Infrared Sauna Tips
Read these 30 Infrared Sauna Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Sauna tips and hundreds of other topics.
Benefits of Infrared Saunas Over Hot-Rock Saunas
Since infrared saunas heat the body directly rather than heating the air, many proponents of infrared saunas claim that the heat penetrates the body deeper than the heat of traditional saunas, which use steam. This penetration leads to more sweat, which leads to a greater detoxification experience. It also can promote tissue stimulation, which can aid with problems like arthritis pain and tissue damage.
From a practical standpoint, some brands of infrared saunas can be portable, easier to clean, and quicker to use than traditional saunas. Some benefits of infrared saunas:
• Whereas traditional saunas are installed in a permanent location, infrared saunas can be set up in less than an hour, and then broken down and moved elsewhere.
• Infrared saunas don't mildew, since they don't use steam like traditional saunas
• Some brands of traditional saunas heat up faster (in 15 or so minutes) than traditional saunas (which can take 45 minutes or more)
• Infrared saunas operate at a lower heat than traditional saunas, which can be safer for people with cardiovascular problems – and more comfortable
• Infrared saunas usually use less electricity to heat than traditional saunas, making them cheaper to operate
About Far Infrared Saunas
A far infrared sauna uses far infrared ray radiation to heat the body, unlike traditional saunas that use heated steam. Rather than heating the air (and the air then heating the body), far infrared saunas heat the body directly with infrared light. A heater in the sauna produces radiant heat that in turn warms the skin, much like the light from the sun – but without the harmful UV rays.
Many researchers and manufacturers claim that infrared radiant heat is much safer than UV radiation or atomic radiation, making it more beneficial than these other kinds of heat.
Like with a traditional sauna, infrared saunas cause the user to sweat, which purifies and detoxes the body. Unlike traditional saunas, however, infrared heat penetrates up to an inch and a half into the body, stimulating tissues and resulting in multiple health benefits.
About Infrared Saunas
Unlike traditional saunas that use heated steam, an infrared sauna uses far infrared ray radiation to heat the body. Rather than just heating the air, infrared saunas heat the body directly with infrared light. An infrared heater produces radiant heat that in turn warms the skin, much like the light from the sun – but without the harmful UV rays.
Like with a traditional sauna, infrared saunas cause the user to sweat, which purifies and detoxes the body. Unlike traditional saunas, however, infrared heat penetrates deeper into the body than steam heat -- up to an inch and a half -- stimulating tissues and resulting in multiple health benefits.
Saunas.com offers several brands of infrared sauna rooms from manufacturers such as Polar Sauna, SaunaGen, and The Caatu Series by Sauna Warehouse. Talk to an expert at saunas.com to determine which type of infrared sauna room fits your lifestyle and budget.
The History of Infrared Saunas
Sauna technology has been used throughout history. There is record of the Finns using saunas for religious purposes, to cleanse the spirit and mind, and Native Americans sat in sweat lodges to purify their bodies and minds as well.
Although steam saunas have been around for a long time, far infrared ray technology originated in Japan in the 1960s, by a doctor named Tadashi Ishikowa. Dr. Ishikowa applied for and received a patent for zirconia infrared heaters in 1965, and from there on, infrared technology was used widely in Japan by health care practitioners.
The infrared technology was released to the public in 1979, and infrared saunas began selling in the Unites States in 1981. American researchers have refined and developed the technology further since the saunas have been marketed.
Infrared Saunas vs. Hot Rock Saunas
Since infrared saunas heat the body directly rather than heating the air, the heat may penetrate the body deeper than the heat from traditional saunas that use steam. This deep penetration leads to more sweat, which then leads to a greater detoxification experience. It also can promote tissue stimulation, which can aid with problems like arthritis pain and tissue damage.
From a practical standpoint, some brands of infrared saunas like the Laatu Infrared Sauna Rooms from The Caatu Series by Sauna Warehouse are more portable, easier to clean, and quicker to use than traditional saunas.
None of the infrared saunas available at saunas.com will mildew, since there is no water involved in their heat. An infrared sauna will also heat up quicker, and use a lower heat (105-140 degrees versus 140-190 degrees) than traditional saunas.
Infrared Skin Therapy Infra Therapist
The personal, home sauna, Infra-Therapist allows for luxurious skin therapy. It's far infrared rays penetrate into the body up to 2 inches deep to allow the sebaceous glands to spew their poisons, unlocking pockets of cellulite for renewed skin health and better circulation.
About Infrared Detoxification
All saunas provide detoxification benefits, especially infrared saunas. But why do you need to “detox,” and what does it do?
