Infrared saunas: everything you need to know
How do you use the infrared sauna?
First of all, take your time: in half an hour to three quarters of an hour you can have a soothing sauna session. During a session in the infrared sauna, you may sweat a lot. Your pores dilate, sweat glands are activated and your body is cleansed. So drink plenty of water, before and after the sauna session. This will help maintain your fluid balance. Use a double-folded towel to sit comfortably and also put one on the cabin floor to catch the sweat. The basic principle is to use the sauna without (under) clothing. Clothing blocks part of the infrared, which does not result in the best possible relaxation and therapy. After your sauna session, take a short rest before rinsing your body under a lukewarm shower.
Preheating and duration of a sauna session
Wij adviseren je om de infraroodsauna 5 tot 10 minuten vóór het gebruik aan te zetten. De temperatuur in de cabine is dan gestegen tot een aangenaam niveau van zo’n 30-35 graden C°. Ideaal om je sessie te starten. De duur van een sessie wordt natuurlijk ook bepaald door je persoonlijke voorkeuren en je eigen tijdschema. Maar in zijn algemeenheid geldt dat je alle voordelen van een infraroodsessie zult ervaren als je die zo’n 25 à 35 minuten laat duren. Je kunt dan volledig ontspannen; je lichaam en huid reinigen en pijnklachten reduceren.
- Preheating infrared sauna: between 5 and 10 minutes
- Use time infrared sauna: between 25 and 35 minutes per session
The ideal temperature for infrared sauna
So you step into your infrared cabin with an initial temperature of around 30-35 degrees C°. This temperature rises during your session to the maximum temperature of about 65-75 degrees C°. On average, the temperature rises by about 1 to 1.5 degrees C° per minute. If you find that the temperature in the infrared sauna has risen too high, you have the option of setting it lower at, say, 50 degrees C°. Everyone can very easily apply their own, maximum preferred setting, but it is still better to maintain the higher temperature setting. If you feel the temperature is running too high: open the door. The great advantage of this is that the radiators continue to do their work and you continue to experience the full infrared radiant heat, while the temperature does not rise further or even drops a little.
Different types of radiators
Our cabins contain different types of radiators: we use carbon and intense radiators as standard. The carbon radiators ensure mild heat distribution in the cabin and the intense radiators provide a good in-depth effect on your body. As an extra option, a full-spectrum radiator can also be used if you want a more intensive or therapeutic effect on your joints and muscles. We recommend alternating a few minutes in front of each radiator so that you can experience the beneficial infrared effect on your body from all sides. After a few sessions, you will know which ‘seating plan’ helps you relax best and has the best effect on your muscles and joints. In this way, everyone creates, individually, his or her optimal sauna session
Infrared cabin also for everyday use?
Yes, you can definitely use the infrared cabin daily, but always make sure you drink plenty of water before (possibly during) and after the infrared session! We have many customers at SuperSauna who have rheumatic complaints and use the infrared sauna for pain relief and relaxation. A large number of them even use the infrared sauna twice a day: in the morning to get through the day better and in the evening to sleep better. They usually make their sessions slightly shorter then, namely about 20 to 25 minutes each time instead of 30 to 35 minutes per session.
Infrared sauna after intensive exercise
Infrared saunas are increasingly used after exercise. This is because an infrared sauna session ensures faster muscle recovery and leads to less muscle pain. Using the sauna improves blood circulation and increases oxygen levels in the blood. This is precisely why your muscles recover faster after an intense workout. The infrared heat also improves muscle relaxation, reduces stiffness and increases suppleness. Take some time for a good cooling down, just like a warm-up.
What maintenance should I do after using the infrared sauna?
