With temperatures soaring up into the 40s in summer, you’re probably wondering; can you still use a sauna in summer?
For many people who spend their entire summer trying to stay cool, the prospect of stepping into a sauna may be a little unappealing. For others though, they’re addicted to the sweat. Within this article, we’re going to delve into the merits of using an infrared sauna in Summer, and provide some tips on how you can get the most out of your sauna experience in the heat of summer.
Table of Contents
- Is it good to use the sauna in summer?
- Reasons to use an infrared sauna in summer
- Tips for using an infrared sauna in summer
Is It Good to Use the Sauna in Summer?
Yes. Despite the heat, a sweat session is great in the summer.
Regular sauna-ing in warmer seasons may sound counterintuitive (particularly as we’re graced with some of the hottest heat in the world in Australia), but this isn’t entirely a new idea.
As saunas originated in Finland, most assume that the warmth they provide is supposed to help to keep warm from the cold environment there.
While this is true, what many people aren’t aware of is that saunas are also used during the warmer midsummer in Finland as part of their traditions and festivals.
The takeaway is that the Finnish understood that saunas do more than provide a comforting warmth. Sauna sessions acclimatise bodies to the warmer summer weather, helping them stay cool throughout the season.
Reasons to Use an Infrared Sauna in Summer
Where steam saunas will heat the air around you, an infrared sauna will heat your body directly through infrared lamps. As you’re probably aware, infrared saunas come with a wealth of benefits – so let’s delve into the ones that you can expect when you sauna during summer:
Heat Acclimatisation
The blistering heat in Australia can cause heat exhaustion. You know that feeling when your body begins to overheat after spending time in the sun – that’s heat exhaustion. Characterised by dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches, and general fatigue, it’s certainly not the nicest feeling!
Infrared saunas heat your body gradually, and you can adjust the level of heat to your own comfort (something you can’t do outdoors). What you’ll find after stepping out of this comfortable heat is that, suddenly, the weather doesn’t feel so unbearable. Infrared saunas can help your body to acclimatise to the heat.
Increased Circulation
As the body gets warmer, blood vessels open up and circulation is improved, leading to faster wound healing, a healthy heart, and a clear mind. And while you can get the same benefits from being out in the sun, we all know how quickly you can burn or cause sun damage in summer.
Enter: infrared. Get all of the benefits of improved circulation, without compromising your skin or overheating in the sun.
Immune System Boost
A sauna will also help to boost your body’s natural immune response. You can even go one step further, and plunge into a cold ice bath after a sweat session to further improve your immunity.
Taking further inspiration from Nordic traditions, cold plunges in ice baths jolt your immune system and have been proven to make your body more resilient to sicknesses and diseases.
Tips for Using an Infrared Sauna in Summer
In closing, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your summer sauna sessions:
- Start your sessions at lower temperatures with gradual increases: The summer heat will have warmed your body on your way to the sauna, so be sure to take it easy for the first few minutes before turning up the heat to give your body time to adjust to the temperature.
- Drink more water: You should already be staying hydrated when using an infrared sauna, but in summer, it’s extra important to drink more to replenish your fluids.
- Have regular sessions: The effects of infrared saunas are best felt with regular 15-30 minute sessions 2-3 times a week. Considering how hot it can get on some days, you could schedule your sessions to trade the outside heat for a more comfortable one indoors.
And that’s all you need to know about using a sauna in the summer! If you’re going to be sweating it out in the summer, consider our private infrared sauna suites in Manly, Cronulla, and Neutral Bay, which also feature ice baths for the complete experience.