The environment today exposes you to many heavy metal and other toxic chemicals that your body internalizes, like mercury, carbon dioxide, sodium, and caffeine. Over time, these chemicals build up in the body, mostly in fatty tissues. This storage is called “toxic bio-accumulation,” and can be harmful to your health.
Detoxification is the process of trying to rid your body of as many of these harmful chemicals as possible. One way to remove fat-storage toxins is through heat-stress, which infrared saunas promote. When the cells are heated up, the toxins release from the fat-storage system and enter the lymph fluid. Sweat, produced from the lymph fluid, will then pass the toxins out of the body.
By detoxifying your body and ridding yourself of toxins, you reduce your risk for autoimmune disease, hormonal imbalances, can improve brain function, and help your metabolism.
Far infrared sauna rooms available at saunas.com will help you to detoxify and sweat out bad toxins from your body. Consider models by Polar Spa and the Caatu Series by Sauna Warehouse.
Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas
The infrared sauna rooms at saunas.com offer numerous health benefits. Some of these health benefits include:
• Detoxification. Since infrared saunas make you sweat (some infrared saunas actually make you sweat 2-3 times more than a regular sauna), they help rid the body of heavy metal and other toxic chemicals, such as sodium, nicotine, and cholesterol. Getting rid of these bad elements in your body will improve your circulation
• Calorie burning. The heat in an infrared sauna can burn up to 900 calories in one 30-minute session. Relaxing in a Polar Sauna or SaunaGen infrared sauna room can give great weight loss benefits.
• Pain relief. Since the radiant heat in an infrared sauna directly penetrates the body, it can stimulate tissues that need a boost in infrared rays. Your body internally produces infrared energy to heal itself, so extra infrared heat can make tissues under stress can regenerate faster than normal. This healing results in the relief of headaches, arthritis pain, muscle spasms, and other tissue-related problems.
• Skin corrections. Since the infrared sauna causes the body to sweat, it can sweat out impurities that cause skin problems like acne, psoriasis, and eczema. It also can reduce the look of scars and burns.
• Cancer therapy. Recently, infrared technology has been used to treat cancer patients as an experimental therapy. While researchers are still working on the effectiveness of infrared therapy on cancer, it shows promise as an alternative treatment.
What Infrared Saunas Do For You
Infrared saunas warm your body directly with radiant heat, rather than with heated air, as used in traditional saunas. Some of the benefits of infrared saunas are the same a regular sauna experience, but researchers say there are additional health benefits as well, such as:
Relaxation. The heat in an infrared sauna is natural and relaxing, making it a safe, enjoyable experience.
Sweat. Just like with a traditional sauna, the heat will cause you to sweat. Sweating is a natural and healthy way to get rid of harmful toxins in your body, such as mercury and sulfur dioxide. Infrared sauna proponents claim that infrared saunas actually cause the body to sweat 2-3 times more than a traditional sauna, resulting in higher detoxification.
Tissue stimulation. Infrared heat can penetrate your skin up to an inch and a half deep, stimulating tissue. Tissue stimulation can aid with such things as arthritis pain and tissue damage.
Infrared Saunas For Health and Detoxification
Infrared light is an important energy force that promotes healing - a raising of the white blood cell count. Why is that good? Because more white blood cells mean greater immunity. Greater immunity means greater health and a better quality of life.
Today we're seeing new technologies employing far-infrared energy in health care products an din clinical protocols such as hyperthermic therapies for detoxification and cancer treatment.
Energy medicine is an ancient practice and Chinese health practitioners would use healing touch therapies for improved cell growth, DNA synthesis and protein synthesis in cells. Although these ancient practitioners did not know the technical terms as to why their therapy improved health, they were sure their patients got better.
Yes, the human heat from their touch increased immune defense response in which white blood cells surround and ingested small living things (like bacteria) and cell wastes.
Sauna Installation Small
A small sauna in your home is simple installation with today's sauna kits. And with luxurious infrared radiation, you even have a tool to speed metabolism.
As for infrared's outstanding effect on caloric consumption and weight control, we find that burning from 600 to 2,400 calories in a 30 minute session to be quite routine. The infrared thermal system might then simulate the consumption of energy equal to that expended in a 6 to 9 mile run during only a single session. This would be invaluable for those who don't exercise and those who can't exercise yet want an effective weight control and fitness maintenance program.
