Chronic stress, whether from a heavy workload or a long daily commute, can take a toll on the body and the mind. Stress has been linked with a wide variety of health issues from sleep problems to heart disease.1
Do you want to feel more relaxed and balanced every day? Here is a little-known secret — spending just a few minutes a day in an infrared sauna is a great way to de-stress and unwind from the daily hassles of life.
What Is An Infrared Sauna?
Infrared sauna therapy has been around since the mid-20th century. Doctors in Japan used these saunas in hospitals to help warm premature babies and speed the healing of wounds. Since then, the use of infrared saunas for personal use has skyrocketed as more and more people have discovered the benefits. Not only do infrared saunas help promote relaxation and stress-relief, but they also help improve sleep and detox the skin.
Infrared Vs. Traditional Saunas
While both traditional and infrared saunas offer a variety of benefits, infrared saunas are more comfortable and safer. Traditional saunas heat the air around you. The extreme heat associated with these saunas can be too much for some people to handle. Instead of heating the air within the enclosure, infrared sauna therapy heats the body directly in the same manner as natural sunlight. This allows the heat to penetrate your body more deeply and is much more comfortable. Users say that being in an infrared sauna feels like being enveloped in a warm, safe cocoon. Medical experts say that infrared saunas may be safer for people with certain conditions — like heart disease — because the body heats up more slowly.2
How Do Infrared Saunas Promote Coping With Stress Naturally?
Infrared saunas promote coping with stress naturally in several ways. Infrared sauna therapy:
- Reduces stress hormones. Cortisol is sometimes called the “stress hormone” because this adrenal glands release this hormone in response to stress. The problem is that overexposure to cortisol disrupts your body’s processes and can result in a variety of consequences including sleep problems and weight gain.3 Infrared sauna therapy reduces the level of cortisol in your body, which helps eliminate stress.4
- Helps you relax. Stress and anxiety are common causes of tight muscles. When you’re under a lot of pressure, you may clench your jaw or your fists without thinking about it. A lot of people carry stress and tension in the shoulders and neck and don’t even realize it. The heat generated from a Sun Stream infrared sauna helps tight muscles loosen. Regular sauna sessions can help relieve tension throughout your body.
- Lessens fatigue. High levels of stress can cause fatigue and tiredness. Infrared sauna therapy can decrease fatigue — leaving you feeling energetic and ready to tackle the world. Researchers in Japan examined the effect of Waon therapy, a type of infrared sauna therapy, on chronic fatigue syndrome. In the study, participants spent 15 minutes in an infrared sauna followed by 30 minutes of resting on a bed outside the sauna room. Participants who underwent sauna therapy experienced a significant decrease in perceived fatigue after the session.5
Are you ready to start enjoying the stress-busting benefits of a Sun Stream Infrared Sauna? If so, then contact us today.
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References:
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/5-ways-to-de-stress-and-help-your-heart
- https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/25/fashion/infrared-saunas-shape-house-higher-dose-sweat-wellness.html
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4493260/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25748743