Why Infrared Sauna Therapy Is The Perfect Addition To Your Self-Care Routine

Juggling life’s stresses can take a toll on the mind and body. Ensuring you set aside time to relax and rejuvenate after a difficult week is crucial for your overall well-being, yet many people struggle to fit this into their busy schedules. Thankfully, there’s a wellness solution that helps you to recharge your mental batteries, cleanse your body of toxins, and relieve aches and pains all in one: infrared sauna therapy.

Infrared saunas provide a range of health benefits and promote deep relaxation, yet don’t take hours out of your day. Let’s take a closer look at why incorporating this game-changing wellness solution into your self-care routine can make a world of difference to your physical and mental health.

What Is Infrared Sauna Therapy?

For centuries, people have used saunas to treat a range of bodily ailments. Traditional saunas work by raising the temperature of the air around you, usually by using an electric heater or wood-burning stove to heat rocks to very high temperatures. Water is often splashed over these rocks to create steam and further increase the sauna temperature. In contrast, infrared saunas heat the body directly through light emitted from infrared lamps.

Many people prefer infrared saunas to traditional saunas because they are effective at lower temperatures. Traditional saunas may be between 150°F and 195°F, infrared saunas work at lower temperatures – usually around 130°F – because they heat the body directly. This makes the sauna experience more enjoyable for those who struggle to tolerate the high temperatures and stuffiness of traditional saunas. Because different wavelengths of light are emitted from infrared lamps, infrared sauna therapy is also able to target multiple layers of body tissue simultaneously, delivering a wide range of health benefits in a single session.

A Whole-Body Boost

Looking after your health is an important part of self-care, yet it often falls by the wayside. When you need to prioritize self-care but are short on time, a session in an infrared sauna is the ideal treatment for you. Simply by raising the body temperature for a short while (a typical session is about 20-30 minutes), infrared saunas provide several health benefits, especially when used regularly.

Improves cardiovascular health and circulation

As infrared saunas raise the temperature of the body, the heart rate increases. This causes the heart to work harder, mimicking the effect of moderate exercise and helping to lower blood pressure over time. The heat also causes the blood vessels to dilate, resulting in improved circulation of oxygenated blood around the body. In turn, this promotes faster wound healing and helps the muscles to recover more quickly after a workout.

Reduces inflammation and promotes pain relief

As oxygenated blood reaches the body’s tissues in higher volumes during infrared sauna therapy, it also helps to reduce inflammation in the joints and muscles, easing tension and discomfort. Since high stress levels are associated with an increase in the body’s inflammatory response, sauna therapy also helps to reduce inflammation by providing deep relaxation.

Supports the immune system

Many people report that regular sauna use strengthens their immune systems, reducing the frequency with which they fall ill with the flu or common cold. This may be a result of sauna therapy’s stress-relieving qualities, as high stress levels lead to compromised immune system functioning.

Assists with weight management

By raising the heart rate, sauna therapy is comparable to a moderately-paced walk. Over time, regular sauna use can increase the metabolism and support weight loss. Although sauna use is not a replacement for exercise, it can provide a valuable complement to your existing weight loss efforts.

A Mental Rejuvenation

There’s nothing quite like basking in the warm glow of an infrared sauna lamp in a calm, soothing environment. Infrared sauna therapy promotes mental well-being and is an accessible and convenient way to practice self-care. It’s no coincidence that the home of the sauna – Finland – is also the world’s happiest nation!

Deep relaxation

Saunas are a go-to treatment option for those seeking deep relaxation without spending hours on the massage table or at a spa. Infrared saunas deeply heat and relax the muscles, calming the mind and lowering stress levels in turn.

Improved sleep quality

As a result of the deep bodily relaxation it promotes, regular sauna use also improves sleep quality. Ensuring that you have not just enough sleep every night, but that you are enjoying good quality sleep – that is, you are falling asleep quickly and sleeping undisturbed throughout the night – is an important element of mental well-being. When you are properly rested, you enjoy improved mood and cognitive functioning and are in a better position to face the challenges of a new day calmly and positively.

A sanctuary of your own

For some, it’s not just the relaxing, peaceful environment of the sauna that helps to promote their mental well-being, but simply the fact that they are carving out a few minutes from their schedules for some much-needed alone time. Infrared sauna therapy allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of life just for a little while, giving you a chance to recharge your batteries before you tackle the next part of your day.

A Salve For Dull, Congested Skin

If there weren’t already enough benefits to infrared sauna therapy, it is also an excellent way to promote skin health. As your body temperature increases, you will begin to sweat (a lot!) This helps the body to flush out toxins and expel dirt, oil, bacteria and dead cells from your pores, leaving your skin looking clear, bright and healthy. As with any light therapy, infrared lamp saunas can also help to stimulate collagen production, resulting in firmer, plumper skin over time. If the stress of daily life has left you with dull, tired-looking skin, a few minutes in the sauna goes a long way!

Exceptional Infrared Sauna Therapy Services In Oak Park, IL

There’s no better way to look after both mind and body than by practicing regular infrared sauna use. Incorporating this time-tested wellness solution into your self-care routine will leave you feeling healthier, calmer, and ready to tackle life’s challenges with renewed enthusiasm and vigor.

To experience the incredible health benefits this treatment offers, look no further than Restorative Medspa. Our infrared sauna therapy services are delivered in a tranquil environment under the guidance of our experienced aesthetic physician, Dr Asma Ghafoor.

Contact us today at 630-441-4160 to book your first sauna session or find out more about our membership program.