Infrared Sauna vs Traditional Sauna: Discover Why Infrared is a Better Way to Detox

If you’re looking for a way to relieve stress, going to a sauna is a great option. But if you don’t like the hot, steamy environment of a traditional sauna, you’ll be happy to learn there’s a better way.

Infrared saunas stand out as the more comfortable option, operating at lower temperatures and utilizing a heating method that delivers better health benefits. While both types of saunas provide calming environments, infrared saunas can lead to greater calorie burning, blood circulation, and pain relief.

Let’s explore the differences between infrared and traditional saunas and how infrared saunas provide a greater experience.

What is a Traditional Sauna?

A traditional sauna is a cabin or wooden room that provides heat therapy. It can do this by using wood-burning stoves, gas or electric heaters, or steam.

Traditional saunas usually reach temperatures of 150℉ to 195℉. As the sauna heats the air, the air increases your body temperature. Sitting in this dry, heated environment causes sweating, which delivers many health benefits.

What are the Health Benefits?

The health benefits of going to a traditional sauna include:

• Easing Stress: Hot temperatures in a traditional sauna release endorphins in the body. These chemicals have a mood-improving effect and a calming effect.

• Boosting Circulation: When you’re in a traditional sauna, your blood vessels will widen and your blood flow will increase. This process results in improved circulation, which in turn lowers blood pressure.

• Muscle Relaxation: The warm environment helps relax tense muscles, alleviating anxiety and stress.

• Pain Relief: As blood flow increases and muscles relax, inflammation decreases. This reduces inflammation, relieving sore muscles and joints.

• Detoxification: Traditional saunas induce sweating, which helps flush out toxins through the skin.

• Burning Calories: As your body’s heart rate and metabolism increase, you can burn some calories in a traditional sauna.

• Improving Sleep: The heat in the sauna will raise your body temperature, which will drop after you leave. This temperature regulation releases melatonin, a hormone that improves your sleep.

How Long is a Session?

A typical session is 15-20 minutes. However, if you’re going to a traditional sauna for the first time, 5-10 minutes is a good length for beginners. Over time, your body will become more comfortable in a sauna, and you can have longer sessions when you’re ready.

What is an Infrared Sauna?

Infrared saunas provide heat therapy with infrared light. Instead of heating the air like a traditional sauna, they directly apply heat to the body. As a result, the heat reaches the tissues more deeply, offering greater health benefits. Since infrared saunas provide direct heat, they can run at lower temperatures. That’s why many people consider them more comfortable than traditional saunas.

Infrared saunas reach 110℉ to 135℉, making them a great therapeutic treatment for people who think traditional saunas are too hot. If you don’t like steamy environments, then you’ll enjoy the steam-free atmosphere of this type of sauna.

What are the Health Benefits?

The health benefits of going to an infrared sauna include:

• Improving Circulation: The heat from the infrared lights widens blood vessels and increases blood flow. As a result, it delivers more nutrients and oxygen to organs and tissues, improving circulation.

• Detoxification: Infrared saunas offer a more effective detoxification experience than traditional saunas, as the heat is directed directly into the body rather than the air. This method removes more toxins from the body.

• Pain Relief: As your blood flow increases during the session, it reduces inflammation and helps your muscles relax. This process eases joint pain, speeds up muscle recovery, and relieves arthritis and other types of chronic pain.

• Relaxation: The warmth from the infrared sauna releases endorphins, making you feel calm.

• Burning Calories: As infrared saunas increase your body temperature, they boost your metabolism and help your body burn calories.

• Rejuvenating Skin: Infrared saunas increase collagen and elastin production. These proteins enhance skin elasticity, resulting in smoother, more even skin.

How Long Is a Session?

If you’re excited about going to an infrared sauna for the first time, 5-10 minutes is usually suitable for beginners. As you become more used to this treatment, you can have longer sessions. Most people spend 20-25 minutes in an infrared sauna, but more experienced visitors may stay 30-35 minutes.

Are Infrared Saunas Safe?

