Additionally, stay out of the facilities if you have been drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs. Consult a doctor if you believe you may have one of these conditions. The heat in steam rooms and saunas causes the body to perspire, often in great amounts. Drink plenty of water before entering in order to combat dehydration. Also shower to remove any lotions or cleansers that are apt to melt or drip off into the facility. Also check your body for any metal (jewelry and zippers, for example) in order to prevent it from burning your body when it quickly heats up in the facility. Keep these tips in mind, and your sauna sessions will become more enjoyable.
When the stones finally got hot enough, people would throw water on them to create steam and intense heat to keep warm and reap many health benefits. To achieve optimal use of a sauna, you should use it at least once a week, but the more often you use it, the more improvements you will experience. Studies show it is perfectly safe to use saunas every day, just being mindful to stay hydrated during your sessions. Though daily sauna use is not harmful, prolonged single sauna sessions can increase the risk of dehydration. This response combined with improved elimination of toxins through intense sweating strengthens your body overall and helps you fight off potential threats such as diseases.
Finnish sauna concepts
This practice even dates back to 500 BC, when Egyptian physicians applied specific rules for sun and heat therapy. Things like thermal baths, mud baths and hot air caverns linked to volcanic sources were all common practices since then.
Löyly is the most essential part of traditional sauna
Read more about Barrel sauna maintenance here. After your initial cool-off period, you can return to the sauna for a second session. Two sauna sessions are an excellent starting point for beginners.
What should you wear in a sauna or steam room?
Before the sauna, we recommend drinking 1-2 glasses of water to prep your body for the upcoming sweat sesh. After the sauna, you want to continue to drink water, but you also want to replenish those key minerals and electrolytes lost like magnesium, sodium, calcium, and potassium. Each of these elements is crucial for balancing internal fluid levels, as well as regulating muscle and nerve activity. But as your body adjusts to the heat inside the infrared sauna, your ability to sweat will eventually increase. Soon, your body will become better at detoxifying than ever before. Stick with it for three months, and you’ll see why the Finns and other Scandinavians love the sauna so much. Other than getting enough sleep, I don’t know of another activity that offers so many health benefits for sitting in place, not doing anything.
Most average DIYers can tackle this build without much problem, although some steps, such as electrical and gas hookups, may require the assistance of a professional. There are several ways to build a sauna, from converting an indoor space with a ready-made kit, to building a custom sauna from the ground up. Still, some may find that building a sauna is not the right choice. Like swimming pools, saunas are great for those who will use them, but they pose safety or maintenance concerns for others.