Infared Saunas: Bring on the Heat

Until recently, I had this image of a sauna in my head that was entirely based on movies and cartoons. Something like this…

When I was invited to give Purify a try, I was blown away by the modern design of the building and the technology behind the infrared sauna experience. I went in after a night of umm, well, a night of me staying up until 3 a.m. I was nervous, but the moment my friend and I stepped inside and checked in, we felt at ease. By the end, we felt completely rejuvenated. I can only imagine the impact continued use of an infrared sauna could have on a person.

Did we sweat? Yes. But it wasn’t an overwhelming feeling. It was very gradual. That’s partly because an infrared sauna heat penetrates into your body and raises your internal body temperature, compared to a traditional sauna that heats the external air around you. The fact that we had control also made the experience more enjoyable. We could adjust the temperature and could step in and out whenever we wanted. Thanks, electricity!

So, why make time to go to the sauna?

Detoxification: Infrared heat helps release built up toxins in the body. If you’ve done hot yoga, you know how important detoxing the body is. It can help relieve symptoms of a variety of illnesses including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and even eczema. This last one is a biggy for me. I suffer from eczema and it’s especially harsh during the winter. The sweating process helps you shed dead skin cells and draw your skin’s own natural nutrients to the surface. Evidence shows it can also help repair scarring and improve elasticity.

Muscle Recovery: Getting serious about your workouts? The deep heat of an infrared sauna helps blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscle so they recover faster.

Cardio Health and Weight Loss: This one is another important benefit for me. I need more cardio in my life, but hate anything that so much as looks like running. In an infrared sauna, your body is actually hard at work producing sweat, pumping blood, and burning calories. As your body increases sweat production to cool itself, your heart will work harder to pump blood at a greater rate to boost circulation. This increase in your metabolism will burn calories.

Relaxation and Improved Sleep: Taking 45 minutes for yourself to just sit and be has benefits all its own. Add an infrared sauna and you’ve got some serious zen going on. Bring a book or headphones and your favorite new album. Or, you can simply meditate; try one of these guided meditation apps. Saunas also increase serotonin, a powerful hormone associated with relaxation and sleep. You are more likely to experience a deeper, more restful sleep after you visit Purify.

Don’t forget about the lights: You’ll notice a remote and a sheet of the different colors of light when you enter your sauna. Look it over. Each color provides different health benefits. We had fun trying them all on for size. Learn more about chromotherapy.