Okay, before you throw tomatoes, I know it’s hot, and hanging out in a hotter place as opposed to poolside while sipping pina-coladas is the last thing on your mind. But hear me out. Infrared saunas are a legit game changing experience.
I gotta admit, I initially thought an infrared sauna was some type of tanning bed however after a little research, I found out that they are sort of like a steam bath but not really. Infrared saunas are hotter with dry heat, making them more breathable and a lot less humid.
“A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms your body. An infrared sauna uses light to create heat that directly raises your body-temperature without warming the air around you.”
– Mayo Clinic
Back then, saunas were used by farmers to de-stress after a long day’s work and as the years have gone by, we now know that saunas do a lot more than de-stressing.
Houston’s Thai Massage and Day Spa is among the few that offer the infrared sauna experience. A mid-week daytime appointment is always my favorite—I pretty much have the place to myself. The sessions usually last 30 minutes although it’s easy to work up a good sweat in 20-minutes. My extra-self prefers 45 minutes because in my crazy mind, I need to sweat it all out. Either way, the benefits are mind-blowing.
Sweating is one of the ways the body removes toxins and a sauna is the perfect place to break a sweat. Your heart rate is also faster while you’re in there, which means that the body’s metabolism is going to speed up and you’re going to burn calories.
Using a sauna regularly can improve your performance during endurance. This is because the body eventually increases its heat tolerance threshold, which in turn helps to maintain the body’s energy levels for a long period of time.
And finally, saunas greatly improve the appearance of skin. Heat causes increased blood flow to skin making it produce newer skin cells.
I’ve done a few sessions so far and I can tell you that I feel a sense of energized relaxation. I know that sounds crazy but again, hear a sis out. It’s a feeling of being well rested, under no pressure and at the same time, alert and sharp—kind of like a mind and body declutter. Another plus is that my skin looks and feels great for the next few days after every session. Try it…and thank me later.
