5 Amazing Reasons You Should Use an Infrared Sauna After a Workout

Man squatting a high amount of weight while smiling

Usually, sweating even more after a workout doesn’t sound that appealing, but the benefits are entirely worth it. In fact, relaxing in an infrared sauna following your workout is one of the best things you can do to promote proper muscle recovery. Here are 5 amazing reasons you need to start using an infrared sauna after your next workout.

1. Using An Infrared Sauna Following A Workout Can Improve Your Endurance

Many athletes take advantage of infrared saunas to improve their performance and endurance. Some experts have even suggested it may help enhance strength and power. In terms of endurance, a study in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport demonstrated how a 3-week sauna post-workout therapy program increased running endurance in the athletes tested [1]. Researchers theorized that this was due to increased blood volume, an effect of the sauna.

Man sitting inside an infrared sauna, smiling to someone off-screen

2. Infrared Saunas May Have A Positive Effect On Your Blood Pressure

For those with hypertension (or a risk of hypertension), infrared saunas post-workout may help maintain healthy blood pressure as well as lower it in individuals with high blood pressure. A 2012 study found sauna exposure following an exercise session improved short-term systolic blood pressure [2]. However, this study was limited in proving the long-term effects, yet, other experts indicate that they exist.

3. It Can Help Improve Joint Pain

Infrared saunas have been boasted about for helping individuals manage their rheumatoid arthritis pain and symptoms. For instance, a scientific review suggested that one particular study had shown significant pain improvements in rheumatoid arthritis patients after only 4 weeks of sauna therapy [3]. Other studies appeared to show similar results for other conditions, such as fibromyalgia. From this, it can be inferred that infrared sauna exposure after a workout can improve post-workout joint pain or injury-related pain following an exercise session.

woman wearing workout clothes staring out a window
4. Infrared Saunas Following A Workout May Decrease Feelings Of Fatigue

Various research studies have shown that saunas decrease fatigue, particularly in those with fatigue syndrome [3]. It was further shown to potentially help decrease one’s risk of depression and anxiety, which can contribute to fatigue. Following a workout, many individuals may feel drained. However, an infrared sauna may be just what you need to feel rejuvenated and refreshed after your exercise session.

In addition to this, infrared saunas can help prevent and alleviate post-workout soreness. It helps detoxify the body, ridding your system of byproducts released from exercise.

5. An Infrared Sauna May Increase Your Weight Loss

You’re already burning calories with exercise, so why not amp that up even more? An infrared sauna has many benefits for individuals seeking to lose weight. Some sauna sessions might even burn up to 600 calories all in one sitting. Basically, infrared saunas work to hit the body from the inside out. It heats your core first. This is different from traditional saunas in that it increases your heart rate, enhances your metabolic processes, and thus, burns more calories. When you burn more calories than you expend, you lose weight.

When it comes to weight loss and infrared saunas, it’s also encouraged to move a bit during your session, but it’s not required. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and either way, you’ll obtain a higher caloric burn. It’s further important to note that an infrared sauna can be part of a healthy weight loss plan, but you’ll want to focus on other lifestyle factors as well, like your diet.

Make Infrared Saunas Part of Your Regular Exercise Routine

Infrared saunas after a workout have many benefits. Why not add it on as a relaxing go-to after your exercise? Take it easy, meditate, or even listen to music while you wind down. With so many benefits to look forward to, what’s stopping you from adding an infrared sauna to your home?

Post-Workout Infrared Sauna Benefits, Increase Endurance, Strength and Power, Positively effects blood pressure, improves joint pain and reduces arthritis pain/symptoms, feel more energized, decreases fatigue, can help with a healthy weight loss plan

Resources:

[1] Cotter J, Hopkins W, et al. (2008). “Effect Of Post-Exercise Sauna Bathing On The Endurance Performance Of Competitive Male Runners.” Sciencedirect.com, August 2007, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1440244006001393.

[2] Belanger M, Garzon M, et al. (2012). “Effects of Sauna Alone and Postexercise Sauna Baths on Blood Pressure and Hemodynamic Variables in Patients With Untreated Hypertension.” Onlinelibrary.wiley.com, 3 May 2012, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1751-7176.2012.00637.x.

[3] Cohen M, and Hussain J. (2018). “Clinical Effects Of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review.” Hindawi.com, 8 January 2018, https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2018/1857413/.