The Top 10 Benefits of a Sauna

Relaxation is only one of the many benefits of a sauna. Most people visit saunas in hotels or spas or communal saunas whilst on holiday.

At Boutique Lux, our guests have exclusive access to their own private sauna at our gorgeous rustic property, The Retreat, allowing you to make the most out of the benefits of a sauna every day you stay with us!

But what are the various benefits of a sauna? You might be surprised to know that in addition to relaxation, there is a wide range of other advantages to sauna use, from medical improvements to even mental relief!

1. Provides Stress Relief

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One of the main benefits of a sauna is to provide users with a calm and relaxing space to relieve any stresses or worries.

It can be one of the most relaxing experiences to smell the sandalwood, feel the hot steam and just lie back under the soft golden glow of a sauna lamp.

Using a sauna promotes relaxation and therefore improves feelings of overall wellbeing. They help our bodies and minds adapt more efficiently to stress, therefore reducing the risks of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.

2. Improves Cardiovascular Health

sauna benefits: cardiovascular health
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One of the more unique benefits of a sauna is that it can improve the cardiovascular health of frequent users.

Reducing stress and promoting relaxation may have a hand in improving cardiovascular health, as many day-to-day stressors can build up and have a negative effect on our health. For example, many diseases, including heart disease and high blood pressure, are partially induced by stress.

There have been many studies whose results support this benefit. For example, a study showed that using a sauna 4-7 times a week reduces the risk of Fatal Cardio Vascular Disease by a huge 50%!

Furthermore, other studies provide evidence of a reduced risk of high blood pressure with regular sauna use. In addition, long-term use of saunas is associated with healthier arteries.

3. Burns Calories

sauna basics of ladle and bucket
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Saying that sauna-use alone is enough to lose weight without a change of diet and frequent exercise is a bit far fetched, however, there is a little bit of truth to it!

Saunas are not the “be-all-end-all” solution to weight loss, however, when used in conjunction with additional lifestyle changes, saunas can assist further in the burning of calories and therefore can contribute to weight loss.

We all sweat in saunas and that sweating requires a lot of energy. For example, a study found that an average-size person can sweat off up to 500 grams in a single-session use of a sauna, using up to 300 calories (Ward Dean, M.D).

Calories are used due to the acceleration of heart activity, therefore requiring more oxygen and energy.

4. Cleanses Skin

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Bathing in heat is a historic cleansing ritual that goes back to Egyptian and Roman times. When your body sweats, skin cells are cleansed and dead cells are replaced.

Sweating cleans out bacteria from sweat ducts and pore-cleansing results in improved capillary circulation and therefore results in a smoother, more even-looking appearance.

5. Beneficial for Alzheimer & Dementia Sufferers

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We have seen above how frequent sauna use can have beneficial effects on stress and mental health. However, there is also evidence to suggest that sauna use can also have a positive impact on the diseases of dementia and Alzheimers.

The evidence was collected from a 20-year study of over 2,300 participants which found that frequent 20-minute sauna use, 4-7 times per week, reduced the risk for Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

6. Helps to Induce Sleep

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Sauna use releases endorphins and increase body temperatures which then reduce and fall at bedtime. This decrease in endorphins and body temperature is important in achieving a deep, relaxing sleep.

Many sauna users support this claim and openly share their better sleep habits after using a sauna.

7. Helps to Fight Cold and Illness

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When we use saunas, our bodies rapidly-produce white blood cells in response to the heat and steam. This increase in white blood cells results in our bodies being more capable of fighting illnesses and helps to kill off viruses.

Furthermore, sauna heat can help to clear congestion and sinuses in relation to flu and allergies, particularly effective when combined with steam and an essential oil, such as menthol.

8. Soothes Muscles After Physical Exercise

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As mentioned earlier, our bodies produce endorphins in reaction to sauna heat and steam. These endorphins have the ability to minimise muscle pain, joint pain, and arthritis. They also produce a calming, almost tranquilising effect on the body.

In addition, blood circulation improves due to the dilation of blood vessels, and therefore, speeds up our body’s natural healing process.

After exercising, sauna use can aid in muscle relaxation by reducing lactic acid and flushing out toxins.

9. Flushes Out Toxins

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It’s no secret that when we use saunas we sweat. A lot! The deep sweating caused by saunas can aid in reducing various toxins, and therefore detoxify our bodies. Toxins such as mercury and lead are absorbed by our bodies due to daily interactions with our external environments.

Many doctors agree that sauna use is that it is one of the best ways to detox our body.

10. Improves Life-Span

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Studies suggest that using a sauna just 2-3 times a week reduces all-cause mortality by a huge 24%! Increasing usage to 4-5 times a week reduces mortality even further to 40%.

It is suggested that both the longer and more often you spend in saunas, the more likely you are to live longer.

The many benefits listed above each contribute to our overall wellness and health, therefore having a positive effect on our lives as a whole.

We hope this list has been informative and has provided you with the knowledge you were looking for!

Remember to check out our property The Retreat to experience exclusive, private sauna use for you and your guests!

We are always on hand to offer any advice, to provide information or to answer any queries you might have. Just get in touch below, and we will respond to your request as soon as possible!

Your happiness is our priority

Team Boutique Lux

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