It might make sense to hit your gym's sauna before you get hot and sweaty from your workout. But, timing is everything. The best time to hit the sauna is post-workout. After a grueling session at the gym, the muscles are yearning for some TLC.
In some cases, a pre-workout sauna might alleviate a little joint or muscle stiffness before exercise, but preliminary studies point to greater recovery benefits from post-exercise saunas. “Based on current research, sauna bathing is a possible tool to accelerate recovery and ease muscle soreness,” Ahokas says.
Among other benefits, regular sauna use can help relax muscles, improve blood flow, and bolster skin health. The recommended length of time to spend in a sauna is 15-20 minutes. First-timers should start with five to 10 minutes. People with certain health conditions should not use a sauna.
Research suggests that both saunas and ice baths can be a helpful addition to a post-workout recovery routine. No studies have compared the two recovery methods directly, so it's hard to say which works best.
3 Drawbacks of Using a Sauna After Exercise
You could get dizzy, pass out or get severe muscle cramps. Worst case scenario, you could develop heatstroke, a life-threatening condition caused by your body overheating.
The short answer is that it's generally not recommended to bring your phone into a sauna. The high temperatures and humidity levels can cause damage to your phone's internal components, and the risk of overheating or even explosion is not worth the convenience of having your phone with you.
Saunas themselves do not directly burn fat. The weight loss observed after a sauna session is primarily due to water loss through sweating, which is temporary and regained upon rehydration. With that being said, there are a few ways that saunas can have indirect benefits that may support weight loss or body mass loss.
To maximise detoxification, it's best to use the sauna on an empty stomach or at least a couple of hours after a meal. This allows your body to focus its energy on sweating out toxins rather than digesting food. Morning or late afternoon sauna sessions can be ideal for this purpose.
One of the most common questions we get asked is, "Can I sauna every day?" The short answer is yes, it can be safe for most people to sauna daily. However, it's important to keep a few things in mind, like how long you stay in and any health conditions you might have.
Relax, recover, refresh
Cooling off after the sauna is important because you can catch a cold if you sweat too much. Sauna-goers should leave enough time to cool down before warming up again. If you can, don't have a shower straight after the sauna. It's better for the body if you cool off in the fresh air first.
The rule of 200 suggests making the approximate standard temperature setting of 170-180°F plus 20–30% humidity an effective, health-rich sweat. Infrared cabins, also referred to as 'infrared sauna', uses far, near, and mid-wave infrared radiation to penetrate the body's skin directly and induce heating.
Frequent urination after a sauna is a normal physiological response to the heat and fluid shifts your body experiences. While it may be inconvenient, it's a sign that your kidneys are working effectively to maintain balance.
The sauna is experienced best in your birthday suit, wearing nothing but a smile and a towel around your waist to protect the bench and your privacy. Don't even wear jewelry and glasses. Let your exposed skin sweat freely. Just be clean and dry when you enter.
“Yes, saunas can help clear the skin by promoting sweating, which can flush out toxins and impurities. This process may help reduce blackheads and acne in some people.
While spot reduction is not possible through exercise alone, saunas can play a supportive role in reducing overall body fat percentage, including belly fat. The increased metabolic rate and calorie burn induced by sauna therapy can contribute to a calorie deficit, which is essential for fat loss.
PRO: Saunas increase blood flow and blood circulation. While in the sauna, pulse rates jump by 30% or more, allowing the heart to nearly double the amount of blood it pumps each minute. Most of the extra blood flow is directed to the skin. CON: Circulation is directed away from vital organs.
For example, using the same sauna calorie calculator, you can estimate that your 15 min sauna calories burned would equal 23.2-31 calories, and your 20 min sauna calories would equal 30.6-40.92 calories. This might not seem like a lot of calories, but it's more than you'd burn if you weren't sitting in a sauna.
The right sauna session duration for detoxification is anywhere under 30 minutes till the time you feel comfortable. So, you should know how long it's safe for you to stay in a steam sauna. As a matter of fact, everyone has different heat endurance levels. And it's essential to know how much heat is too much for you.
Prioritize Breathable Fabrics: Cotton and linen are excellent choices. Safety First: Avoid synthetic materials and tight clothing. Hygiene is Essential: Wear clean clothes, shower before entering, and use a towel. Respect Sauna Etiquette: Be mindful of noise levels and others' comfort.
Don't put AirPods in the washing machine or dryer. Don't wear AirPods in a sauna or steam room. Don't expose AirPods to high-velocity water, such as while water skiing. Avoid dropping AirPods or subjecting them to other impacts.
It might make sense to hit your gym's sauna before you get hot and sweaty from your workout. But, timing is everything. The best time to hit the sauna is post-workout. After a grueling session at the gym, the muscles are yearning for some TLC.