THE SCIENCE BEHIND WEIGHT LOSS WITH SAUNA USE

You’ve probably heard the sauna weight loss claims… “Sit in a sauna for 30 minutes and burn HUNDREDS of calories!” and “Shed pounds FAST by burning calories in a sauna!” Sounds like the sauna is a miracle tool for weight loss, right? In a sense, yes, but not quite to the degree of said claims. Instead of a quick weight loss solution, incorporating sauna use into your health regimen provides a long-term and gradual boost to losing weight.

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If you are serious about losing weight and are interested in an effective solution with long-lasting results and a slew of health benefits outside of weight loss, consider infrared sauna treatment. Whether at home, at the gym, or at the spa, see the science behind using a sauna to lose weight:

Sauna Weight Loss Benefits

Boosted Calorie Burn

Increased heat results in increased metabolic rate which results in increased calorie burn. When burning calories in a sauna, don’t expect to burn hundreds of calories in one session by simply sitting there. The burn is more of a slight boost to your regular sedentary calorie burn. Sauna use also increases heart rate by at least 30%, which requires more energy and burns more calories.

To calculate the calories burned in an infrared sauna, multiply your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) by 1.5 for that amount of time. For example, if your BMR indicates a burn of 1440 calories a day, you should expect to burn about 45 calories during a 30-minute sauna session:

(1440 ÷ 48) x 1.5 = 45

The boost is especially beneficial if using a sauna after working out, as it prolongs the benefits of exercise well past stepping out of the gym. Working out or not, the increase in metabolic rate lasts for a few hours after leaving the sauna, giving you an extra calorie burn boost throughout the day!

Muscle & Joint Pain Relief

Exercise is one of the largest factors in getting in shape and losing weight. Experiencing any discomfort in your joints or muscles is a deterrent to getting active, and it is easy to use minor aches and pains as an excuse to not get motivated. You can reduce, and sometimes even eliminate, aches and pains by using an infrared sauna.

The infrared heat therapy penetrates deep into muscles and tendons to release tension. The heat alerts the body of a “false fever” that results in a higher production of white blood cells to help reduce swelling and inflammation. Increased blood flow also promotes faster healing of muscles. With less tension, improved mobility, and more efficient healing, getting active for weight loss is more plausible and enjoyable.

Lipid Regulation

Lipids, namely fat and cholesterol, can be improved by using a sauna. For fat cells, infrared therapy has been shown to penetrate deep into these cells to increase blood flow to the area and promote detoxification. This is seen most in the reduction in appearance of cellulite, where fat cells bulge near the surface of the skin. While cellulite is not an indicator of weight, reducing and smoothing the fat cells is a nice perk while trying to feel more confident.

Studies show that those using a sauna are more likely to see a significant decrease in LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol) and slight increase in HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol). These results are consistent with the positive cholesterol effects of moderate-intensity physical exercise. Lower levels of bad cholesterol are a great sign of weight loss and improved health.

Better Sleep & Relaxation

Sleep might not seem like a big proponent of weight loss, but sleep plays a large role in making sure you mentally stay on the right track. A lack of sleep can lead to impaired judgment in dietary choices, causing you to crave indulgent foods or seek out unnecessary food for more energy. Less sleep can also increase stress and anxiety, which can be triggers for unhealthy eating.

Using a sauna affects the autonomic nervous system to put you in the parasympathetic (rest and digest) state, which helps you unwind and get a great night’s rest. With a sharp mind, you should be motivated and ready to pursue all your weight loss goals!

Safe Sauna Weight Loss Tips

Using a sauna to help with your weight loss journey is a simple and straightforward process, but requires a few precautions to ensure you are losing weight in a safe and healthy manner. Follow these sauna weight loss tips to feel and look your best:

Stay hydrated! The majority of the weight you immediately lose after stepping out of a sauna is water weight due to sweating. Try drinking cold water to burn even more calories, as your body requires extra energy to process the cold temperatures.
Don’t use the sauna before a workout. As mentioned earlier, post-workout sauna use can prolong the benefits of going to the gym. However, sitting in a sauna before exercising increases your chances of injury and dehydration. Stick to treating yourself and relaxing after working out.
Start off slowly and work your way up to longer times in the sauna. If you suffer from lightheadedness or are sensitive to heat, try a 5-minute session first and gradually increase your time to adjust your body to the experience.

