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Types of saunas, benefits and contra-indications

Types of saunas, benefits and contra-indications

Last updated in 07 Apr 2023
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Types of saunas, benefits and contra-indications
Types of saunas, benefits and contra-indications

What is a sauna?

Heat therapies have been and are still used for healing and maintaining an optimal state of wellnessdating back to the time of the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Mayans. The sauna is simply a small or larger room designed specifically to aid the sweating process. What's more, the science behind saunas is scientific, and modern medicine has proven many clinical benefits that are absolutely outstanding.

Different types of saunas

Today, saunas are an everyday part of many cultures, from Swedish Finnish outdoor saunas, to Korean jjimjilbangs, and Japanese sento. The various types of dry and steam (or wet) saunas, as well as the latest infrared saunas, all offer a wealth of health benefits, even after just a few minutes a day of use. Users experience a deep, healthy sweat, generally relieving stress, reduces muscle tension, and gives an overall feeling of relaxation and well-being.

Over the years, different types of dry and wet saunas have been invented, along with the more recent and modern infrared saunas that provide direct heat to the body as opposed to heating the air and room temperature as in other saunas.

Here is an overview to familiarize ourselves with the main types of saunas when we plan to adopt them for a healthier lifestyle. 

∞      Dry saunas are heated by fire, hot stones, gas or electricity

∞      Steam saunas generate steam by applying water to the heating element (also known as a steam bath, hammam - wet sauna where you can also do treatments (ex. hammam ritual)

∞      Infrared saunas uses infrared heaters to emit light that provides radiant heat absorbed by the skin surface

Other types of sauna:

Types of Infrared saunas:

Infrared saunas provide direct heat through infrared light and at lower temperatures than dry and wet saunas that heat the air to increase room temperature.

∞ Infrared saunas nearby

∞ Far infrared (FIR) saunas

∞ Full spectrum infrared saunas

What happens in the body?

Regardless of the type of sauna therapy you choose, and regardless of the level of humidity, the effects on the body are similar, creating a variety of well-documented health benefits such as:

  • release of endorphins, in addition to
  • dilating blood vessels to improve circulation and blood flow.

Depending on how long you use the sauna, you'll see:

  • circulation improvements that are similar to the effects of moderate exercise. 
  • Heart rate can increase to 100 to 150 beats per minute
  • growth hormone release increases by as much as 200 to 300%. 
  • Sauna use can also improve athletic performance and endurance due to this increase in blood circulation.

10 Clinically proven health benefits of sauna use

1. Heat has been shown to have a positive impact on mitochondria, the 'batteries' that power cells, helping the body naturally produce more energy and stay fit.

2. Cell regeneration somehow means slowing down the aging process. And if you're not convinced enough, you can check out a study that was done over 20 years that showed that Finnish men who link two to three sauna sessions a week have a 23% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

3. Everyday exposure to potentially toxic heavy metals through a variety of sources means that even the most careful people can hold toxins in their bodies. Regular ''soaking'' in the sauna helps to eliminate some metals and toxins, such as arsenic, lead and mercury.

4. Lowers blood pressure. The heat of the sauna helps widen blood vessels and improve circulation, which lowers blood pressure.

5. Improved blood flow from hyperthermic conditioning (thermal conditioning) sends more blood to the heart, leading to an increase in plasma and red blood cell volume. This process delivers more oxygen throughout the body, fueling athletic performance.

6. Improves muscle function and recovery. Because more blood flow increases and oxygen is delivered promptly throughout the body, muscles increase in size and muscle fiber tearing is decreased. 

7. Regular sauna use has been shown to:

  • regulate your appetite,
  • increases metabolism, and 
  • improves oxygen utilization,
  • help weight loss by reducing body fat but not muscle loss.

8. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor increases with regular sauna use. It activates the growth of new brain cells, better maintaining existing cells and improving neuroplasticity - the brain's process for forming new neural connections.

9. Boost the immune system. Exposure to the warmth of the sauna stimulates antigen-presenting cells, along with the release of cytokines, and thus stimulates the body's natural immune system.

10. Emotional health and mood are well influenced. When body and brain are healthy, detoxify, and de-stressed, thanks to endorphins, overall mood and emotional health improves.

3 famous SPA treatments that can be done in saunas:

Sauna - Contra-indications

Because of the extreme heat, certain people should avoid using saunas of all types, including pregnant women and those with specific health conditions, for example those with high blood pressure and heart conditions.

Like everything else in life, balance and moderation are essential and of course remember that it is always wise to consult your doctor before starting various sauna treatments.
I wish you good health!

Larisa Marinica

Spa, Yoga & Wellness Specialist

Email: spawellness@yahoo.com

Mobile: 0761101595

FB Page: Wellness 4 People - https://www.facebook.com/Terapiicorporale.SpaSpecialist.Yoga.SpaManagement

Topics:Therapies

Love,

Larisa Marinica

Spa, Yoga & Wellness Specialist

Email: office@desprespa.ro
Types of saunas, benefits and contra-indications
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Larisa Marinica

Larisa Marinica

Spa, Yoga & Wellness Specialist

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