Saunas have a long history dating back over 2000 years in Finland. While Finnish men and women would often have weekly sauna sessions, people from all countries around the world have also implemented a regular sauna regimen into their schedule. Not only is it a relaxing experience, but it’s also very therapeutic.

While the most common type of sauna is the ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ sauna where a heating element heats up the room and your body subsequently heats up due to the rise in room temperature, a far infrared sauna has heating elements which emit infrared heat, an invisible spectrum of light which is polar opposite to the harmful ultra-violet light spectrum, which penetrates the skin’s surface of the body and causes the body to internally heat up. If you’ve ever seen the inside of a hospital labour and delivery room, you may have seen an infrared lamp which is used to warm up newborn babies to keep their temperature up – this is similar technology, but instead of a red lamp, far infrared sauna heating elements are made of either ceramic or carbon plates, which emit heat only, not light. (Note: The heating elements in the far infrared sauna at Inspired Life Health Centre are made of the highest quality Japanese ceramics)

We already covered the difference between regular saunas and infrared saunas in a previous article, so if you’d like to find out more of the differences, click here to view that post in a new browser tab/window.

Now, you’re probably wanting to know what the benefits of far infrared sauna therapy are, well here we go!

Pain Relief

Studies have shown that the use of far infrared saunas are very effective in providing pain relief for various conditions from arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and more. The use of infrared sauna therapy is widely used in Japan and Europe as a method of pain relief specifically for arthritis.

Detoxification

Every day we come into contact with pollutants that can harm our body. The generation of sweat can help remove these toxins from our body. Evidence shows that the use of infrared sauna can also be an effective way to remove elements such as cadmium, lead, zinc, nickel, sulfuric acid and cholesterol through sweat.

Improves Skin

The amount of sweat achieved through infrared sauna therapy removes dead skin cells and impurities. Infrared sauna therapy has shown relief for people suffering from acne, eczema, psoriasis and cellulite.

Weight loss

In just a thirty-minute infrared sauna session it is possible to burn 600 or more calories. Making sure to keep yourself hydrated is very important, however. While in the infrared sauna your heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate increase. This is a great way to improve your cardiovascular fitness without stressing other parts of your body.

Athletic Performance

NASA stated that use of infrared saunas was a “passive exercise” ideal for keeping astronauts fit during space flight. As your body tissues become warm your muscles are able to relax, which is beneficial for restoration and healing. Using an infrared sauna before or after a workout can help to prevent injuries while enjoying relaxation.

Immune System

Hyperthermia boosts immune response without overburdening liver and kidney function. Sweat manufactured from the lymph fluid releases toxins through sweat. When toxins are excreted through sweat they are not processed by the kidney and liver. The use of hyperthermia boosts the body’s natural healing response.

Relaxation

Relief for stress and tension. Enjoy our relaxing environment and the quiet atmosphere. Use this time to meditate, read a book, enjoy in solitude or bring one companion.