Remember that to see weight loss with sauna use, results won’t show unless you combine infrared sauna therapy with a proper diet and exercise. While there are many health benefits from using a sauna, simply sitting in one won’t be the answer to someone wanting to “burn hundreds of calories in minutes” or “shed weight fast”. Instead, focus on the long-term effects of using a sauna for weight loss and how those results will be much more rewarding and effective than any crash diet or miracle treatment could be!

HOW TO USE A SAUNA AFTER A WORKOUT TO BOOST PERFORMANCE

If you are a member of a gym, you have probably seen a sauna near the locker room. It’s not just a luxury amenity to turn your gym visit into a spa day, there are actually many health benefits to using a sauna after a workout. Muscle soreness, fatigue, and drops in performance are all issues that a sauna can help improve. If nothing else, it’ll help your grueling trip to the gym end on a relaxing note, leaving you ready to take on the rest of the day!

Gym Sauna Etiquette

First things first, if you’re using a sauna at the gym, it’s important to be aware of proper gym sauna etiquette. Just as there are rules and common courtesies you follow at the gym, such as wiping down equipment after use or using headphones to listen to music, there are dos and don’ts of using a public sauna:

Do shower before entering. You’ll want to wash off any sweat, odors, and germs from your workout, which will make for a better experience for all involved.
Don’t go in the nude. Either wear a towel or bathing suit in to the sauna to keep things decent and sanitary for other users. If using a towel, bring extra to sit or lay on in case wrapping one isn’t enough coverage.
Do be quiet. Don’t strike up conversation, groan with relaxation, or listen to music. A sauna is a time to unwind and relax, and that means silence! Try some meditation in the sauna to help quiet your mind instead.
Don’t bring electronics. Your phone may not fare well in the extreme heat, and other sauna users may be annoyed if you’re texting or playing games in their relaxing space.
Do be quick. This applies both to the amount of time you spend in the sauna (we recommend no more than 20 minutes) and how quickly you enter or exit the sauna – you don’t want to let too much heat escape.
Don’t exercise in the sauna. While hot yoga is a wonderful practice for mind and body, it doesn’t belong in a public sauna where you are sharing a small space. Instead, find a hot yoga studio or practice it in your home.

Benefits of Sauna After a Workout

Muscle Recovery Process

After working out, you’re sure to feel sore in the muscles you’ve worked. During exercise, your muscles are worked harder than they are accustomed to, which causes them to form microscopic tears. These tears cause inflammation and can result in muscle soreness, tightness, cramps, and sensitivity. Your body then heals these tears to make your muscles stronger. Using a sauna enhances the muscle recovery process by increasing blood circulation and carrying oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscle. Heat also allows muscles to relax better, thus relieving muscle tension.

Benefits of Sweating

Sweating during your workout helps cool you down, but it also helps release toxins in your body. You can prolong the benefits of sweating well past your gym session by sweating it out in a sauna. This helps remove harmful elements such as toxic metals, alcohol, nicotine, and more. By purging your body of these toxins, you are more likely to feel better post-workout. Just be sure to stay hydrated, as you’ll be losing more fluids in a sauna than you’ll be taking in.

Sauna Weight Loss Benefits

For many, weight loss is a big goal for putting together an exercise plan. Luckily, there are many sauna weight loss studies showing the correlation between sauna use and losing weight. Saunas boost your cardiovascular, immune, and lymphatic systems to help detox the body. Additionally, infrared heat can slightly increase human growth hormone (HGH) production and lower cortisol levels to promote more weight loss. Overall, sitting in a sauna can help boost muscle recovery, improve well-being, and decrease body fat – all things helpful in a weight loss journey.

Safe Post-Workout Sauna Use

Your body is already more worn down after a workout, so it’s best to keep it short and sweet in your post-gym sauna session. Plan to stay in the sauna no longer than 20 minutes to avoid over-exerting your body. If you have never used a sauna before or are new to the practice, start with smaller intervals of time. Your body will tell you if you’re spending too long in the sauna post-workout. Look out for signs such as lightheadedness, dizziness, and headaches, as they might be signs that you are dehydrated or overheating.