How to Care For Your Infrared Sauna
Infrared saunas can last a lifetime, if cared for properly. Follow these simple instructions to care for your infrared sauna:
• When you install your sauna, make sure that all electric circuits and the plug meet the appropriate requirements
• Make sure to shut down the sauna after two hours of continuous use
• Turn off the sauna and unplug the power cable when you're finished with your session
• Do not dry clothes or towels in the sauna
• Don't get the infrared tube wet
• Clean the sauna with a wet cotton towel, and dry with a clean, dry towel
• Do NOT use strong cleaning chemicals on an infrared sauna; it could damage the wood and the layer of protection on the wood
Infrared Technology and Safety
Infrared sauna rooms like the ones from SaunaGen and Polar Sauna are safe, and to some people, are even more comfortable than traditional saunas. The radiant heat in infrared saunas is the same kind of heat that comes from the sun, without the harmful UV rays which burn your skin.
The air in infrared saunas is cooler than in traditional saunas, and you can sit in it for hours and not burn. Infrared heat is so safe that some hospitals use it to warm newborns in nurseries.
To make sure your sauna is as safe as possible, review the UV requirements with your Polar Sauna, SaunaGen, or Caatu Series by Sauna Warehouse infrared sauna room. Also, drink plenty of water to replenish the fluids you lose when sweating in a sauna.
Radiant Heat Sauna
Far-infrared heat follows the same principle as radiant heat saunas: warm the injury site to speed healing. Why is infrared heat better than say, a heating pad? Because the vibrational energy of far-infrared light is unlike that of the heat energy we use for everyday functions, like cooking. Boiling water could actually damage our skin but it doesn't heat internal organs.
Sunlight heats us in a profound way, however, because it contains penetrating far-infrared rays as well as the full range of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum.
I know what you must be thinking - how can I benefit from the sun's infrared rays? I don't live near the equator. Besides, I thought the sun's rays were damaging to my skin. While it's true the sun's rays should be used judiciously, especially by fair-skinned people, the fact remains that infrared radiation promotes health.
Far Infrared Sauna Technology
Far infrared (or radiant) heat technology imitates the sun's healing rays and can now be harnessed to help improve detoxification, up metabolism, increase circulation and immunity through safe, healing far infrared warmth used by NASA and hospitals for their newborns.
Precautions to Take Before Using Infrared Sauna Technology
Infrared saunas are safe and therapeutic. However, to make sure you get the full benefits of infrared sauna, you should follow these guidelines:
• Before you use any (not just infrared) sauna, make sure you ask your doctor if it's safe for you
• Drink plenty of water when using the sauna to keep yourself hydrated
• If you do not feel well at any time while using the sauna, leave immediately
• Sauna use is not a good idea for pregnant women. Check with your doctor before any sauna activity
• Don't use a sauna if you have been drinking or taking drugs
• Build the temperature and duration of you sauna sessions slowly; don't overdo all at once!
• Do not use if you have the following medical conditions: adrenal suppression, acute joint injuries, hemophilia, multiple sclerosis
Infrared/Steam Combination Saunas
Combination infrared/steam rooms give you the option to use the sauna as either a traditional Finnish sauna/steam room, or as an infrared sauna room. These combination saunas include both infrared heaters and traditional steam heaters and allow you to get the deep tissue penetration associated with infrared saunas as well as the relaxation of steam heat.
Different sizes and models of the combination steam rooms are available. Both Polar Sauna and the Caatu Series offer generous 84” ceilings, “Gentle Balance” control for constant infrared emission, and even the option to include a stereo with heat-resistant speakers.
How Infrared Saunas Help Your Body
Infrared saunas warm your body directly with radiant heat, rather than with heated or steamy air as in traditional saunas. With far infrared sauna rooms from saunas.com, you get all the benefits of a regular sauna experience, plus some additional health benefits.
An infrared sauna room, like the SaunaGen Far Infrared Sauna Room, can aid you by producing:
• Relaxation. The heat in an infrared sauna is natural and relaxing, making it a safe, enjoyable experience
• Sweat. Just like with a traditional sauna, the heat will cause you to sweat. Sweating is a natural and healthy way to get rid of harmful toxins in your body, such as mercury and sulfur dioxide. An infrared sauna room may cause the body to sweat 2-3 times more than a traditional sauna, resulting in higher detoxification
• Tissue stimulation. Infrared heat can penetrate your skin up to an inch and a half deep, stimulating tissue. Tissue stimulation can aid with such problems as arthritis pain and tissue damage.
Browse the infrared sauna rooms available at saunas.com to find one that fits your lifestyle and your budget.
