Infrared saunas are currently taking the health and beauty world by storm, and for good reason; it’s hard to beat all the amazing benefits of the sauna’s infrared lights. From increased relaxation, youthful skin, better blood circulation, soothed muscles, and many more benefits, infrared saunas are a powerful tool that can lead you to a better mind and body. However, if you’re fairly new to the world of infrared saunas, you might be wondering what you can do to make the most of your infrared sauna sessions. Luckily for you, we’re here to help: here are seven tips to help you maximize the sauna’s benefits.  

1) Hydration, not dehydration! 

You can expect to sweat a lot during your sauna session, meaning your body will lose a lot of water. If you’re not careful, this excessive water loss can lead to dehydration. Because of this, you need to be sure you’re drinking plenty of water before and after your sauna session. Similarly, you should also avoid drinking alcohol before your session because it can increase your risk of dehydration by pulling an excessive amount of water out of your body. In either case, if you want to make the most of your sauna experience, you should prioritize your health and comfort by being aware of your hydration levels, drinking plenty of water, and putting down the alcohol. 

2) Ever heard of chromotherapy? 

If your infrared sauna is equipped with colored lights, you should definitely use them to your advantage. These lights do more than just make the sauna room look pretty; they’re actually chromotherapy tools. Chromotherapy is a practice that involves using colors to treat one’s mental and physical health. So, by using the colored lights in your sauna room, you may be able to see an improvement in your overall well-being. Every color has its own health benefits, so be sure to figure out what color/colors would best suit your needs, or you could even use all the colors available if you wish. If you do decide to use more than one color throughout your session, don’t constantly switch between the colors, but give each light at least 3 minutes to shine on you before switching to the next color in order to receive the maximum benefits.

3) Good posture is key

Sitting up straight in the sauna is the secret key to reaping the infrared light’s maximum benefits. When you sit up straight, the heaters will be aimed level with both sides of your core, so your body is able to soak up much more infrared than it’d be able to while laying down. Thus, while laying down is a perfectly acceptable and quite relaxing position to be in during your sauna session, sitting straight is the ultimate way to go if you want to optimize your results. 

4) Wash away the sweat afterward

Taking a nice cold shower after your sauna session is good for two reasons. First, it can extend your relaxation time by providing you a bit of a transition between your totally relaxed state in the sauna and reassuming your more ‘normal’ everyday activities. Taking a cold shower is also important because you’ll be able to wash away all the impurities your body got rid of during your sauna session. Depending on your session length, your cool-down shower should take anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes to allow your core temperature to return to a normal level.

5) Substitute technology for mindfulness

While bringing phones into the sauna is generally not a good idea since the high temperatures and infrared light can damage the phone, some infrared saunas do offer TVs. However, if you really want to achieve full relaxation, you might want to consider opting out of watching TV and instead take the time to engage in other more rewarding relaxation techniques, like meditation, mindfulness, prayer, and deep breathing exercises. 

6) Consider your clothing choices

It’s possible that you may keep sweating for a bit after your sauna session is over. For this reason, it’s best to wear loose-fitting clothes so you don’t have to deal with the discomfort of tight clothing on sweaty skin. Anything breathable, comfy, and loose will definitely work in your favor. 

Overall, these six tips can really help elevate your sauna experience and optimize your results. Try them out the next time you decide you could use some relaxation in an infrared sauna!