After exiting the sauna, drink 2 to 4 glasses of water to stay hydrated and help flush toxins from your body, as you’ll be sweating quite a bit. Once you leave the gym, continue to keep activity light. Mild exercise like walking or swimming can increase blood circulation to your muscles to aid recovery, but more activity can disrupt the recovery process. At the end of the day, to reap all the benefits of sauna after a workout, be sure to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated!

Should I Use a Sauna Before Workout Sessions?

After reviewing all the benefits of using a sauna after a workout, you may be wondering if the same sauna benefits apply to your pre-workout routine. The simple answer: No. Using a sauna before your workout can lead to a number of risks during your workout. Some of the pre-workout sauna risks include:

Relaxed muscles. While relaxed muscles are one of the benefits of sauna after a workout, they can be detrimental going in to your exercises. Damage and injury are more likely to happen to muscles that are too relaxed and loose prior to intensive activity. Instead, save the relaxation as a reward to yourself after your hard work.
Lower energy. Again, this risk is a benefit when applied to after your workout. However, being mentally relaxed before hitting the gym can mean lower energy levels, resulting in a lackluster workout. Keep your mind alert prior to working out so you can focus on your technique and maintain motivation.
Dehydration and overheating. Not only will the heat in a sauna kick off unnecessary sweating before you even start your first exercise, it will also increase your chances of becoming dehydrated. Avoid the risk of overheating and becoming lightheaded by saving the sauna for after your workout – and always remember to hydrate!

With responsible and safe use, adding a trip to the sauna after working out can make your fitness efforts even more worthwhile. Not only will your muscles heal quicker, but you’ll also feel more rejuvenated and extend the benefits of exercising well past your workout. Whether it’s in your home sauna or at the gym, be sure to schedule time to use a sauna after working out!

WHAT IS HALOTHERAPY? HEALTH BENEFITS OF SALT THERAPY AT HOME

Halotherapy, or salt therapy, has been a rising trend in spas and is deep-rooted in ancient healing practices. From having a calming effect to helping treat respiratory issues, there are many halotherapy benefits. Learn about the types of salt therapy and the health benefits of salt therapy at home or in spas below.

Beautiful woman enjoying salt spa treatment

What is Halotherapy?

Halotherapy is the practice of salt therapy that uses microsalt to promote a range of health benefits once inhaled. In the popular practice of dry halotherapy, the treatment is intended to recreate the atmosphere of salt caves with dry, cold conditions and a high concentration of micronized salt in the air. Typically, a halotherapy generator is used to crush salt into microparticles that are easily inhaled by the user. Halotherapy can also be practiced using wet methods that include creating a solution of salt and water applied in various ways.

The efficacy of salt for improving respiratory issues has been observed since medieval Europe by Catholic monks, and halotherapy might have even been practiced in ancient Greece and Rome. In 1843, Polish doctor Feliks Boczkowski published a treatise noting his theories on the respiratory health benefits of salt therapy after noticing miners in the Wieliczka Salt Mines had low occurrences of respiratory problems. Today, salt therapy has become a popular spa treatment and has even made its way into the average home through items like salt lamps.

Halotherapy Benefits

As it is an alternative treatment, halotherapy medical research is not as prevalent, and salt therapy benefits are currently anecdotal and not scientific. That being said, salt is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and can help with excessive mucus, pathogen agents, digestive issues, depression, skin conditions, and immune system oversensitivity. With all of these properties, it’s easy to see that incorporating salt therapy into your life can help remedy a range of health issues.

Health benefits of salt therapy include aid in treatment of the following conditions:

Asthma	Colds	Depression
Chronic Bronchitis	Ear Infections	Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Breathnessness	Sinus Infections	Psoriasis
Chest Tightness	Allergies	Eczema
Tonsillitis	Hay Fever	Acne
Laryngitis	Snoring	Rosacea
COPD	Sleep Apnea	Dry Skin
Cystic Fibrosis	Insomnia	Rashes

Microsalt is especially effective when used for respiratory and skin conditions. In the respiratory system, the main halotherapy benefits (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hydrophilic, and mucokinetic) help stimulate the body’s process of cleansing the system to eliminate foreign particles such as pollutants and allergens to restore proper respiratory functions. For the skin, salt therapy helps regulate pH levels and enhances the reparative and regenerative properties. It can also boost the production of collagen fibers for rejuvenation and lymph cells for an immune system boost.

