5 Reasons Why You Need to Add a Sauna to Your Fitness Routine
For anyone who loves working out and living healthily, then the idea of “detoxifying the body” is definitely a known concept. You may have tried some cleanses or believe that sweating alone is enough. Turns out, you might be forgetting an important step in your fitness routine: visiting the sauna. Saunas come with multiple benefits, but today we’re going to discuss five enticing reasons why you need to visit a sauna.
The Benefits of Saunas for Athletic Performance
Increased Hormone Production
One of the biggest benefits that athletes gain from the sauna is the elevated levels of natural growth hormone production. It was found that sauna sessions between 15-20 minutes in length, at a temperature between 80 to 100 degrees Celsius increased the level of growth hormone by 2-5 fold. This level persisted even after the sauna session was finished. The other plus is that exercise and hyperthermia have a synergistic relationship, meaning that a higher heat increases growth hormone production. So, if you increase your core temperature while working out, and then you decide to sit in the sauna for 15 minutes, you are creating substantial gains.
Muscle Recovery
Hard workouts mean more than just DOMS. You may have a chronic issue that flares up, like arthritis or experience muscle stiffness. Infrared saunas in particular have a way of targeting the places that are inflamed or aching to aid in faster recovery.
Research done in Japan revealed that chronic pain patients who sat in an infrared sauna had nearly 70% pain reduction. Another study done by NASA showed how infrared technology penetrates tissues deeply to increase cell growth in the targeted areas.
Because of this reason, former and current Olympic athletes, like Doctor Jeffrey Spencer (1972 U.S. cycling team), are huge fans of infrared saunas.
Cardiovascular Improvements
Some of the best-known research about far infrared (FIR) saunas was from 2009. The research found that FIR saunas may help normalize blood pressure and treat congestive heart failure. Another way saunas help with improving circulation has to do with the heat. When the body warms up in a sauna, the blood vessels dilate and the heart rate increases (to almost 150 beats per minute). This increases overall circulation, which helps transport nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.
Lastly, saunas play a role in hyperthermic conditioning, or increased plasma volume and blood flow to the heart. The result is decreased cardiovascular strain during vigorous exercise.
Lowered Stress Levels
After a workout, the body is still revved. Pair that with other elements of life that stress people out, and you have a system that could be approaching adrenal fatigue. Saunas help the body switch off the “fight or flight” mode by coaxing it into a parasympathetic state, allowing for the body to de-stress, rest, and heal. Also, when stress is lowered, so is cortisol.
