Infrared Saunas: Fantastic For The Health AND Well-Being
Different types of sauna have been used for many decades, and in many various cultures separated in time with varying levels of tradition and ritual. Traditionally, sauna therapy, however, isn’t as popular in the United States of America where it is mostly utilized by the health conscious and some of the Finnish that have made their home here.
The far infrared sauna is a popular, new type of convenient and relatively inexpensive sauna that instead of heating up the body indirectly by warming the air surrounding your body, or creating some sort of water vapor or steam, the far infrared spectrum sauna heats objects by emitting radiant far infrared light which converts into heat upon contact with your flesh. These kinds of saunas are very convenient to have inside a residency, because they don’t require the dangerous electrical air conduction heaters found in many of the last generation varieties of sauna.
Infrared sauna are excellent to use immediately after a workout of any type, whether that is a cardiovascular workout, or even pumping iron. The sauna assists in getting the heart pumping, and dilates the many blood vessels bringing blood to the surface tissues. One scientific study performed on animals in the lab even discovered that exposing said animals to hyperthermic (heatered) conditions after causing them to exercise under weight the animals put on more muscle mass than the unheated animals did. It is very likely indeed then that a similar effect can be experienced in humans.
Sauna use also induces a powerful rush of endorphins after a sauna session that can improve mood, and feelings of well-being. Far infrared sauna therapy, much like exercise itself, triggers the same feel good chemicals that can help prevent feelings of depression, and help you to be your most effective self. One might argue that if men and women were made aware of this fact there might not be be such a huge demand for anti-depressants as there is today. Sauna therapy, in one study, was demonstrated to even help anorexics beat their anorexia and regain their appetite.
Sauna therapy has existed for a century in its current form. In both Finland and Russia there is such a rich tradition of sauna use that myth and legend abound. There is even a myth of a gnome which lives inside of and guards the sauna room from burning exists in both countries. In Finland there is a folk saying that translates to “you should sit in the sauna as in a church.” This folk saying means that individuals should give the sauna with honor, and perhaps, allow it to be a place of peace which it is naturally intended to be.