Halotherapy also helps improve mental health and boosts mood. Salt contains negatively charged ions that leave you feeling invigorated, positive, and stress-free. These negative ions are also known to reduce serotonin levels. While serotonin is typically associated with happiness and calmness, serotonin syndrome, or the excess of serotonin in the system, can cause agitation and insomnia. Salt therapy can help normalize serotonin levels, thus leveling out mood and improving sleep.

What are the Dangers of Salt Therapy?

While there are many health benefits of salt therapy, every user’s case is different. Salt therapy side effects are rare and are typically avoidable, but depending on your sensitivities to salt, you may experience some discomfort. Some reported side effects include temporarily constricted airways, headaches, minor tightness in the chest, and slight eye irritation. Typically, these “dangers” of salt therapy are hardly risks at all and can be avoided by ensuring the environment is controlled by managing the time spent and levels of salt in the atmosphere.

While one can breathe salt air for 24 hours without adverse effects, we recommend doing short sessions at a regular cadence to avoid side effects and create lasting results. Set a timer when practicing halotherapy at home or speak with a professional to determine the appropriate halotherapy session time for you if visiting a spa. If you have any major health concerns, consult your doctor before participating in any new treatments.

Salt Therapy Methods

Dry Method

The dry method of halotherapy is the most common, where microscopic particles of salt created by a halotherapy generator and are distributed into the air. Dry halotherapy sessions take place in a dry and cool room, or artificial salt cave, set to 68°F or lower. Users spend 30-45 minutes inhaling the salt particles that help remedy ailments and create a calming effect. The dry method of salt therapy shows the best and longest-lasting results when used on a regular basis, and allows for the microsalt to be inhaled deep into the respiratory tract.

Young woman floating in Spa bath or swimming pool, she is very relaxed. Welness concept.

Wet Method

Halotherapy can also be done with the wet method, where salt and water are combined into a solution that can be applied in a number of ways. Some examples of wet salt therapy methods are gargling or drinking salt water to tend to a sore throat, using a saline solution to clear nasal passages, soaking in an Epsom salt bath for aches and pains, and floating in highly-concentrated saltwater tanks. Salt can be inhaled using the wet method but is not as effective as dry halotherapy, as wet aerosol inhalations only allow the saline solution to reach the upper respiratory tract.

Salt Therapy at Home

Going to the spa for a halotherapy treatment is always a relaxing way to enjoy the health benefits of salt therapy, but you don’t need to leave the house or spend money every time you want a health or mood boost. Depending on your budget, there are plenty of ways to practice salt therapy at home:

For those with larger budgets, consider adding a salt room to your home. Outfit your personal salt cave with Himalayan salt bricks and a salt bed for the full experience. Don’t forget a microsalt generator to create the concentrated salt air necessary for enjoying the full benefits.
For those with less space to dedicate an entire salt cave to, consider adding a microsalt halotherapy generator to your infrared sauna sessions. Creating your own salt sauna experience allows you to combine the powerful detoxifying properties of infrared therapy with the healing benefits of halotherapy. Make a total health sanctuary by incorporating chromotherapy and aromatherapy as well for a true spa getaway at home.
For those with a smaller budget, there are plenty of affordable salt therapy treatments you can do at home. Himalayan salt lamps create beautiful ambiance while providing halotherapy benefits in small spaces. Additionally, you can practice wet salt therapy by soaking in an Epsom salt bath.

Regardless of how you get your dose of salt therapy, this all-natural treatment is a wonderful way to improve your health and mood. From spa days to bubble baths at home, there is no wrong way to experience the many benefits of halotherapy!

SAUNA CHROMOTHERAPY BENEFITS

What is Chromotherapy?