Caring for an Infrared Sauna
The infrared saunas at saunas.com can last a lifetime, if cared for properly. Follow these simple instructions to care for your infrared sauna:
• When you install your sauna, make sure that all electric circuits and the plug meet the appropriate requirements. For example, the smaller models from Polar Sauna require 120v outlets, while the larger models require 240v hard wire
• Make sure to shut down the sauna after two hours of continuous use
• Turn off the sauna and unplug the power cable when you're finished with your session
• Do not dry clothes or towels in the sauna
• Don't get the infrared tube wet
• Clean the sauna with a wet cotton towel, and dry with a clean, dry towel
• Do NOT use strong cleaning chemicals on an infrared sauna; it could damage the wood and the layer of protection on the wood
Refer to each manufacturer (Polar Sauna, Sauna Warehouse, and SaunaGen) for specific care requirements for their models.
Sauna Home
Sauna home is now available through today's technology. A few companies have captured the essence of this healing energy by creating spruce saunas and smaller wraps for localized healing in specific areas of the body. Some of these spruce saunas have been created using wood that contains no pesticides for better tolerance and detoxification.
Over the past 25 years, Japanese and Chinese researchers and clinicians have done extensive research on infrared treatments and reported many provocative findings. Whole-body infrared therapy has been used for over 80 years by German physicians in an independently developed form.
Among other benefits, whole-body infrared thermal systems make it possible for people in wheelchairs, or those who are otherwise unable to exert themselves, or who won't follow through on an exercising and conditioning program to achieve a cardiovascular training effect. This also allows for more variety in any ongoing exercise program.
Far Infrared Sauna Technology
Far infrared (or radiant) heat technology imitates the sun's healing rays and can now be harnessed to help improve detoxification, up metabolism, increase circulation and immunity through safe, healing far infrared warmth used by NASA and hospitals for their newborns.
What Is Far Infrared Heat?
What exactly is infrared, or radiant heat? No need to worry - it has nothing to do with either ultraviolet radiation (which gives you a sunburn and damages your skin) or atomic radiation (the kind from a nuclear bomb).
Radiant heat is simply a form of energy that heats objects directly through a process called conversion, without having to heat the air in between. Radiant heat is also called infrared energy (IR). Our sun is the principal source of radiant energy that we enjoy daily (some more so than others).
Have you ever been outside on a partly cloudy spring day of about 50 degrees F. and felt quite comfortable until the sun was suddenly obscured by a cloud? Although the air temperature had not had time to drop, you felt chilled, as the cloud would not let the warming infrared rays through to reach you.
The Safety of Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas are safe, and are even said to be more comfortable than traditional saunas. The radiant heat in infrared saunas is the same kind of heat that comes from the sun, without the harmful UV rays which burn your skin.
You can sit in an infrared sauna for hours and not burn, and because the air is cooler than in a steam sauna, you will want to sit in it for hours. Infrared heat is so safe that some hospitals use it to warm newborns in nurseries.
How Infrared Saunas Work
Infrared saunas use far infrared ray radiation to directly heat the body and penetrate the skin. Heaters in the sauna generate radiant heat that warms the body and stimulates body tissue. Infrared sauna rooms usually look just like traditional sauna rooms, but do not produce steam.
The warmth the infrared saunas produce is much like the warmth you feel when sunbathing, but without the UV rays. Since the heat is natural and with no UV, you can spend hours in an infrared sauna but your skin will not burn like it does in the sun.
Infrared saunas help your body to release toxins, which are the root of many medical problems. This release of toxins can make your blood circulate better, can make chronic pain go away, and give you an overall sense of better health.
Infrared sauna rooms from Polar Sauna and Sauna Gen, available at saunas.com, are attractive and produce soothing heat that helps rid you of aches and pains and relax your muscles.
Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas
Proponents of infrared saunas claim that there are numerous health benefits associated with the use of infrared saunas. Some of these health benefits include:
Detoxification. Since infrared saunas make you sweat (some claim 2-3 times more than a regular sauna), they help rid the body of heavy metal and other toxic chemicals, such as sodium, nicotine, and cholesterol. Some of these toxins are carcinogenic, and others clog up your blood and organs, resulting in poorer circulation.
Calorie burning. Some say the heat in an infrared sauna can burn up to 900 calories in one 30-minute session - a mind boggling number. There are weight loss authorities that claim our bodies use fat to dilute toxins, so when the toxins go away, the fat is unnecessary.
Pain relief. Since the radiant heat in an infrared sauna directly penetrates the body, it can stimulate tissues that need a boost in infrared rays. Our bodies internally produce infrared energy to heal themselves, so when extra infrared technology is applied, the tissues under stress can regenerate faster than normal, resulting in the relief of headaches, arthritis pain, muscle spasms, and other tissue-related problems.
