ABOUT INRARED SAUNA
INFRARED SAUNA
An infrared sauna is very different than a conventional sauna. Infrared saunas are much more tolerable and comfortable due to maxing out at a lower temperature than conventional saunas.
Infrared saunas don’t heat the air around you; instead, they use infrared waves that penetrate the dermal layer of the skin to warm your body directly from the inside and then out. The dry heat triggers perspiration at a lower temperature which allows even those sensitive to high heat to benefit from this treatment.
What are the benefits of this treatment? Many! Due to the tolerable temperature heating and penetrating the body leaving less heat in the air, most can sustain this comfortable treatment for 30 minutes. Some won’t break a sweat until about halfway through a session. The body is being heated from the inside out at the cellular level, bringing out toxicity from the cells, organs, and tissues. Due to this process, infrared saunas are known for their detoxifying properties.
While there are many benefits alone from detoxification, in a single 30-minute session, you can also burn up to 600 calories, therefore you want to have a small meal or protein rich snack before your session water before, during and after your session. This will help prevent dehydration and blood sugar swings and will also flush out any toxins brought to the surface that have not yet been sweated out.
This treatment also works your heart equivalent to a 30–60-minute cardio workout. This is another reason why you burn so many calories effortlessly. Therefore, this is a great way to complement or replace a workout, or convenient for those that need to work out but are not well enough or too fatigued.
Toxicity builds up in the tissues and body have been known to contribute to fatigue, weight gain, chronic arthritic symptoms, increased inflammation, heart disease and many other conditions. An infrared sauna can assist with all of these conditions and help you feel more energy, lose weight, reduce inflammation, reduce pain and stiffness and overall well being.
If you haven’t used an infrared sauna before and would like to try it to assist with a current condition, give us a call and we can help you determine a program that best fits your needs.
FIRST TIME INFRARED SAUNA SESSION - What to Expect
Infrared Saunas have been shown to provide various health benefits for people with, or without, pre-existing conditions, at different ages, and with varying levels of activity.
If it is your first time experiencing an Infrared Sauna session, you may not know what to expect. Infrared Sauna’s in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley are becoming popular as a way to soothe and heal one’s body and mind. At ZEN Natural Wellness Centre in Abbotsford, our goal is to ensure you have a relaxing first-time infrared sauna experience.
Here is our ZEN guide to ensure you have a more comfortable IR Sauna experience:
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your sauna session. Our knowledgeable staff will introduce you to our facility and give you a brief orientation to prepare you for your session.
SESSION DURATION: At this time, each Infrared Sauna session is 30 minutes. The Sauna can hold a maximum of 2 people.
HYDRATION – Ensure you are hydrated before your infrared sauna session. It is best to drink water or coconut water. Wait a few hours after eating, we recommend about 1-2 hours, before your session.
WHAT TO WEAR – Our sauna is in a private room with a locked door. We provide towels to sit on and recommend wearing a bathing suit or the robe provided. Whatever you are comfortable with.
DURING YOUR SESSION – Place a towel or two on the bench seat to absorb perspiration during your sauna session. (We recommend layering a few towels.) The Infrared rays penetrate clothing and towels. Don’t over do it, listen to your body. If you feel you need to take a little break during your session, open the door for a little bit or take a few minutes to ‘cool off’. If at any time you feel faint or uncomfortable, open the door for a bit, or cut your session short. The more often you use the sauna, the more you will get used to the experience and therefore will tolerate longer sessions.
PERSPIRATION EXPECTATION – With an Infrared sauna, you can experience the benefits of sweating without the extreme heat. Keep in mind that you typically don’t start sweating until 10 - 15 minutes into the session.
AFTER YOUR SESSION – It is best not to shower immediately after your session due to eliminated toxins on the surface of the body. We provide towels to wipe off the sweat.
PRECAUTIONS:
If the following applies to you, we recommend speaking to your doctor prior to your session and/ or rescheduling your Infrared Sauna session for another day.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Do not use the infrared sauna if you are pregnant or have hemophilia, a fever or heat insensitivity.
MEDICATIONS: Individual using prescription drugs should consult the advice of their personal physician or pharmacist prior to their first infrared sauna session.
CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS: Individuals with cardiovascular conditions or problems (hypertension/ hypotension) should consult their physician prior to use of the Infrared Sauna.
ALCOHOL: Contrary to popular belief, it is not advisable to attempt to “sweat out” a hangover.
CHRONIC CONDITIONS: Various chronic conditions including Parkinson’s , Multiple Sclerosis, Central Nervous System Tumours and Diabetes with Neuropathy are associated with impaired sweating. Consult your physician prior to Infrared Sauna use.
JOINT INJURY/ ENCLOSED INFECTIONS: If you have a recent joint injury, it should not be heated for the first 48 hours after your injury, or until the hot and swollen symptoms subside.