Chromotherapy, also called color light therapy, is the process of restoring balance to the body by applying color. Many people use chromotherapy lights in an infrared sauna to achieve the wellness benefits of color light therapy.

Color light therapy relies on the premise that each color is associated with a different bodily response. For example, red is typically associated with stimulation, while blue is considered a mentally relaxing color.

Color has been used to treat all kinds of medical conditions since ancient times. Color light therapy history dates back to ancient Egypt, India, China, and even as far back as the Mayan culture. Now, the medical benefits of color light therapy are being investigated and implemented in major hospitals and medical research centers worldwide.

10 Benefits of Color Light Therapy

Color light therapy has many benefits, ranging from emotional to physical. These chromotherapy benefits can help with:

Reduced Swelling and Decreased Inflammation

Applying color light therapy to swollen or inflamed areas has been known to help soothe the area and catalyze healing. This kind of chromotherapy treatment helps to relax the muscles and reverse irritation.

Pain Relief

Because color light therapy helps reduce swelling, inflammation, muscle tension, and other conditions typically associated with pain, the treatment often provides relief to patients.

Accelerated Healing

Color light treatment helps accelerate the body’s reparative efforts. Rejuvenative LED light therapy has been used to catalyze the healing of post-surgical scars, burns, wounds, and more.

Increased Range of Motion

Treatments that utilize chromotherapy lights help lubricate joints and relax the surrounding muscles, resulting in increased range of motion. This results in many benefits, including improved flexibility and injury prevention.

Decreased Muscle Tension

When applied to tight and tense muscle areas, color light therapy helps dissolve knots and tension to relax the body. As a result, reduced stress is a collateral benefit of color light therapy.

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Improved Circulation

Since different colors vibrate at different frequencies, certain colors can have similar effects as heat and can affect your body’s circulation. This chromotherapy benefit is enhanced when used in conjunction with an infrared sauna.

Regulated Mood

Each color in the spectrum elicits a specific feeling or response, one of which is regulated moods. Using light to stimulate our endocrine systems naturally regulates hormonal imbalances, mood changes, and even depression.

Improved Sleeping Patterns

Mood regulation and muscle relaxation can result in improved sleeping patterns among persons that participate in color light therapy. Combining chromotherapy with sauna use can enhance this benefit even further.

Relief of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

We all have an internal biological clock that helps us adjust to the cyclical nature of days and nights. With SAD, which is typically triggered in the winter months, that internal clock is thrown off by shorter days and lack of sunlight. That’s where color light therapy comes in. Certain color treatments can help to offset the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, which, in turn, helps regulates mood and improves sleeping patterns.

Anti-Aging Benefits

Color light therapy energizes skin cells and reinvigorates inactive skin cells. This results in a boost in collagen production. A boost in collagen gives the skin a smooth appearance and improves its elasticity.

Color Light Therapy Chart

The color light therapy chart shows key benefits by color. You can also read our more in-depth breakdown of chromotherapy benefits.

Chromotherapy Sauna Treatments

An infrared sauna works to penetrate the skin to nourish the body with a multitude of infrared sauna health benefits that accompany this aspect of the sun’s light. Combining chromotherapy benefits with infrared sauna use can help to customize the vibration frequencies to your specific wellness goals. When on the market for a sauna, look for one with medical grade chromotherapy lights.

All of the Clearlight Infrared Sauna models come with medical-grade chromotherapy lighting. Each of the 96 LED lights contributes to a different aspect of wellness so your infrared sauna experience is both relaxing and productive. Contact us for more information.

DEFINING OBESOGENS: THE CHEMICALS IMPACT & PRESENCE IN THE HOUSEHOLD

Obesogens are present in a number of things people touch, use, eat off of and drink out of on a daily basis, all of which have a seriously detrimental effect on the body. These compounds can be blamed for hormonal imbalances, metabolism issues and more.

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Let’s learn what obesogens are, how they affect our bodies, and where they can be found. Then, you can take educated steps to avoid them!

Silhouette of a young female athlete in tracksuit drinking water from a bottle on the beach in summer during morning exercises. Sport and healthy lifestyle.

What are Obesogens?

