Fancy trying a sauna bath for the first time?
A traditional sauna bath provides dry heat. The level of moisture users experience depends on the style of sauna chosen or their individual choice on the matter.
Saunas are often used to soothe and calm the body, and to relieve it of stress. There are also many health benefits to using a sauna regularly, including improved sleep and an increased ability to fight illness.
If you’ve never tried a sauna bath before, then you may not know exactly what to expect on a first visit. Lucky for you, we’ve put together seven helpful tips for first-time sauna-goers, so you know exactly what to expect. Enjoy!
Despite the huge range of benefits, spa baths aren’t appropriate for everyone. If you’re unsure whether you’re suitable for sauna treatment, have a chat with your doctor before booking anything.
For example, those suffering from uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm, or are taking medications may not be suitable for spa visits. Likewise, if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, a sauna may not be the best idea.
In some cases, it may be that you simply need to limit your sauna use and take extra measures before and after your visit. The best idea is to speak to your doctor to discuss this.
It’s important to stay hydrated throughout your sauna experience. That includes before, during, and after bathing in a sauna.
This is especially important before and after you enter your sauna bath. Following a sauna, your body has just released tons of toxins and build-up, along with water.
While you may have successfully lost the unwanted impurities, you’ll need to replace the water you lost. Plus, drinking plenty of water after your sauna session will help flush out any leftover pollutants.
This leads us to the next step. You should avoid eating around one to two hours before hitting the sauna. However, if you do eat something, it’s not the end of the world. It just means that your body will digest and detox at the same time when the body should focus on just detoxing.
If you’re starving, grab a snack but avoid eating a huge meal ahead of the sauna.
After your sauna, you may likely be feeling hungry. We recommend eating something clean and healthy. Remember, your body has just flushed out tons of toxins, so you don’t want to undo your efforts by scoffing a greasy burger and fries.
Another of our sauna tips may be an obvious one, but it’s still worth noting.
Disrobe and take everything off! That means everything from clothes to jewelry. We also recommend removing glasses and contact lenses for the most soothing experience.
If you’re feeling self-conscious, you may wear a bathing suit but for the best relaxation and benefits, we recommend going nude.
You should also thoroughly wash your body and hair beforehand so that no products sweat down into your facial pores and eyes. During your spa session, the aim is to diminish toxins through your skin, so if you’re covered in topical products this can affect the process.
Different spa experiences suit different people, which is why in many saunas the heat is customizable. Some individuals prefer not to sweat bucket loads while others love it extra hot and toasty.
Generally, most people like to start at 50°C (122°F). This is a comfortable temperature, yet it still offers incredible detox results. As the body heats from the core outwards, this temperature doesn’t feel too hot or uncomfortable until the last ten minutes of the session or so.
Heating from the inside out offers a deep, cleansing detox. This offers customers a meditative, pleasant, and relaxing experience that offers the best of both worlds.
If this temperature doesn’t feel hot enough, you can always work your way up, increasing the heat. Crank it up to 90°C (194°F) and soon you’ll be dripping!
You may find that on your first sauna experience you may not sweat much at all. This just means that your body is getting used to releasing toxins, and it should quicken up as you visit saunas more regularly.
A sauna can be quite intense, so it’s recommended you take breaks. You should follow a series of rounds from warming up to cooling down then back to warming up and so on.
After lying in your sauna for a suitable amount of time, leave to sit outside it for a while to bring your temperature back down. You can also use the break to replenish fluids and drink some water.
This leads us to the final tip of this sauna guide—cooling down after your sauna session.
Once you leave your sauna bath, take the time to allow your body to cool down. Drink something refreshing and cold, like water.
Then, take a cool shower to rinse your skin and close your pores. Don’t get dressed again until your body feels calm and cool and has stopped sweating.
Following these tips, you should end up with a sauna bath experience that’s both relaxing and invigorating. If you’re new to the practice, with time you’ll develop a sauna style that works for you. Remember, the key to the experience is comfort and the objective is health.
To visit our infrared spa, book an appointment today. We look forward to welcoming you!
