Sweat Therapy: Exploring The Healing Power of Saunas
Regular sauna visits are something we should all be considering for better health and wellbeing. There’s a reason so many people live by them, and all over social media influencers are singing their praises non-stop. What we don’t see so much of, however, is infrared saunas. Yet to hit the mainstream, infrareds are actually total powerhouses that can support our bodies in even more ways that typical sauna sessions.
In this article I’m going to explain some of these, but first: a quick overview of how saunas work and why they just might be one of the best self-care tools.
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Saunas are, fundamentally, cleansing solutions for our whole body (and our minds). They have been about in various forms and contexts since the Ancient Greeks. Historically they were used for numerous reasons: to clean away dirt from hard labour; stave off illnesses and boost immunity; as a means of sobering up after drinking; to purge oneself of negativity (essentially spiritual cleansing) and to assist the body with natural detox processes.
Sweating is beneficial for the body as within our sweat we can release so many toxins that we may have absorbed through BPA exposure, plastic residues in the everyday products we use and even heavy metals. Contemporary research has shown that regular sauna sessions may even improve our circulation and could support our skeletal system. Not to mention the beautifying effects of a sauna session. Releasing a good amount of sweat means when you wash it all off your pores are so much cleaner, giving you clearer, brighter skin and a gorgeously dewy glow.
At a Sauna session you immerse yourself in a room heated upwards of 35 degrees. You can sit, lie down or stretch for sessions varying in duration, until you feel sufficiently cleansed. They work by forcing the body to sweat, how much depends of course on the temperature of the room and length of session.
Infrared saunas operate slightly differently. They use light to warm our bodies, as opposed to the hot air in regular saunas, and operate at much lower temperatures. This means that our skin is more deeply penetrated during an infrared session, even down into our fat layers. As a result, infrared saunas can and have been used as a tool for weight loss. Despite using light, they are less potentially skin-damaging than say, a sunbathing session. Also, they lack UV rays, so won’t give you a tan.
Both types of Sauna have been shown to boost our endorphin levels. Light triggers our happy hormones - so the light from infrared saunas can be even more beneficial to our sense of wellbeing. At a regular sauna session, the hot air being circulated causes you to adapt your breathing, slowing the pace into deeper, longer breaths. This is akin to a breathwork session, as you tune in and become more mindful of how you react to your surroundings.
The detoxing effect of sweating in these environments is like an intense physical and mental purge. Whilst you relax in a sauna, try to visualise all the negativity being drained from your body, releasing anything that no longer serves you.
If you can, regular sauna sessions are a good ritual to adopt. As with exercise, this sweat sesh, whether for an hour or just 15 minutes, is great for the whole self - just remember to always rehydrate afterwards!
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Camille is a writer and curator based in London. She specialises in wellness, art and creativity as a means of self-love and expression.
She has worked with a number of wellness brands and art galleries, creating written and social content and helping develop and run events, exhibitions and educational outreach schemes. She is passionate about the power of incorporating self love rituals into your routine to support wellbeing, balance your daily rhythm and find time to let your artistic spirit bloom.
Article written by Camille Leadbeater
Communications Lead @ The Self Love Lab
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