Obesogens are foreign chemical compounds that can lead to obesity. They generally disrupt normal development, hormonal balances, fat storage, and your metabolism. Obesogenic chemicals can also disrupt energy balance and modify the regulation of appetite and the feeling of being full. This can lead to overeating and, in turn, obesity.

There are both pharmaceutical obesogens and environmental obesogens. Scientists have continued to study the impact of these compounds.

How do Obesogens Impact the Body?

Different obesogens impact the body in a variety of ways, including:

Increasing the number and/or size of fat cells
Affecting the body’s regulation of hunger and fullness
Changing metabolism by storing calories as fat

While the main causes of obesity are still imbalances in energy levels and improper diets, the school of thought surrounding obesogens continues to grow. In addition to the calorie-in-calorie-out equation of weight gain and today’s increasingly unhealthy food choices, the chemicals in your home, work, and the world may have an impact on your weight.

Different Kinds of Obesogens

There are more than 800,000 chemicals in the US, and about 800 of these are identified as endocrine disruptors (chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system). Below are the most common obesogenic chemicals that may be found in and around your home:

Tributyltin (TBT) – TBT is a compound that used to be widely used in marine paints because of its biocide properties, which limits the growth of organisms on a ship’s hull. It has since been banned because it has been shown to harm other marine life, but it can still be found in some household fungicides and disinfectants.
Phthalates – Phthalates can be found in many plastics and beauty care items, including clay, paint, bottles, makeup, nail polish, hair spray, and many more. Although the dangers of phthalates are becoming more publicized, they can still be found in everyday household items. Lawmakers are trying to force more producers to use non-phthalate plasticizers.
Organochlorines – Organochlorines have a variety of uses, from pesticides to electronics manufacturing. Simply, they contain at least one chlorine atom and some of these compounds have a profound environmental concern.
Bisphenol A (BPA) – BPA is used to make many plastics and epoxy resins, and scientists have found it to be a xenoestrogen, meaning that is exhibits estrogen-mimicking, hormone-like properties. This could be one reason why some consider it an obesogen because our hormones play a role in weight regulation.
Organobromines – Organobromine compounds are often used in flame-retardant products and while some are naturally-occurring, they are mostly synthetic and their safety has fallen under increased scrutiny recently due to their environmental impact.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid – Perfluorooctanoic acid’s most notable use is serving as the compound on non-stick cookware. It has shown to be a carcinogen and toxicant for both animals and humans. It can also be found in stain-resistant carpet and carpet cleaners, and microwave popcorn bags!

Gardener applying an insecticide fertilizer to his fruit shrubs, using a sprayer

Organophosphates – Organophosphates are most commonly found in today’s commercial insecticides and herbicides and recent studies suggest a link between this compound and adverse neurobehavioral development in fetuses and children.
Heavy Metals (Including Cadmium, Arsenic, and Lead) – We’ve long known the danger of metals like arsenic and lead, but often these metals are still used in mining processes, fertilizer, plastics, and wood preservatives.

This is just a short list of the over 800 endocrine disruptors that can lead to obesity. As a responsible parent, homeowner, and citizen of the world, look out for these Obesogenic chemicals and avoid them when possible. To learn more about the significance of obesogenic chemicals, and a multitude of other factors and habits that impact our bodies wellness, download the Total Wellness ebook.

Cutting a vegetables for a salad with an olive oil

INCORPORATING YOUR INFRARED SAUNA INTO YOUR MIND-BODY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Just as the mind and body are intertwined, so are the benefits of infrared sauna use and Ayurveda. The practice of Ayurveda is about aligning yourself with the infinite power of nature so that you can live a healthy, happy, fulfilling life. An infrared sauna can help you achieve ayurvedic balance by providing a tool for wellness and relaxation.

Here are ways in which the incorporation of an infrared sauna in conjunction with your Ayurveda practice can help you lead a lifestyle of overall health and mindfulness.

1) It allows you to self-perform Swedana, or fomentation therapy.

The application of moist heat can be extremely beneficial for those with tight muscles. To perform fomentation therapy on yourself at home, try giving yourself a massage, taking your time and focusing on any areas of stress and tension in your body. The massage will loosen up any toxins in your muscle tissues. To flush out those toxins, follow up with time spent in an infrared sauna for about 20-45 minutes, depending on your body’s preference. Swedana helps to eliminate toxins in the body through sweat and also helps to dissolve tension, creating supple muscles and a deep sense of relaxation.

