The Real, Surprising Benefits of Sauna Bathing
The word ‘sauna’ is an ancient word which refers to the Finnish bath and to the bathhouse itself. In Finland, sauna bathing is considered a part of a healthy lifestyle. Even until today, nearly all Finnish households have an average of one sauna bath where family members can cleanse their body, mind and spirit.
Even though sauna baths are not common in British households, large gyms and fitness centres often have them as part of their ‘health’ and ‘wellness’ services. If you haven’t tried sauna bathing yet, now is the time to experience it. From relaxing your mind and body to improving your cardiovascular health, this ‘hot’ bathing experience offers plenty of benefits that will surprise you!
It helps detoxify your body.
One way for our body to eliminate toxins and other free radicals that could damage our system is through perspiration. But with the cold weather and the increasingly sedentary lifestyles of people (couple with antiperspirant use), sweating is often hampered. Sauna bathing addresses this problem. Temperatures in sauna baths range from 60 to 100°C or 140 to 212°F. It’s warm enough to increase the temperature of our body’s core and activate our millions of sweat glands. It’s true that sweat is composed of 99% water. But the remaining 1% contains harmful chemicals and toxins like mercury, copper, nickel and lead. You surely want to get rid of them.
It relieves stress and boosts your mood.
What could be a better way to spend your rest days than pampering yourself? If you’re looking for a different way to relax and recharge your batteries, consider sauna bathing. When our bodies are exposed to heat, they release endorphins – the mood-enhancing chemicals that have analgesic and tranquilising properties. Add the fact that sauna bathing offers a quiet and serene environment. It will greatly help you relax. In Finland, patients are advised to use sauna to relieve stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia.
It’s good for your heart.
Want to exercise your heart without moving? Sauna does the trick for you. Research has shown that on average, the human heart rate can accelerate from 60-70 beats per minute to 110-120 beats per minute. These rapid changes exercise the heart muscles and boost cardiac output, which in turn, promote cardiovascular health. Another reason why it’s good for your heart is because sauna bathing also helps enhance blood flow.
It eases pain.
When your body’s core temperature rises, your blood vessels dilate and circulation increases. This triggers your system’s natural healing processes, thereby soothing aches and pain in joints and muscles, and accelerating healing of bruises and cuts. Sauna bathing is also beneficial for people who work out. It has been shown that using sauna recovery for just 10 minutes can already speed up the body’s recovery rate from strenuous exercise.
Making the Most from Your Sauna Session
If you’re new to sauna bathing, start with shorter sessions and gradually lengthen the time you spend inside the bathhouse. Take note that the temperature inside rises, so the longer you sit in the sauna room, the hotter it gets. Allow yourself to enjoy a leisurely sauna session and determine when sauna bathing is most beneficial for you. There’s no recommended schedule for sauna. Some prefer using it in the morning to warm up their day whilst others do it in the evening as a reward for a long, tiring workday. Some people take sauna baths after a hardcore workout or sport activity.
Avoid eating too much before taking a sauna bath. If you have eaten a large meal, wait for at least an hour before going inside the bathhouse. And make sure you drink plenty of water as excessive sweating may cause dehydration. Do not drink alcoholic beverages as they, too, can promote dehydration.
In sauna bathing, the little you wear, the better. For a more enjoyable bath experience, wear your best swimsuit! Clothing will just reduce the effectiveness of your sauna session, but a towel to sit on can greatly help and make sauna bathing comfortable. Avoid wearing jewelleries inside as they may get too hot and burn your skin.
Some people apply honey and salt to their skin before entering the sauna room because they believe it can maximise the detoxifying benefits of sauna. Others use just lotion. Whatever you are applying before venturing in the sauna, don’t forget to apply generous amount of moisturiser on your skin after leaving the bathhouse.
Taking shower before using the sauna will help wash away the dirt and oil from your skin. Taking shower during the session helps cool you down whenever you need to. You also want to take shower after using the sauna to rehydrate. Better, jump into the swimming pool!
And lastly, consider sauna bathing with your partner or friends! You don’t have to be alone in the sauna room. The more, the merrier!
Have you tried using sauna? Did you enjoy it? What were the health benefits you experienced? We’d love to hear from you. Share your comment below.
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