IMPLANTS: Please consult your physician if you have metal pins, rods, artificial joints, silicone prostheses or any other surgical implants.
WHAT IS INFRARED LIGHT? HOW DOES IT WORK?
Infrared light is a gentle and therapeutic heat that promotes relaxation and assists with body detoxing. Far infrared heat provides the healthy benefits of natural sunlight, without the harmful effects of solar radiation.
Natural sunlight is made of a combination of visible and invisible light. A rainbow is made of visible sunlight rays while infrared and ultraviolet rays are invisible.
It is the distant (far) infrared rays (also referred to as waves) that penetrate the dermal layer of skin, leading to perspiration. The infrared sauna at ZEN Natural Wellness Centre in Abbotsford uses dry heat (far infrared).
Of all the invisible rays that emanate from the sun, far infrared is well known to our bodies because we produce far infrared. As far infrared comes from the sun it penetrates deeply into the skin to help dissolve unwanted substances that have accumulated in the body. The infrared rays have the power to revitalize your cells and metabolism.
As the far infrared waves penetrate our body, sweat glands are activated. Sweat glands are one of the tools that the body has at hand to eliminate toxins.
Far infrared is the longest wavelength which penetrates the fat cells causing vasodilation, where the fat cells vibrate to expel toxins, resulting in the greatest levels of detoxification and stimulate your metabolism to aid in weight-loss.
The efficacy of infrared waves is very broad and the subject of recent study by NASA. Among the infrared waves, the far infrared rays, which have a wavelength of 6-12 microns, are especially good for the human body. These waves have the potential to penetrate 1.5 to 2 inches or more into the body allowing for deep heat and raise your core body temperature from deep inside. The deep heat of far infrared is why scholars believe that the Ondol (traditional warm floor of Korea) is good for health because the materials for the Ondol are stone and earth, both of which radiate far infrared waves when heated.
The far infrared rays consist of similar wavelengths as those emitted naturally by the human body. This is one potential explanation of why many feel energetically rejuvenated and balanced from contact with far infrared waves. It is also believed that far infrared waves help improve blood circulation and recovery from fatigue.
INFRARED SAUNA - HEALTH AND WELLNESS BENEFITS
Current uses and benefits of IR Sauna
At ZEN Natural Wellness Centre, our Infrared sauna is equipped with Low-EMF high quality Carbon Fibre, Far Infrared Heaters and 100% Canadian Hemlock Wood.
Far infrared is the longest wavelength which penetrates the fat cells, causing vasodilation. The fat cells vibrate to expel toxins, resulting in a high level of detoxification to stimulate your metabolism and aid in weight-loss.
Infrared heat provides all the healthy benefits of natural sunlight, without the dangerous effects of solar radiation.
Infrared Saunas are a notably effective method of detoxing with added benefits.
Some of these additional benefits include relief from muscle pain, joint pain, arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Regular Infrared sauna users have experienced better sleep, improved circulation, weight loss as well as mentioning an overall relaxed feeling during the sessions.
There are many benefits to using an infrared sauna:
- Improved circulation
- Anti-inflammatory (pain relieving)
- Detoxifying
- Calorie burning (up to 600 calories within a 30 minute session)
- Equivalent to a 30-60 min cardio workout
- Very relaxing, inducing a calm mental state and reduced tension
- Better sleep
- Improved skin and complexion
- Reduces discomfort for those experiencing chronic fatigue and arthritic conditions
Additional benefits that have been linked to regular Infrared Sauna sessions* include:
- Lowered Blood Pressure
- Promotes Weight Loss
- Helps with Pain relief, joint stiffness and arthritis pain
- Improved circulation and cardiovascular health
- Detoxification
- Increased energy
- Relaxation and stress relief
*While there are many clinical and scientific studies conducted on Infrared Sauna Therapy throughout the world, Infrared sauna therapy is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
CONTRAINDICATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS
Here are some tips to ensure an infrared sauna session is a good fit for you or when to avoid use:
- Avoid using an infrared sauna if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
- Avoid using while pregnant
- Avoid using within 2-3 hours of any medication (to avoid detoxing the medication)
- If you feel ill or have a fever, it’s best to wait to use the sauna until you’re feeling better.
- Using an infrared sauna will cause you to sweat a lot, so you may feel lightheaded when you stand up. If this happens, make sure you get up slowly and sit down once you leave the sauna. Drink water immediately after finishing your session and wait for your body to cool down before doing anything else.
- In extreme cases, some people may experience overheating (heat stroke and heat exhaustion) or dehydration if outside weather is already extremely warm or you have not replenished with enough hydration.
- Trace minerals or at least some electrolytes will help prevent any healing crisis symptoms and will also help to replenish post treatment
If you have any health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems, or are under medical care, it is recommended to consult with your doctor before your first session. Even though infrared saunas are known to be safe, you want to ensure it is safe for you and any condition you may have.