2) You can benefit in a unique way, depending on your dosha.

Because of the diverse characteristics of each dosha, the benefits of infrared sauna use differ depending on your mind-body type. Though each dosha can benefit from the use of an infrared sauna, the Vata and Kapha dosha types can benefit the most from regular sauna use because of the resulting increased circulation, lubricated joints, and (over time) weight loss. Although Pittas can reap similar benefits, they should start their sauna experience with shorter 15-20-minute sessions to be mindful of overheating.

3) It helps your body eliminate what it doesn’t need.

Although Ayurveda practice involves incorporating colorful, fresh foods into your diet, not every meal can perfectly suit what your body needs. Sometimes we may ingest too much of one nutrient that the body does not need right now. Sometimes we treat ourselves to not-so-healthy food. Regardless of the reason, while we may try our best, our diets will not be perfectly balanced all the time. The use of an infrared sauna will help your digestive system move waste through your body, helping your body to maximize the nutritional benefits of the food you eat.

4) It helps to improve and regulate energy levels.

Of course, according to Ayurveda, getting a restful night’s sleep is essential when it comes to helping our bodies rejuvenate and repair. Once this has been achieved, you should wake up feeling energized and ready to take on the day. However, the use of a sauna can provide supplemental energizing benefits, in addition to getting a peaceful night’s rest. The deep penetration of the body with heat allows for improved circulation which, in turn, can result in increased energy levels and clearer focus. This is a great option when you need an added boost of energy in the morning before starting your day.

5) It just feels good.

When you’re in Ayurvedic balance, what you desire and what you need are in alignment. This means that if you get the sudden urge to eat a fresh piece of fruit, your body probably needs the vitamins that are found in that fruit. Similarly, when you have the urge to immerse yourself in the heat of an infrared sauna, your body is probably craving one of the countless benefits that it has associated with penetrative heat. Ayurveda is about flowing with the infinite energy of the universe instead of fighting it.

6) It can boost your immune system.

As you relax in the sauna, your body is working to improve the functionality of your immune system. As your body heat rises, its natural healing process is triggered and your immune system will begin producing higher numbers of white blood cells and antibodies. This helps your body to fight off viruses and other pathogens that inevitably come your way.

7) It cleanses your skin.

As the largest organ in your body, your skin acts as a barrier between the outside world and your physical self. Keeping that barrier clean and free of any toxins is essential for your health. While eating a colorful, healthy diet and making sure you get a nightly restful sleep can help rejuvenate your skin, using an infrared sauna dilates pores and washes out any unwanted substances, leaving your skin glowing and bright. The heat stimulation can also promote elasticity and suppleness.

The benefits of Ayurveda can be transformational to your body and mind. An infrared sauna can help to enhance these benefits and gives you a tool to assist you in achieving Ayurvedic balance. Dissolved tension, improved digestion, a stronger immune system, clearer skin, increased energy levels, energetic alignment, and mindfulness are just a few of the benefits of incorporating an Infrared sauna into your mind-body spiritual practice.

SUMMER SWEAT: BENEFITS OF SWEATING IN THE SUMMER

With the hottest months of the year quickly approaching, many of us will soon fail in our attempts to avoid a little perspiration. But that summer sweat may not be such a bad thing. Along with sweat serving as our very own built-in air conditioner, sweating it out can have many other surprising health benefits you may have never known about. Not only are there many benefits of sweating for our bodies, but it helps keep our beauty regimens keep on track as well.

Along with sweat promoting our general health and well-being, research has shown that sweating, especially in terms of sweating in a sauna, can reduce the risk of death due to heart problems. This is due to the similarities of a sauna experience with exercise. Sitting in a sauna increases the heart rate makes you sweat. How else can adding sauna sessions help you this summer?

