Joe Rogan, host of one of the world’s most popular podcasts ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, is listened to weekly by millions of people around the world. He’s also a comedian, UFC commentator, and a complete infrared sauna junkie!
Fitness crazes come and go, but Joe Rogan’s infrared sauna routine is not a fleeting phase. Rogan says he gets out of the sauna “feeling like a slightly better version” of himself every time, and who wouldn’t want that?
Often taking to social media to speak about the benefit of saunas, Rogan says he never feels 100% if he can’t fit a session in. Sounds amazing? We agree. Keep reading to take a look at Rogan’s routine, why he’s so addicted, and what you can expect from regular infrared sauna use.
Joe Rogan’s Infrared Sauna Routine
Rogan is a sauna devotee, so much so that he has his own at-home infrared sauna set up. He uses it for 15-20 minutes, four times a week. According to one study of Finnish men, those who are moderate sauna users (2-3 times per week) are 22% less likely to experience sudden cardiac death, and frequent users (4-7 times per week) are 63% less likely to experience sudden cardiac death.
And the proof is in the pudding, Rogan says: “I’ve been using a sauna for years and I never get sick.” Medical research backs this up with the proven benefits of sauna use extending beyond cardiovascular health to increased cognitive function, decreased inflammation, as well as improved mental health and hormonal and metabolic function.
So where did this love of sauna’s come from? Rogan was originally inspired by a guest on his podcast, Dr Rhonda Patrick, who is a biomedical scientist and major sauna proponent. During the podcast, she referenced medical studies which showed that sauna use is associated with a decrease in mortality rate, increased lifespan, fewer fatal heart problems. So, let’s take a closer look at the health benefits associated with sauna and infrared sauna use.
Mental Health
Rogan says after he’s used the sauna he feels “so thankful and appreciative…I wanna call friends I haven’t spoken to in years, I wanna compliment people, and tell them that I love them.” This might sound like an unusual reaction, but research has shown that sauna use can have a marked effect on people suffering from depression. Multiple studies have shown that a single event of raised body temperature produces a remarkable antidepressant effect that lasts for weeks.
“Discomfort is your friend,” says Rogan. “Deep breathing in the sauna leav[es] me with a strange euphoria, and a general sense of calm when it’s over.” But strange it is not, as sauna use promotes dynorphin release in the brain, which is thought to be responsible for the sense of mild discomfort that comes from being in the hot environment. However, a secondary response occurs when the dynorphin is released that causes the brain to release more opioid receptors, making you more sensitive to endorphin exposure now, and in the future.
Physical Fitness and Muscle Recovery
As a dedicated martial arts practitioner, Rogan says sauna use is a “game-changer” for overall health and improved recovery, saying: “When I perform a hard workout and then get in the sauna after, I feel like my recovery is more rapid.” Rogan says another benefit of sauna use after exercising is that his muscles feel “looser”, and he experiences less muscle soreness after using the sauna.
And it’s not just Joe who is feeling the benefits. A study of six long-distance runners showed that two 30-minute infrared sauna sessions a week for three weeks post-workout increased the time that it took for participants to run until exhaustion by 32% compared to their baseline. Heat acclimation from regular sauna sessions leads to complex physiological adaptions which improves thermoregulation, resulting in improved cardiovascular fitness, muscle mass maintenance, blood flow and stroke volume in both trained and untrained participants.
Cardiovascular Health
The World Health Organisation estimates that 18 million people die each year from cardiovascular disease, that’s roughly a third of all deaths. Sadly, cardiovascular disease is lifestyle-related and largely preventable with a good diet and exercise. Sauna use can support cardiovascular health, regardless of other lifestyle factors. The study of Finnish men mentioned above, found participants to be 37 per cent less likely to die from all causes of premature death, regardless of age, activity levels, and lifestyle factors.
Infrared saunas are especially helpful for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). In a randomised controlled trial of patients with advanced CHF, two weeks of infrared sauna use improved patients’ endurance, heart size, and disease status compared to a separate group who received the usual medical care for this disease.
Inflammation
Acute and chronic inflammation are both expressed as increased CRP levels in the bloodstream which can play a significant role in the development of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes if not managed properly. Regardless of whether inflammation is the result of a stubbed toe or long-term “invisible” factors like stress, sauna use will reduce CRP levels in the blood. This was shown in a study of 2000 participants which showed CRP levels were directly related to the frequency of sauna use, with lower levels of CRP linked to greater frequency of sauna bathing.
Detoxification
Everyday life means that we’re all exposed to and consume toxic materials such as phthalates and heavy metals daily. Compromised soil and water quality, air pollution and chemicals sprayed on the produce we eat all build up in our system. Infrared heat breaks down the toxins stored in our system and purges them through sweat once the body has heated up.
Regularly using infrared sauna Joe Rogan-style will also aid your body’s natural detoxification processes. Basically, sweating expels toxins that accumulate in muscle, tissue, and organs. The more you sweat, the more toxins can be excreted. The average person will lose 0.5 kgs of sweat per sauna session and studies have shown that heavy metals are excreted at a markedly higher rate in sweat than other forms of excretion such as urination.
In conclusion
While Joe Rogan’s infrared sauna routine might be the gold standard, the evidence clearly shows that even one infrared sauna session per week will do you the world of good. There’s no other practice that will improve your cardiovascular health, mood, muscle recovery, inflammation levels and natural detoxification more dramatically or in such a short amount of time than infrared sauna use.
There’s also no other way to improve your health that is so enjoyable and relaxing! At Rimba Sweat’s exclusive infrared sauna Sydney on the Northern Beaches, we have both standard and large rooms so that you can enjoy the relaxing benefits of a sauna session by yourself or with a friend.
Our studio is a consciously curated space designed to promote healing and overall wellbeing. Experience the restoration and clarity that comes with the age-old practice of sauna combined with the modern technology of infrared heat.
Are you ready to enjoy a private oasis? Book online now and enjoy access to our luxury infrared sauna studio in Manly.