Infrared Sauna
Infrared sauna heat is a form of energy that is directly transmitted into objects via its specific wavelength. While traditional saunas generate heat by circulating hot air, the infrared sauna heat frequencies – usually in the 110-150°F range – warm you directly, penetrating up to 45mm into the body, where it can work on deep tissue and organs. Infrared heat is very gentle, similar to laying in the sun, but also allows a deep heat that is more comfortable than traditional saunas, delivering a consistent, stable heat that works at a cellular level instead of an atmospheric level, at temperatures 70-100°F lower than traditional wet and dry saunas. Infrared waves produce a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where most toxins reside.
Our sauna is a full spectrum infrared sauna, meaning that it emits not just far infrared heat, but also near and mid infrared.
Please be aware that our Infrared Sauna is just under 4 feet wide, so it’s a cozy fit for 2 slim-to-average sized bodies. Please set expectations accordingly based on body size if you plan on arriving as a couple.
Benefits of Infrared Sauna
Detoxification
Sweating is the body’s safe and natural way to heal & stay healthy. Far infrared sauna benefits the body by heating it directly causing a rise in core temperature resulting in a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where toxins reside.
Relaxation
Unlike traditional saunas which operate at extremely harsh temperatures, infrared is a gentle, soothing and therapeutic heat that promotes relaxation and improved sleep. Infrared sauna benefits include therapy that helps you relax while receiving an invigorating deep tissue sweat, leaving you fully refreshed after each session.
Lower Blood Pressure
Infrared saunas induce a deep sweat to make the heart pump faster, which in turn increases blood flow, lowers blood pressure and helps circulation. Scientific evidence shows the infrared sauna benefits using an infrared sauna a couple times a week lowers blood pressure.
Anti-Aging & Skin Purification
The near infrared wavelength (sometimes referred to as Red Light Therapy) is the most effective wavelength for healing the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. Near infrared treatments stimulate collagen production to reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin tone.
Cell Health
Near infrared therapy stimulates the circulatory system and more fully oxygenate the body’s cells. Better blood circulation means more toxins flow from the cellular level to the skin’s surface to improve cell health, aid in muscle recovery and strengthen the immune system.
Weight Loss
Studies have shown that benefits of an infrared sauna session can burn upwards of 600 calories while you relax! As the body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate, causing the body to burn more calories.
Pain Relief
Infrared heat penetrates tissue, joints, and muscles to relieve anything from minor aches and pains to chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Pain management professionals incorporate infrared heat therapy into treatment plans to decrease pain and muscle spasms and to speed up recovery time.
Improved Circulation
Heating the muscles with infrared rays produces an increase in blood flow similar to that seen during exercise. Regular infrared sauna use—especially in the mid infrared range—can significantly stimulate blood flow up to twice the normal rate.
Wound Healing
Scientific research has concluded that near infrared therapy greatly enhances the skin’s healing process by promoting faster cell regeneration and human tissue growth. Human cell growth increases to repair wounds and prevent infection.
More information on the benefits of Infrared Sauna are available from the manufacturer of our sauna at SunLighten.com
How Does Infrared Sauna Therapy Work?
What Is Infrared Technology?
An infrared sauna works differently from a traditional steam or dry sauna. A traditional sauna heats the environment around you, and you get hot in response to that environment. For a lot of people, the low oxygen level in an extremely hot and steamy environment can result in side effects such as nausea and dizziness and a reduced amount of time that can be tolerated. An infrared sauna, however, works by heating liquid within any object inside the sauna. That means you, comprised of somewhere between 60-70% water. The result is a much more comfortable environment that you can tolerate for much longer than a traditional sauna, producing the same, if not better, sweat response.
Infrared is the ‘warm’ energy in humans, animals and plants; the invisible part of the sun’s energy. It exists just outside the visible light spectrum, on the opposite end of that spectrum from ultraviolet light.
The intensity of Infrared produced by the human body constantly fluctuates. When its intensity is high, we feel healthy and are able to overcome ailments. When the Infrared begins to decline, we are subject to disease and illness and tend to age more quickly. We can be exposed to Infrared heat for hours and it will never cause our skin to burn. Infrared heat is completely healthy and safe for all living things.
Our bodies radiate far infrared energy through the skin at 3 to 50 microns, with most output at 9.4 microns. Our palms emit FIR energy also, between 8 and 14 microns. ‘Palm Healing’, an ancient tradition in China, has used the healing properties of far infrared rays for 3,000 years. These natural healers emit energy and heat radiating from their hands to heal, much the same as Reiki healers do. Current research conducted in Taiwan has measured significant far infrared energy emitted from the hands of Chi Gong masters.
Our sauna is a full spectrum infrared sauna, meaning you are exposed to not just far infrared, which is a typical form of infrared sauna therapy, but also to near and mid infrared. Hence, full spectrum. This diagram illustrates where these three forms of infrared heat sit on the light spectrum:
Infrared + S.A.D. Therapy
We all know that the winter months can be pretty bleak in the Pacific Northwest. It’s one of the world’s epicenters for Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, affecting approximately 30% of Pacific Northwesterners. Often striking in October to November, when our sun exposure declines and our vitamin D levels drop, SAD is a major contributor towards debilitating depression throughout the winter.
Fortunately, in addition to our infrared sauna, our sauna room is also equipped with a lamp that emits a full spectrum light, simulating the effect of exposure to summer sunlight.
The benefits of full spectrum light on seasonal affective disorder have been clinically proven over multiple decades of research. The Center for Environmental Therapeutics is a good resource for learning more about the scientific evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of SAD lights.
When Not to Use Infrared Sauna
We do not recommend sauna sessions any longer than 60 minutes, and if you are working on a specific form of detoxification, such as heavy metals, biofilm or a pathogen, you should consult your doctor first and limit your sessions to 15-20 minutes. See the FAQs section below for more details.
Free Monthly Session For Members
As a benefit of any 2+ session membership to Oly Float, all members receive a free monthly 30 minute Infrared Sauna session. Following up your float session with an infrared session is doubling-down on your health benefits at The Soul Space. With your body and mind in a fully relaxed post-float state already – with your parasympathetic nervous system unwound and ready for healing – the benefits of 30 minutes in the infrared sauna are compounded.
