There is something inviting about stepping into warmth and having a few minutes to yourself. After a busy day, a cold walk, or hours at a desk, the idea of simply sitting down somewhere warm can feel like exactly the right change of pace.
Our infrared sauna brings that experience into a comfortable, quiet space. Here is a look at what makes infrared warmth different, and what people enjoy about it, from easing stiffness to winding down after exercise.
Warmth at a lower air temperature
Infrared saunas warm your body directly, while traditional saunas mainly heat the air around you. That means an infrared sauna can create a deep, relaxing warmth at a lower room temperature, which many people find more comfortable than the hotter air of a traditional sauna.1
If you enjoy warmth but find intense heat overwhelming, that difference may be a great reason to give infrared a try. There’s no need to chase the longest session, either. Comfort is the best guide.
Easing stiffness and feeling more comfortable
One of the most practical pleasures of a sauna session is simply feeling more at ease in your body.
In a small study, 34 people with rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis completed a series of infrared sauna sessions. They reported less pain and stiffness during their sessions.2 For anyone who finds warmth soothing, a sauna can be an enjoyable way to loosen up.
Winding down after exercise
Many active people make sauna time part of their recovery routine.
In a 2023 study, 16 basketball players spent 20 minutes in an infrared sauna after a tough resistance workout. Compared with resting normally, they reported less muscle soreness and felt more recovered afterward.3
A sauna fits nicely alongside the recovery basics: good sleep, food, water, and sensible training. Come for the warmth and the quiet, and see how it fits into your routine.
A quiet transition out of a busy day
Some of the value of a sauna visit needs no explanation at all. You have set aside time. You are somewhere warm. The next thing on your list can wait until you leave.
Mayo Clinic describes infrared sauna as something people may enjoy for relaxation.1 A regular appointment can make it easier to follow through on taking a break, and the routine can be entirely your own.
What the research can and can’t tell us
Heat affects circulation as your body works to manage its temperature, which is one reason researchers are interested in saunas.4 Many of the best-known long-term sauna studies involve traditional Finnish saunas, and studies of infrared sauna specifically are still small, so we don’t make claims about heart health or disease prevention. Enjoy the sauna for what it is: warmth, quiet, and a chance to feel more at ease.
Enjoying your first infrared sauna session
Bring a water bottle, take your time cooling down afterward, and step out if you feel dizzy or unwell at any point. If you are pregnant, have high blood pressure or a heart condition, or take medication that affects how you handle heat, please check with your doctor first.4
Explore infrared sauna sessions at Serenus in Bloomington, Indiana. Your host will show you the sauna and how everything works, and our saunas fit two, so you are welcome to bring a friend.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2024). Do infrared saunas have any health benefits? ↩1 ↩2
- Oosterveld FGJ, Rasker JJ, Floors M, et al. (2009). Pilot study of infrared sauna in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical Rheumatology, 28, 29–34. ↩
- Post-exercise infrared sauna, neuromuscular recovery, and muscle soreness. (2023). Biology of Sport. DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2023.119289. ↩
- Hussain J, Cohen M. (2018). Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018, 1857413. Includes both traditional and infrared sauna studies. ↩1 ↩2