Effects and benefits of sauna bathing
A sauna is not just a social event to warm up your frozen feet and chat with friends. It has a whole host of benefits. Let's take a look at the most compelling ones:
- Detoxifying the body: sauna promotes detoxification of the body by improving blood circulation and speeding up the elimination of toxins through sweat.
- Boosting immunity.
- Cardiovascular support: Sauna lowers blood pressure, which benefits the entire cardiovascular system and improves heart health. In addition, regular sauna use reduces the risk of stroke.
- Better mental well-being: Sauna helps reduce stress and tension, which has a positive effect on mental health. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, which help improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression, especially in the winter months.
- Regeneration of the body: A stay in the sauna is ideal for muscle recovery after physical exertion and for relieving joint pain.
- Improving skin condition: the sauna promotes blood circulation and collagen production - the skin looks younger and more vital.
TIP: Would you like to know even more details about sauna therapy? Head to Sauna World for a drink and a consultation with a sauna therapist who can answer all your questions. Maybe he'll explain the most common sauna mistakes people make.
How often do I go to the sauna?
It is recommended to visit the sauna at least once a week to feel the positive effects of sauna use. It is even better to pop in 2-4 times. But don't try it more often, when you sweat you flush minerals out of your body and if you faced this daily it could deplete your body unnecessarily.
How long to stay in the sauna?
Follow your own feeling and don't force yourself into something you are not comfortable with. Generally 3-4 sauna cycles per visit are recommended. This means warming up and then cooling down in the shower and cooling pool. One such cycle lasts around 10-20 minutes. But start with shorter ones. It's your body, so listen to it.
And what about the sauna in the summer?
Saunas are a year-round affair, you don't have to wait for the winter months. Going to the sauna in the summer will help you to thermoregulate better, which will help you cope with temperature changes and also make you sweat less in normal traffic.
TIP: The summer months are a great time to be outdoors, so how about combining a stay in a tree house with a good dose of sauna and relaxation in the hot tub? You'll be staying in the treetops where there's no electricity, but there's a cedar sauna and hot tub to keep to yourself.
Sauna etiquette and rules - how to behave in the sauna?
A sauna is about relaxation and relaxation - to make sure you and your fellow sauna users enjoy it to the full, it's good to know a few rules of behaviour. What to do and what not to do in the sauna?
- First of all, forget the swimsuit! The only correct option is to go to the sauna without a swimsuit. But you can wrap yourself in a towel or sheet.
- Always put a sheet underneath you too - this protects the sauna surface and yourself.
- Don't forget to take a shower before you go for a good sweat. This will remove sweat, dirt and cosmetics and help keep the sauna tidy.
- Hurry when entering and exiting the sauna. Don't let the heat get to others unnecessarily.
- Another important point is noise. If you don't use a private sauna, keep talking to a minimum - if you can't stand the silence, ideally at least whisper. After all, people go to the sauna to take a sniff, not to listen to other people's gossip.
- Respect the personal space of others. If the sauna is crowded, wait and don't try to squeeze into the few inches of space the other participants have next to you.
- Check the sauna rules. Each sauna may still have its own rules that you should respect. This is the only way to make sauna time a pleasant relaxing experience for everyone involved.
TIP: Do you want to enjoy sauna time alone? Head to a private spa with a Finnish sauna and whirlpool for 4 people, where no stranger will be with you. Ideal as a double date.
What is a Finnish sauna and what are the differences from other saunas?
When you say sauna, most people think of a Finnish sauna - and rightly so. It's a classic that people all over the world have fallen in love with. The Finnish sauna is characterised by its high temperature, which ranges between 80 and 100 °C. But don't let that scare you away! Although it sounds like hell, the low humidity (10-20%) makes the heat pleasant and bearable.
Other types of sauna
You've probably heard the term steam sauna. It's not really a sauna, but it is a steam bath - temperatures are around 30-90°C and humidity between 30-100%. It's great for relieving asthma or frequent bronchitis, and is also popular for rheumatic problems.
A compromise between a steam sauna and a Finnish sauna is the organic sauna. The temperatures are milder, around 50-60 °C, and the humidity is higher than in a Finnish sauna but lower than in a steam sauna.
Other popular types include infrared saunas. Here, infrared radiation is used to heat the body directly without heating the air. The temperature in an infrared sauna is around 40-60 °C, which makes it suitable for people who find it harder to tolerate extreme temperatures. It is also suitable for people with varicose veins, for whom the Finnish sauna is too much of a burden.
Do you want to try all kinds of saunas for yourself?
Stop by for a partner spa ritual, after which you will have a 2-hour access to the sauna world, where you will find 19 different warming rooms.
But you won't find an apisauna that combines the effects of an infrared sauna with bee products. We recommend the experiential apitherapy, where in addition to the sauna you can also enjoy a massage and relaxation on the beehives.
So when are you going to warm up your body and enjoy the benefits of this well-deserved rest?
