Are you a member of a gym or fitness facility? Maybe you’ve seen they offer a sauna. Other people may have their own infrared sauna waiting for them at home. In bigger numbers, gym-goers and athletes are coming to an infrared sauna to improve their fitness levels and maximize their health.
Post-workout, a sauna’s not just some luxury. It’s meaningful to your athletic performance, alongside other health benefits which are important. If you’re looking for a way to reduce soreness, fatigue, and fix a drop in performance, a sauna’s here to help. As grueling as a gym session can be, a relaxing sauna trip can be a nice way to end it and get you back in the game for the rest of your day.
Gym sauna etiquette rules.
If you have a sauna at your gym, there are some general etiquette rules to follow. Do not go in nude, always shower before entering, and be quiet while you’re in there. Don’t carry in any electronics i.e. music players, smartphones, or anything else. These aren’t going to fare well in extreme heat. Also, it can be annoying to others in there. Don’t exercise or stretch in a sauna. Public saunas aren’t for hot yoga. Lastly, be quick and spend no more than 20 minutes in there. You don’t need any longer than that to get all the benefits.
Weight loss.
Weight loss is a huge element of many peoples’ exercise plan. Adding a sauna in an exercise plan is an important element as saunas are known to boost cardiovascular, immune, and lymphatic health. Also, infrared heat is known to increase human growth hormone (HGH) production, slightly, and lower cortisol levels which helps with weight loss. Sitting in a sauna can decrease body fat similar to how cardio and weightlifting can. Saunas can be another helpful element on a person’s weight loss journey.
Muscle recovery.
After we get through our workouts, it’s natural to feel sore. Some feel more sore than others, depending on what they’ve done weight-wise. Any time we workout, our muscles tear microscopically. These tears lead to inflammation, tightness, cramps, and sensitivity. When the body heals, these tears repair. Using a sauna quickens the muscle recovery process. It does this by increasing circulation which carries oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscle. Heat therapy like this also relaxes the muscle which helps to minimize tension.
Sweating.
As if you haven’t had enough sweating out on the gym floor, you might be thinking you don’t want to go through anymore. Sweating actually carries with it many benefits though. The detoxification occurring in an infrared sauna removes toxic metals, alcohol, nicotine, and other chemical elements from the body out through the skin. In an infrared sauna post-workout, you’ll feel better and will be able to carry on with your day as a healthier person.
Pre-workout.
Why we use a sauna post-workout is because it relaxes. Never use a sauna pre-workout. An infrared sauna will relax muscles which elevates risk of injury in intense activity, you end up dehydrated and overheated which is not what you want going into a workout, and it will lower energy.
Does your gym have an infrared sauna or steam room? Do you want to install your own infrared sauna at home? Contact Steam Sauna today.