Infrared Sauna: The Newest Way to Get Hot & Healthy

First, we froze ourselves in the name of health with Cryotherapy. Now, it’s the opposite, and personally, I’m on board. I did give Cryotherapy a fair shot and believe it has honest and real benefits for those who do it religiously. But in all honesty, I HATE to be cold. Plain and simple. Every time I’d go for one of those 3-minute sessions, the anxiety induced by the freezing chamber overshadowed the elation I felt afterward.

That’s why when I starting hearing about the newest fad in the wellness world, infrared saunas, I was intrigued. Many of the same, incredible benefits offered by cryotherapy, minus the chill? I’m in. When I moved to Austin, I soon heard hype about a new infrared sauna opening, CYL Sauna Studio (The Sweat House), and I was dying to try it out.

When you walk in, The Sweat House feels like a chic workout studio and sleek spa combined. You spend a 30-minute session in one of their individual chambers, and it doesn’t take long to feel the burn. I was truly shocked at how much I sweat in that short period of time. I won’t lie, it took me a few sessions to get totally used to the heat, and I suggest bringing headphones to listen to a great podcast, book or music to pass the time! Or you can enjoy the spa music pumped into your room and take much-needed snooze. Every time, I leave feeling both relaxed and as if I just finished a hardcore cardio session–truly the best of both worlds.

While a typical sauna likewise causes you to sweat from the high temperature, infrared saunas have 7 times more detoxifying power. Along with this, infrared saunas can relieve pain, rejuvenate skin, improve your circulation (which aids wound healing), promote weight loss and reduce blood pressure. Because of this, using infrared saunas has become highly recommended by physicians for everything from workout recovery to stress relief and healing of chronic diseases. Learn more here.

But why you might ask. Well, unlike traditional saunas, these machines emit Far infrared light rays, which cannot be seen by the human eye but are felt as heat. These “Vital Rays” are seen to have regenerative effects on the human body as they penetrate deep into tissue, joints and muscles. And of course, one of the most obvious benefits of sweating is the detoxification. We’re exposed to an enormous number of chemicals daily, and this is a fantastic way to rid your body of many harmful pollutants.

I by no means believe this is a fix-all cure for every ailment, but I do find it is a wonderful addition to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Paired with eating organic, whole foods, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep, infrared saunas can be a wonderful addition to your routine.

For those who go regularly, the benefits truly speak for themselves. Every time I have a session, I leave sweatier, more relaxed and rejuvenated than I came in. For those local to Austin, I highly recommend giving The Sweat House a shot. And if not, do a little research on where you can take advantage of this worthwhile wellness trend at a studio in your area!