Infrared Light Sauna Versus Traditional Finnish Sauna

The age-old tradition of the steam sauna has been around for a long time, and many users enjoy the healthy benefits that come from “sweating it out” inside a sauna. But now there is a new type of sauna on the scene called the infrared light sauna. What is it, and how is it different from a traditional steam sauna?

Saunas have been around for centuries. Cultures all over the world have used saunas for their cleansing and relaxing environments. Though Finland did not actually invent the sauna, they have become so closely associated with them that people often call the conventional steam sauna “the Finnish sauna.” Saunas have existed in various forms over time, the newest incarnation of which being the infrared sauna.

There are almost too many benefits of saunas to name in this article. They are renowned for their detoxifying properties. Sweating in a sauna is proven to release chemical toxins from the body in a natural way. It unclogs pores, burns calories, soothes aching muscles and joints, and is a natural stress reliever. People often love the relaxing break of sitting in a hot sauna and letting their cares melt away.

A conventional Finnish sauna exists in an enclosed, wood-paneled room. A bin filled with rocks is heated using either gas or electricity. Electric heaters are the most common since they are the least expensive. The rocks heat up, warming the air in the sauna, which in turn warms up the people in the room and causes them to work up a sweat. It’s very important in this type of sauna that the door stay firmly shut, because if the hot air escapes then the sauna will not be effective.

Infrared light saunas work quite differently. Thin, flat, large carbon sheets line the inside of an infrared sauna. They emit infrared radiation, an invisible type of light wave that warms people directly, rather than going through the medium of hot air. This means that both the temperature of the air inside an infrared sauna and the surface temperature of the heating elements can be lower than those in traditional saunas.

A great deal of praise is heaped on the infrared sauna, and for good reason. Infrared saunas have several benefits over conventional saunas. The lower surface temperature o1000f the heaters make infrared saunas safer. Sitting inches from an infrared heating element is perfectly safe, since it will only be warm to the touch and a user doesn’t run the risk of getting burned. Infrared heaters are also more energy efficient. Because of their lower temperature, they heat up faster and are more cost effective to operate.

Conventional saunas create a dry heat inside the sauna, often irritating sinuses and sensitive skin. However, because infrared light saunas don’t heat up the air this isn’t a problem. Infrared heaters don’t technically even have to be in an enclosed room to work. They could be open to the surrounding air, as long as that surrounding air isn’t too cold. The lower air temperature also proves to be comfortable for sauna users for longer periods of time, allowing users to enjoy their experience more fully.

All the rituals like pouring water in the rocks and creating steam are no longer necessary, and some people may find that disconcerting. But once they get past that, the infrared sauna experience can’t be matched. Infrared saunas are currently the best, most comfortable, and most effective way to get the refreshing health benefits of the sauna.

By: Bill Gatton

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Using an infrared light sauna is definitely a different experience than using a conventional sauna. For more on infrared saunas and there healthy benefits, visit www.YourInfraredSauna.com to find all the resources you are looking for.