Yes, infrared saunas are generally safe for many people. However, if you have a health condition or are taking medication, check with your doctor to see if this sauna is right for you. Pregnant women and people with heat sensitivities, fever, or a weakened immune system should not go to an infrared sauna.

Infrared Sauna vs Traditional Sauna: What are the Differences?

Infrared and traditional saunas can each provide a relaxing experience. However, they go about it in unique ways and offer different benefits:

• Heating Methods: Traditional saunas heat the air in the room, whereas infrared saunas apply heat directly to the body. As a result, your body will experience greater health benefits since the infrared light goes through the tissues more deeply.

• Temperature: Infrared saunas have lower temperatures than traditional saunas, which provides a more comfortable experience.

• Humidity: Since traditional saunas heat the air, they are humid, steamy, and often uncomfortable environments. However, infrared saunas use light, making them cooler, drier, and steam-free.

• Health Benefits: Infrared saunas deliver deeper penetration by applying heat directly to the body. As a result, it provides better detoxification.

• Sweating Induced: With its cooler temperatures, infrared saunas produce longer-lasting sweat, which helps regulate body temperature and detoxify the body more effectively than traditional saunas.

• Weight Loss Potential: While you can burn calories at both types of saunas, infrared saunas offer a greater potential for weight loss since infrared heat penetrates the body more deeply.

• Overall Experience: Many people find infrared saunas to be a more comfortable experience since they are cooler than traditional saunas.

Tips for a Safe and Relaxing Infrared Sauna Experience

Whether you go to an infrared sauna, here are some tips to help you have a safe and calming session.

Before Your Sauna

Drinking water before, during, and after your sauna trip will help prevent dehydration. It’s also a great idea to eat a light, healthy snack before you go. Eating will help prevent you from feeling dizzy or lightheaded due to the heat.

In all honesty, it’s a good idea to wear as little clothing as possible for your session. Think birthday suit or swimsuit. If you do want to wear clothing, opt for light, loose garments made from breathable fibers, such as cotton. Wearing tight clothing won’t help your skin breathe and can limit your movement.

Hear from our infrared sauna expert here on why you should wear little to no clothing during your session:

During Your Sauna

If it’s your first time going to an infrared sauna, begin with a shorter session and increase your time as you get used to the experience. As you’re in the sauna, pay attention to how you feel. If you start to experience dizziness or nausea, you should leave immediately and drink some water. If you’re well-hydrated before you step into the sauna, you’re less likely to feel lightheaded.

Additionally, you always have the option to take a break and return. You may find several short sessions more comfortable than one longer visit.

After Your Sauna

When your session is over, cooling down with a shower will help your body regulate its

temperature. You can also gently exfoliate and moisturize your skin to prevent dryness.

Additionally, you can do some light stretches to improve your flexibility. Many people find it helpful to rest, relax, and rehydrate after their infrared sauna session.

Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: Which Should I Choose?

If you prefer a gentler, more calming heat that’s easier on the body, you may enjoy an infrared sauna. Its lower temperature makes it more comfortable, especially for beginners or people with heat sensitivities. With the amazing benefits of an infrared sauna, you’ll have better circulation, muscle recovery, rejuvenated skin, and great detoxification.

Traditional saunas offer a more intense, steamy environment that some people like, but if you’re looking for a relaxing, comfortable experience, you can look no further than an infrared sauna. If you’re unsure, consult your doctor to see which may be best for you. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your health, preferences, and heat tolerance.

Relax and Detoxify at an Infrared Sauna in Avon, CT

Ready for a better detoxification experience? If you want to avoid the hot temperatures and steamy environment of a traditional sauna, there’s a better way. Since infrared saunas apply heat directly to the body, they can operate at lower temperatures, offer greater health benefits, and provide a much more comfortable and relaxing experience.

At Imagine Float, we offer a calming infrared sauna experience in Avon, CT, and we’re proud to serve West Hartford, Framingham, and Canton—call (860) 453-6109 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

If you’re stressed, achy, or want to relax, don’t wait to get the relief you need. We’ll make sure you get the comfortable detoxification you deserve.