Some Health Club members have questioned the lower ambient temperature in the new Infrared saunas and expressed concerns that they don’t get hot enough.  While they don’t heat the room to the same high temperature as the old saunas, they heat your body differently, but not less, and actually have several health benefits.

Those members who are accustomed to the old type of sauna will have to give the new sauna a chance. Members who could not tolerate high room temperatures in the old sauna will be able to use the new sauna, without overheating your body.

Infrared saunas work differently than traditional saunas by using radiant energy to heat the body, but not the room.  Infrared saunas use heaters inside the cabin that emit the same type of rays the sunlight does to heat the body, but they do not include any harmful UV rays. They heat your body up faster, even though they’re a lower temperature than traditional saunas. This makes you actually release more sweat. People who can’t handle the 180-200ºF air temperature of a traditional sauna can still reap the benefits.

Infrared saunas heat the body directly at a lower room temperature (120-140F) than traditional saunas. As infrared heat penetrates more deeply than warmed air, users develop a more vigorous sweat at a lower temperature than they would in traditional saunas. The result is deeper tissue penetration. In the infrared sauna, the body perspires and receives all of the healthy benefits but avoids the harmful and extremely hot air and discomfort of a traditional sauna.  You can safely and comfortably stay in the infrared sauna longer.

The pros, in a nutshell:

• In the infrared sauna, the body perspires and receives all the healthy benefits but avoids the harmful and extremely hot air of a traditional sauna. Infrared waves penetrate deep into your body for a deep heating action which allows for the body to activate the sweat glands.

• Sweating is one of the body’s most natural ways to eliminate toxins, making it a crucial part of detoxification. When compared to traditional saunas, infrared saunas allow you to eliminate about seven times more toxins. One of the most efficient and healthy way to remove unwanted chemicals from your body is through the process of sweating, which allows the pores in your skin to open and expel wastes and toxins. Detoxification is important because it strengthens the body’s immune system and helps the body’s biochemical processes function efficiently so that you are better able to digest the nutrients in your foods.

• The heat generated by an infrared sauna will cause your core temperature to increase, which can also lead to an increased heart rate.  When your body has to work harder to lower your core temperature or keep up with an increased heart rate, your body will burn more calories, resulting in weight loss. A 30-minute infrared sauna session could burn roughly 500 calories.

• The heat that is distributed

throughout the entire body during an infrared sauna session produces dilation in peripheral blood vessels similar to that seen during exercise. As blood vessels expand in an attempt to cool the body down, circulation to the extremities is markedly improved.

• Infrared sauna technology can help purify your skin by eliminating toxins from your pores and increasing circulation, resulting in clearer, softer, and healthier-looking skin.

People often ask how long to stay in an infrared sauna.  Infrared saunas definitely have their benefits, but to be able to take advantage of those benefits you’ll need to know how to use the saunas properly. One of the most important factors involves how your body is reacting to the sauna session. Always listen to what your body is telling you, because you don’t want to overdo things by staying too long in an infrared sauna.

The duration of the infrared sauna sessions your body can tolerate will gradually increase as you become accustomed to the sauna experience. An average infrared sauna session lasts between 25 and 35 minutes, but some people like to extend their sessions to 45 minutes or even an hour. However, no matter how acclimated you are to infrared sauna sessions or what kind of physical condition you’re in, you should never let your sessions last longer than 60 minutes.

If you’re ill or you’re experiencing some other kind of health issue, you’ll need to be more careful with your infrared sauna sessions. People with health issues should always obtain their physician’s approval before taking any infrared sauna sessions.

We hope this explanation will help you understand the benefits of the new saunas and encourage more members to use them.

—

Ken Anderson chairs the Health Club Committee