Sweating In Your Infrared Sauna

A sauna is a small room that is heated to temperatures high enough to induce heavy sweating. The old style saunas heat the air either from a wood stove or by heating rocks which radiate heat into the sauna. The sweating process removes toxins from the body, increases blood flow, relaxes muscles, and burns calories.

A dry sauna is heat only, no steam, and can be endured at higher temperatures than a wet sauna. Dry saunas can reach temperatures near 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

A wet sauna is also known as a steam sauna. A little water is splashed onto the hot rocks or other heat source to create a burst of steam that increases humidity and intensifies the effect of the heat. This effect is similar to how a 90-degree day with 60% humidity feels much hotter than the same day with only 10% humidity. In a dry heat - or a dry sauna - sweat evaporates and cools the skin, so higher ambient temperatures are more tolerable than in humid conditions where evaporation is hindered. In order to understand how you will improve sweating in your infrared sauna, let's first take a better look at what it actually is.

What is an Infrared Sauna?

Infrared light is one type of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum (or light spectrum.) On one side of infrared waves are gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet rays, and visible light. On the other side of infrared waves are microwaves, UHF and VHF waves (think television before cable), and radio waves.

Within the specific wavelength of infrared waves (which is about .7 to 1000 microns) are near infrared waves (.7 - 1.5 microns), medium infrared waves (1.5 - 5 microns) and far infrared waves (5 - 1000 microns).

Near infrared is what we use in television remote controls. Far infrared is felt as heat and is able to penetrate 1.5 to 3 inches into our bodies. This deep penetrating heat is what makes an infrared sauna preferable to many people over wet or dry saunas.

Infrared saunas use one of two types of infrared heaters, either ceramic or carbon fiber. A ceramic heater is a ceramic rod that emits infrared energy. You might even have a ceramic space heater in your home or office. It heats whatever or whoever it's directed at more than it heats the air in the room.

A carbon fiber heater is a very thin (about 1 millimeter) film and covers a greater area than ceramic rods.

There are pros and cons to both ceramic and carbon fiber heaters, but both are beneficial to health and relaxation when used to increase sweating in your infrared sauna.

Benefits of an Infrared Sauna

Our bodies are assaulted by more toxins today than ever. We're mired in all kinds of pollution we're aware of, like car exhaust, but even more invisible toxins are all around us:

• When fabric is dyed, color fastening chemicals are used to keep the dye from washing out. Some of these fasteners have heavy metals in them.
• Fire retardants are in clothing and many other fabrics and products all around our houses.
• Formaldehyde (think embalming fluid) is in our carpet along with about a dozen other chemicals known to cause cancer.
• Cleaning products like soap, shampoo and bacteria-killing counter wipes are full of toxic chemicals.

This list of daily toxins we encounter is huge, but you get the idea.

These toxins are stored throughout our body. Some are tucked into fat cells, some stay in the liver, and some even are in our brain cells.

The heaters cause heavy sweating in your infrared sauna, which induces the removal of toxins. And because infrared heat is said to penetrate deep into our bodies, it stirs up cells to release toxins unlike a traditional sauna can. The deep heat penetration gets right at injured or aching muscles and joints to promote healing, whereas dry saunas or heating pads heat the skin's surface.

Another benefit to sweating in your infrared sauna is that the infrared waves kill bacteria, even the bacteria in acne, so acne sufferers may well be able to clear up their skin through using an infrared sauna.

Infrared saunas may be easier for some people to tolerate than wet or dry saunas. Infrared saunas operate at about 110 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit, where a dry sauna will near 200 degrees.

Sitting in a sauna increases blood flow, increases metabolism, and burns about 300 calories per hour. Maybe it's the increased blood flow taking more oxygen to our brain and other cells, or maybe it's just the warmth of the heat, but saunas are relaxing, letting stress melt away and leaving us in a better state of mind.

Finally, after a sauna and a shower, the skin is left noticeably cleansed and moisturized, more so than by showering alone without a sauna first.

Now that you know the benefits of an infrared sauna...

• Eliminating toxins from your body
• Promoting healing of joints and muscles
• Clearing up acne
• Increasing blood flow and metabolism
• Burning calories
• Cleansing skin
• Relaxing your mind and body

…what are you waiting for?

Infrared Sauna Buying Guide

Interested in the benefits of sweating in your infrared sauna? A sauna is a financial investment and an investment in your health, so you want to make the wisest decision the first time. After all, it's not like you can easily return a sauna if it's not to your liking.

So, take your time, do lots of research, and ask lots of questions. We've created an infrared sauna buying guide to help you make the most informed sauna buying decision.

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