Relaxing in an Infrared Sauna

What about relaxing in an infrared sauna?

Until fairly recently, most saunas were located in health clubs and spas - unless you happened to live in Finland, where a large majority of homes have long sported their own. Back in those days, many people joined health clubs or went to the spa simply to luxuriate and enjoy the stress-reducing, relaxing experience saunas always provide.

Fortunately, things are different nowadays, thanks to the advent of infrared saunas. Infrared saunas have made it unnecessary to go to a gym, health club or day spa just to enjoy the pleasingly warm, relaxing atmosphere of a sauna. Infrared saunas are easy to install in the home (much easier and less expensive than a traditional steam sauna) and a wide range of far and near infrared sauna models are available for home use.

Relaxing, soothing warmth

There's nothing quite as relaxing as feeling the pleasant warmth of a sauna on your skin, whether you're alone or part of a small group of family members or friends. And, when you are relaxing in an infrared sauna, you'll almost be able to feel the stress slowly seeping out of your body. All in all, relaxing in an infrared sauna is a wonderful experience. In fact, it can be a little like being in your own slice of heaven.

Their physiological effects partially explain why saunas are so relaxing. The sauna's heat causes your blood vessels to dilate and your blood pressure to drop. To compensate for your lowered blood pressure, your heart will start pumping faster and more efficiently, which produces an effect similar to that of a low-impact, mild cardiovascular workout. And, the increased blood flow and oxygenation you'll enjoy because of your more efficiently beating heart will cause your muscles to relax. In short, the relaxation furnished by a sauna is both mental and physical.

Well, all of the above describes the relaxing effects of spending some time inside a traditional steam sauna. But what you might not realize is that relaxing in an infrared sauna can be even more enjoyable. And, because infrared saunas are so much easier to install in your home, you don't need to go to a health club or day spa to get in some pleasant, relaxing "me time."

Milder heat

For many people, relaxing in an infrared sauna furnishes an even more wonderful experience than steam saunas, because they provide the pleasant warmth of the sun (without the damaging ultraviolet rays, of course!) in a much dryer atmosphere than a traditional steam sauna. For health reasons, some people find it difficult to breathe the hot, humid air in a steam sauna. Those folks are unable to stay in a steam sauna long enough to really feel any benefits. And, how relaxing could it be if you're not able to breathe freely and comfortably? That's not an issue at all with infrared saunas because they don't use any steam at all. The air inside an infrared sauna cabin is no more hot or humid than the air in the room outside. The infrared energy warms your skin, but not the air you breathe.

Apart from that, infrared saunas are also known to aid with body detoxification.

But health issues aren't the only reasons why relaxing in an infrared saunas is more enjoyable. Some people would like to read while relaxing in a sauna, but this is made difficult by a traditional sauna's high humidity. In contrast, because the air in an infrared sauna is not humid, you don't need to worry about bringing in your favorite book or magazine. When you're reading in an infrared sauna, the pages will never droop, sag or tear the way they might in a traditional, humid steam sauna.

Other people prefer to relax while listening to the sound of soothing music, which is something you can also do while inside an infrared sauna. In fact, some infrared saunas come with built-in audio systems, and for those that don't, you can often order one as an extra-cost option. Just picture yourself feeling the sauna's pleasant warmth on your skin while enjoying the cabin's soft ambient light, reading a favorite book or listening to soothing music. Or perhaps the sound of a distant waterfall or ocean waves would be just the trick you need to let the sauna's heat relax your tense muscles and help your stress slide gently away.

No matter how you like to relax, there's no question that spending some time in an infrared sauna is a great way to do it. It's also the perfect way to prepare for bedtime. Relaxing your body and mind can help you get the energizing sleep so many of us need in today's stressful world.

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