Traditional Sauna vs Infrared Sauna: when it comes to sweating it out for your health, there are many different opinions on which method to use. Whether your focus is rest and relaxation, detoxification or improved health benefits, choosing between these options can be tricky when you don’t fully understand what makes each so unique.
Choosing between a traditional sauna vs infrared sauna can have an impact on your desired experience and outcome.
When choosing between infrared saunas vs traditional saunas, there are a few key things to consider. Whilst both offer benefits and a very different experience to clients, they also operate in fundamentally different ways. Let’s break down the difference between traditional vs infrared sauna so you can be fully equipped in knowing which is going to be the best option for your clients, space and overall experience.
Traditional Sauna vs Infrared: Why Should You Be Looking To Offer Heat Therapy?
Scientific research proves that heat therapy improves health and wellness, making it a standard treatment across many sectors.
From hotels and spas to fitness centres and home gyms, people are turning to saunas to feel the health benefits of heat.
Detoxification
Detoxification is the process of flushing out toxins and impurities through the skin. This promotes a deep body cleanse.
Improved Circulation
When exposed to heat, our blood vessels dilate, open and allow for improved circulation.
This process delivers oxygen around the body more efficiently, boosting heart health and speeding recovery from illness. Regular sauna use can also have cardiovascular benefits.
Muscle Recovery and Pain Reduction
Saunas prove to be popular amongst professional athletes as they promote the recovery of muscles after injury. Heat relaxes muscles, soothes pain and reduces inflammation. Regular and responsible sauna use can help with chronic muscle pain too.
Stress Reduction and Improved Sleep
Aside from the physical impacts that sauna use can have, there are also benefits to mental and emotional wellbeing too. They activate the parasympathetic nervous system which promotes deep relaxation, reduces the stress hormone cortisol, whilst boosting the release of mood-enhancing hormones like endorphins. Deep relaxation post sauna also has effects on a more restful sleep.
Traditional Sauna vs Infrared Sauna – Traditional Sauna
A traditional sauna, sometimes known as a Finnish sauna is typically heated with either a fire and log-powered or an electric stove. This stove has rocks on it that can reach temperatures of between 70 and 100 degrees.
Traditional saunas work by heating the air around the body which is then transferred via convection (the hot air travelling around the enclosed room is absorbed by your skin, causing your core temperature to rise) and conduction (when you lean against or sit on the hot surfaces, some of this heat transfers to your body).
Traditional Sauna vs Infrared Sauna – Infrared Sauna
Infrared saunas offer a specialist type of infrared light which directly heats your body. Heat is delivered to the body via panels which emit infrared waves that penetrate under the skin. These waves directly heat your body’s tissue allowing for a deep internal heat even though the ambient temperature doesn’t get as hot.
Essentially, a traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without needing to warm the air around you to the same extent.
Which is Better?
There is a lack of in-depth research to be able to factually state whether traditional saunas or infrared saunas are better for you health wise.
Essentially the answer to this questions comes down to personal preference rather than scientific research. Both exhibit similar results and both deliver a deep heat experience, one is considered less intense than the other.
Dr. Ruscio states:
“A 2018 systematic review of 40 studies involving more than 3,800 participants stated that, based on the available evidence, no conclusion could be drawn comparing the benefits of traditional infrared saunas”.
Instead, focus on which gives the best experience for you, your clients or your offering. As traditional saunas heat the air around the body, followed by your skin and then your core, the temperature needs to be higher to effectively reach the beneficial temperature:
This means that those who prefer a gentler experience may want to opt fro an Infrared sauna, which gives the benefits of heat therapy without the high temperatures associated.
If your clients like the heat, then a more traditional Finnish sauna may be a better option.
How to prepare for a sauna session
Hydrate
Due to the water lost through sweat when using a sauna, it is really important that you are well hydrated before treatment. Staying hydrated is essential for safety and effectiveness.
Avoid Alcohol and Large Meals
Eating a large meal or consuming alcohol before using a sauna can cause nausea and interfere with effectiveness and overall experience.
Shower First
It is advised to wash off any surface level dirt, makeup or lotions before using a sauna. As heat can open pores, makeup mixed with heat and sweat can block these pores creating skin irritation and increasing the likelihood of breakouts.
Wear the Right Thing
Something which people often forget is clothing for sauna use. Many will choose to wear a bathing suit or swimwear. Others opt for a more au naturel approach (and wear much less). Don’t forget to bring the essentials with you – water, a towel and a change of clothes for example.
Limit Session Length
If you are a beginner it is important that you do not overdo the heat exposure. You should look to build up your heat tolerance over subsequent visits.
Rehydrate Post Sauna
It is important that you replenish the water you lost through sweating during your sauna session. It is advisable for you to drink plenty of water or an electrolyte-rich drink after use.
The Starpool Options
Alchemy is happy to be able to offer both infrared and traditional sauna options in a variety of different configurations to suit your needs.
Take a look at our Infrared options here
And our Traditional sauna options here
So when it comes to infrared vs traditional sauna options, it really does come down to what your visitors are looking for.
Want to talk to our team about which options is best suited to you, Enquire today