An infrared sauna requires little maintenance. The wooden inner wall of all our infrared cabins is untreated and should also remain untreated. The specially selected wood (Red or White Cedar) must be able to ‘breathe’. We recommend always placing a towel on the floor (per person) and a (double-folded) towel on the sauna bench. After using the infrared sauna, remove the towels and leave the door open. The cabin can then be aired properly. Canadian Red Cedar wood, as we use it, has one very big advantage: this type of wood is naturally fungicidal and bactericidal. You need to do practically nothing about it. If you periodically wipe down the inside of the sauna with a wet cloth and a little green soap, that is enough for good hygiene. If a different type of wood is used, you can put a special sauna cushion on the bench for better hygiene. These cushions are not only comfortable but also prevent perspiration from soaking into the bench. You could also choose, for instance, to lightly sand the inside of the infrared sauna once a year with a fine sandpaper. The look will then be like new again. In addition, you can buy a special sauna cleaner from Supersauna to clean the infrared sauna. This is especially important if you choose an infrared sauna whose interior is made of another type of wood than red cedar.
Can my children also use the infrared sauna?
Children are also allowed to use the infrared sauna. It is good for the development of their immune system; the healthy development of their skin, and has the same positive effects that adults experience. Of course, it is better if they use it under the supervision (or together) of parents or adults. Children do tend to go in the sauna for a bit less time. If an adult uses the infrared sauna for an average of 30 minutes, we recommend a session of about 20 minutes for children, possibly with music.
Can I use the infrared sauna with varicose veins?
Direct heat on varicose veins can feel unpleasant. Many people therefore do not want heat or infrared on the calves, for example. Therefore, all infrared saunas from SuperSauna are equipped with an on/off switch for the emitter reaching the area around the calves. If you don't want infrared radiant heat acting on your body in that area, just turn it off. And then you can still just use the infrared sauna with varicose veins.
Losing weight by using infrared sauna, is it possible?
It may seem a bit strange: sitting still, relaxing doing nothing, and yet burning calories and therefore losing weight. During an infrared session, your body reacts to the higher ambient temperature by cooling down and then your blood circulation and heart rate go up. You then burn an extra amount of calories. How many? That is different for everyone, but you can measure it well yourself. Many smartphones nowadays have a heart rate monitor and if you take a measurement, you will see that the heart rate increases during the infrared session.
For an above-average calorie burn, we recommend preheating the infrared sauna a little longer (up to about 15-20 minutes). This makes the initial temperature of your sauna session higher and the body has to work harder immediately to cool down. Unlike many other saunas, Supersauna's saunas can be set to a higher maximum temperature of up to 75 degrees C° instead of around 60-65 degrees. And the higher the temperature, the harder the body has to work to cool down and the more calories are burned. Of course, you understand that weight loss does not happen indefinitely and that you have to do other things to lose weight. Again, it is not that simple. In this situation, though, it is important that you choose a long-wave infrared sauna (IR-C). Our Infraheat carbon radiators, which we use in almost all infrared saunas, deliver precisely this IR-C.
Pregnancy, age-related diseases and heart problems
When you know or suspect that something unusual or abnormal is going on with your body, you need to take a break. Of course, it is advisable to consult your doctor in such a situation anyway. Especially if you are also considering using the sauna. If you are pregnant, have a heart problem or experience specific complaints associated with old age, seek advice from your GP first. At such times, it might be better to use an infrared sauna less intensively or postpone it for a while. On the other hand, if you are coming down with a bad cold, a sauna session can be very beneficial. In any case: if in doubt, consult your doctor.
Health benefits of an infrared sauna
During a hot summer day, we experience the benefit of the sun's rays on our skin. An infrared cabin from Supersauna works in the same way as the sun: you get plenty of positive energy! This makes you feel healthy and fit. You feel great. The infrared emitters of an infrared cabin allow the heat to penetrate your skin. They have a better depth effect than a traditional sauna. The heat reaches your muscles and joints and you can control it yourself. Clinical studies show that infrared heat relieves muscle and joint pains. Your symptoms diminish or even disappear altogether. Because you also perspire a lot in an infrared cabin, you eliminate waste products, cleanse your body and improve your resistance. You normally do this in many ways too, but less and much more slowly. Did you know that in an infrared sauna, you get rid of up to seven times more toxins! In an infrared sauna, you can detoxify perfectly, as e.g. described in the book ‘Detoxify or Die’ by Sherry A. Rogers. Similarly, a starting cold or upcoming flu can be combated very well with a session in the infrared sauna. Furthermore, there are several skin problems that diminish or disappear considerably by using the infrared sauna. Curious about what an infrared sauna can do for your health?
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