauna because the increase in heart rate could be dangerous. Women who are pregnant should also talk to their doctor before using a sauna.