Skin corrections. Since the infrared sauna causes the body to sweat, it can sweat out impurities that cause skin problems like acne, psoriasis, and eczema. It also can reduce the look of scars and burns.
Cancer therapy. Recently, infrared technology has been used to treat cancer patients as an experimental therapy. While researchers are still working on the effectiveness of infrared therapy on cancer, it shows promise as an alternative treatment.
About Infrared Detoxification
One of the major benefits of far infrared sauna therapy is detoxification. But why do you need to “detox,” and what does it do?
The environment today exposes you to many heavy metal and other toxic chemicals that your body internalizes, like mercury, carbon dioxide, sodium, and caffeine. Over time, these chemicals build up in the body, stored mostly in fatty tissues. This storage is called “toxic bio-accumulation,” and can be harmful to your health.
Detoxification is the process of trying to rid your body of as many of these harmful chemicals as possible. There are various ways to detoxify your body, and one of the ways to remove fat-storage toxins is through heat-stress, which infrared saunas promote.
When the cells are heated up, the toxins release from the fat-storage system and enter the lymph fluid. Sweat, produced from the lymph fluid, will then pass the toxins out of the body.
By detoxifying your body and ridding yourself of toxins, you reduce your risk for autoimmune disease, hormonal imbalances, can improve brain function (since the brain is mostly made up of fatty tissue, it is a large storage depot for toxins), and help your metabolism.
Cost of an Infrared Sauna
The infrared saunas at saunas.com by Polar Sauna, SaunaGen, and the Caatu Series by Sauna Warehouse are competitively priced and available for a wide range of budgets.
The price for your infrared sauna room will depend on several factors, such as how large you want it to be and what type of layout you want. The Polar Sauna infrared rooms, for example, come in single tier, L-shaped, and U-shaped layouts, accommodating anywhere from a single sauna users to several at a time.
Larger infrared rooms will have more heaters; for example, a U-shaped infrared room from Polar Sauna, which can accommodate up to four bathers, has 13 heaters. The more heaters, the higher the voltage you will need to hook up the sauna; a 13-heater sauna requires a 240 volt hookup.
Talk to the experts at saunas.com to find an infrared sauna to fit just your budget and your lifestyle. You can call for pricing at 800-906-2242.
Cost of Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas will cost varying amounts, ranging from very affordable to top-of-the-line. You need to decide how many people will be using your sauna, how you want it to look, and how much space you have for it.
Personal, portable infrared saunas can be very affordable at prices as low as $300. These are not, however, probably what you picture when you think of a “sauna” – they look more like a zip-up tent with a hole to pop your head through. The benefit of these saunas, other than the cost, is that they're great if you have limited space or will want to move the sauna around frequently.
More traditional-looking saunas can start as low as $1,200, uninstalled, and range in price up to $5,000 or $6,000. The less expensive saunas are usually smaller and designed for only one person at a time, whereas the larger models can accommodate more people and often have benches that you can lie on to enjoy the infrared heat.
If you're in the market for an infrared sauna, you can probably find one to fit just about any budget. Figure out what's best for you and do your research to make sure the model you select is the right fit for you.
How Far Infrared Saunas Work
Unlike traditional saunas, which use steam to heat the air around you, infrared saunas use far infrared ray radiation to directly heat the body and penetrate the skin. Heaters in the sauna (which usually looks like a traditional sauna) generate radiant heat that warms the body and stimulates body tissue.
Infrared saunas produce natural heat – much like the warmth you feel when sunbathing, but without the UV rays. Since the heat is natural and with no UV, you can spend hours in an infrared sauna but your skin will not burn like it does in the sun.
The warmth provided by infrared saunas causes your body to release toxins, which are the root of many medical problems. This release of toxins can make your blood circulate better, chronic pain go away, and give you an overall sense of better health.
Infrared Saunas and Safety Precautions
Infrared saunas available from saunas.com are safe and therapeutic. However, to make sure you get the most out of your sauna experience and practice “safe sauning,” you should follow these guidelines:
• Before you use any (not just infrared) sauna, make sure you ask your doctor if it's safe for you
• Drink plenty of water when using the sauna to keep yourself hydrated
• If you do not feel well at any time while using the sauna, leave immediately
• Do not use when you are pregnant without consulting your doctor
• Don't use a sauna if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Build the temperature and duration of you sauna sessions slowly; don't overdo all at once
• Do not use if you have the following medical conditions: adrenal suppression, acute joint injuries, hemophilia, or multiple sclerosis
If you have concerns about your health and infrared saunas, consult an expert at saunas.com.
