What Is a Far Infrared Sauna—And How Can It Benefit You?
From a stronger immune system to clearer skin, here’s how a far infrared sauna can benefit you—and why it’s different from a traditional sauna.
Picture the sauna or steam room at your gym. It’s nice in theory, but once you step inside you find that it’s crowded, hot, and humid as a summer day in Louisiana. Conversely, a far infrared sauna has all of the things you love about a traditional sauna—the warm relaxation after a hard workout or just a hard day—plus incredible benefits for your body and your mind.
So what exactly is a far infrared sauna? True to its name, a far infrared sauna uses infrared light (the band in the spectrum of light that warms you), to penetrate your skin, rather than simply heating up the air around you. Unlike traditional saunas, which often use steam from soaked rocks to heat the room (hence the humidity), a far infrared sauna uses light panels for a gentle sauna experience that offers intense benefits while keeping you at a comfortable temperature. Compared to traditional saunas which can reach approximately 180 degrees, far infrared saunas reach about 120-140 degrees. The experience is a lot like lying in the sun on a tropical island—minus the sunburn.
In addition to how good it feels, an infrared sauna also offers a bevy of benefits for your body and mind, including:
Boosts immune system
A far infrared sauna session can increase cell activity in your immune system, making your body more resistant to infection. The effect is similar to your body producing a fever to fight off illness—but much more pleasant.
During a far infrared sauna session, you’ll sweat a lot. That’s your body ridding itself of toxins. In fact, the sweat you produce during a far infrared sauna session contains more toxins and less water than the sweat you’d produce during a traditional sauna experience.
In addition to the immunity boosting power of a far infrared sauna session, you may also lower your blood pressure. According to a 2011 paper in the Alternative Medicine Review that cited several studies from Finland, sauna use can be helpful in improving blood pressure, especially in individuals with hypertension. Regular sauna use has also been linked to lower rates of pneumonia and better cardiovascular health.
Relieves stress
Step into a far infrared sauna and feel your stress melt away. It’s not just the warm temperature, the silence, and the peaceful atmosphere; the heat of the sauna causes your body to release feel-good endorphins. Some sauna users even enjoy meditating during their sessions for added mind-body benefits.
If you struggle with anxiety and depression, sauna use may be the powerful mental health tool you haven’t yet considered. In a 2016 study in JAMA on whole-body hyperthermia (the clinical term for full body exposure to heat) individuals experiencing depression reported prolonged positive effects on their mental health after just one session.
Promotes healthy weight loss
The physical benefit of a gym session meets the relaxation of a spa trip. That's a far infrared sauna session for you. If you’re trying to lose weight, maintain your weight, or just incorporate more cardiovascular-focused activities into a sedentary lifestyle, infrared sauna sessions are an excellent way to do that. A session can burn up to 600 calories. This happens as a result of your core temperature rising and your body working to cool itself. Often referred to as a passive cardio workout, this mimics the effects of a cardiovascular workout.
Helps with post-workout recovery
Whether you’re a marathon runner or a casual gym-goer, a far infrared sauna session can speed up the recovery process by getting deep beneath the surface of the skin to soothe your muscles. One study of ten physically active participants showed that the deep penetration of sauna sessions helped the neuromuscular system recover. Additionally, if you experience chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, regular sauna sessions can give you a better quality of life.
And for yogis—or anyone who wishes they were just a bit more bendy—using a far infrared can literally triple your flexibility.
Improves the appearance of skin
Consider adding far infrared sauna sessions to your skincare routine. Seriously—it can help with everything from blemishes to eczema and even wrinkles and cellulite. Sweating flushes toxins from your pores, therefore unclogging those pores and leading to fewer breakouts. The increased circulation you’ll experience during a session also helps deliver nutrients to the skin. Just be sure to wash your face first and shower after to get rid of bacteria and reap the skin-clarifying benefits.
Experience the infrared difference
Diamond Rolfing & Movement offers a far infrared sauna from Sunlighten, which uses nine patented, medical-grade Solocarbon heaters to give you all of the above and more. To find out more about what you should wear, what you should bring, and other benefits you might enjoy, take a lot at these FAQ’s or book a session to experience infrared sauna for yourself.