Top 11 Health Benefits of Sauna

So much has been said and written on the health benefits of sauna baths. This information is not going away anytime soon as more and more benefits come up every other day. With the busy lifestyle of today, we might not get all the time to relax and feel good while reaping health benefits out of it. This is where saunas come in quite handy, giving us the chance to relax while receiving all the benefits of good health while just sitting there.

Image: Japan Micro Hotels offering Sauna. Photo taken from weburbanist

On top of that, as for the saunas, you do not have to spend hours and hours looking for these health benefits. With a maximum of twenty minutes per session, your body records a significant improvement. Regular, frequent sessions will bring out the benefits of the sauna on your health before you know it.

Health Benefits of Sauna Steam Baths

Feeling good.

Saunas have many advantages, but no other beats the way it makes you feel good. A few minutes of sitting there render your body feeling great, and looking even better. This factor is appreciative of the profuse sweating that you go through in those few minutes you sit there, quiet with your eyes closed.

Stress alleviation.

After a long day at work, you begin to feel stressed out and tired, and all you need is a little sweating to lower the stress hormones in your system. The intense sweating acts by reducing the amount of cortisol in your system, and the result is a feeling of uplift and stress alleviation.

Deep cleansing of the skin.

After a few sessions at the sauna, you will begin to notice a huge difference with your skin. It starts to glow and looks healthy and better than before. This is because the sauna heat reaches deep under your skin and melts out the stubborn fat cells that flow out with the sweat. The more the cells burn, the better your skin looks and feels. Eventually, your pores open up and let in more oxygen to replace the cells, and that is when your skin looks flawless.

Reenergize and rejuvenate the body.

The sauna is an excellent place to relax only for a short time but with many benefits. One such benefit is the way you get more energy and resilience after a sauna session. After a long day in the office or the field, your energy levels are down, and you are just tired. Visiting the sauna for twenty minutes will rid you of all the tiredness and ensure your cells are up and running as soon as you step out. You will feel stronger and ready for the next day.

Saunas promote social activities.

As much as people go to the sauna alone, wrap up, and sit there quietly, there can be another side to the sauna experience. You can go in with friends, family, or even colleagues to enjoy the moment together. Social activities do not have to be about drinking, the merry, or the noise. Sitting there quietly together for that short period will help build your bonds even tighter.

Image: Sauna after Exercise. Photo taken from sunlighten.com

Saunas for burning calories and weight loss.

So much has been said about saunas helping people to lose weight and burn calories. Well, this is as true as it may sound. Even in the gym, the attendant will tell you that the more you sweat, the more weight you lose. If that is the case, then, a sauna is even better at it, because just twenty minutes get you sweating very profusely from all areas. Too much of the steam-induced sweating is not advised, that is why a session only lasts up to twenty minutes at most. Be aware that, extended sauna sessions are harmful as they may dehydrate you and cause dizziness and light-headedness. It is advisable to drink several glasses of water before and after every sauna session.

For better and more restful sleep.

One other very helpful benefit of the sauna is its way of making people rest and sleep deeply after a session. This fact may be appreciative of the fact that saunas lower considerably the amount of cortisol in the system. Saunas also relax the mind and body such that sleep comes naturally and deeply. People who have insomnia and other sleep-deprived conditions get the best out of the twenty minutes in a sauna.

Image: Sauna for Better Sleep. Photo taken from saunaliving.com

Sauna session for better immunity.

 A few sessions at the sauna result in the eventual building of a strong immunity system in your body. The flu and common cold are especially a regular occurrence for anybody with low immunity. As such, the steam heat of the sauna comes in handy, unblocking the nasal path, and relieving all respiratory system infections that come as a result of cold or allergies. Over time of exposure to sauna heat, these symptoms die off.

For a better pre and post-workout experience. 

After a workout in the gym, your muscles feel stretched and tense, and some may sustain a few tears. Ensure you have a few minutes in the sauna after your workout as the heat will ensure your muscles; healing is faster and better. Before working out, enter the sauna to release all the tension in your muscles so that you sustain minimal injuries and tears to your muscles during the workout period.

Boost your cardiovascular system.

Long-term sessions at the sauna reduce considerably cases of cardiac arrest or heart attack as well as unstable blood pressure. Sauna heat stabilizes the blood pressure to minimize any such conditions.

The general appearance is toned.

With good blood circulation, a better immune system, reduced stress, deep sleep, minimal cases of illnesses and infections, and better skin health, your entire appearance will stick out, and you look and feel better.

Image: Benefits of Sauna. Photo taken from Shape Magazine

Conclusion

The health benefits beat all the logic. And now, even better, you can achieve so many health benefits at the sauna, alone, or with friends, family, and colleagues. Ensure you have a cold bath and an excellent post-sauna treatment or essential oils applied to your skin to lock in the benefits and ensure maximum results.