Here are the top seven benefits of sweating:

It Cools You Down

The most direct benefit of sweating, which many of us already recognize as its ultimate purpose, is to maintain our body temperature and keep us from overheating. When our heart rate increases, speeding up our blood flow and warming us up, that is the cue for our bodies to release sweat. When sweat evaporates off the skin, it serves as a cooling mechanism to prevent overheating. Even though we sweat when we feel our hottest, it’s actually our body’s way of helping us cool down.

It Eases Pain

Did you wake up with back pain? Are you sore from yesterday’s workout? The best way to relieve your pain may be to work up a sweat. It might be very tempting to skip this step since pain will make you want to stay sidelined. But trust us, increasing your heart rate and working up a sweat is one of the best things you can do for your pain while sitting around will just make you even more stiff and sore. When you are experiencing pain, you can still sweat it out in a quick 15-minute sauna session. It will help eliminate toxins, relax the body, and ease sore muscles.

It Clears Up Your Skin

You know those pesky blackheads that you just can’t seem to get rid of, no matter how much you scrub? Set down the face masks, because sweat can actually help eliminate blackheads and other blemishes. Sweating doubles as a natural pore cleanser since your pores open up and release the build up inside of them when you sweat. This is most effective only if you cleanse immediately after you sweat. If you skip washing off for a while after a sweat session, then you are allowing all the grime that has been released from your pores to stay resting on your skin.

It Gets Rid of Toxins

Our bodies are subject to a lot of toxins throughout our everyday lives. They come from the pollution in the air, our food, and are even created naturally inside the body. Sweating is a great way to expel those toxins from the body, which serves to better your immune system. Proper immune system function is very important in that it protects us from little illnesses like the common cold, and even more serious diseases. The benefits of sweating can also help get rid of substances in your system like alcohol, cholesterol, and salt. Hit the treadmill, go for a bike ride, and spend time hanging out in a sauna to work up a summer sweat and detoxify your body to feel better.

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It Prevents Illness

Along with keeping our immune systems healthy by ridding our bodies of the toxins, working up a sweat helps prevent us from getting sick. There are many viruses and bacteria that thrive at our regular body temperature, but die off when our bodies heat up to above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Studies have shown that human sweat serves as a natural germ shield. We can confidently say that no one likes being slowed down by sickness, so sweating it out every now and then is not such a bad idea.

It Makes You Happier

Along with the sense of accomplishment you are probably feeling from working out, working up a sweat releases endorphins, which make you happy. Sweating helps relieve stress and promote relaxation due to our bodies heating up. Next time you’re feeling stressed out or need a break to clear your mind, think about hitting up a hot yoga class or taking a few minutes for yourself in the sauna to ease your mind, feel rejuvenated, and embrace the benefits of sweating.

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It Helps You Avoid Kidney Stones

One of the lesser known benefits of sweating is that doing so lowers the risk of getting kidney stones. Research has shown that sweating helps you get rid of salt and keep calcium in your bones. This helps keep those elements from your kidneys where small stones will form. The more frequently you find yourself sweating the better. Make sure to stay properly hydrated when you do sweat – whether that is through exercise or in a sauna. Staying hydrated also helps prevent those pesky kidney stones.

Whether you break a sweat this summer in a sauna, hitting the gym, playing outside, or all of the above, sweating is a favor to your body that will definitely be worth the extra shower you may have to take. Embrace the heat this summer and sweat it out!

FUN AND HEALTHY MOTHER’S DAY IDEAS

Mother’s Day is around the corner, and for those of you wishing to break out of the mold and get your mother something really special, we got you covered. Sure, you could go the usual route: do a champagne brunch, a dozen roses or jewelry, but why not give the gift which keeps on giving? Your mother’s health, energy and vitality is the thing which keeps her going (besides you, of course), and if you tend and nurture this, she will keep going for a whole lot longer!

Daily sauna use has many benefits, such as

reduces pain and inflammation within the body
detoxifies the body
boosts energy levels
boosts the immune system
helps with faster recovery time (great if your mom works out)
helps reduce stress and supports in relaxation
and it can even aid people in losing weight

In short, a Clearlight Infrared Sauna is the whole package when helping your mom to live a healthy, vibrant life. This day is about pampering your mother – so why not pamper her every day? Here are some other healthful gift ideas for mom!

Other Healthy Mother’s Day Ideas

If you are looking to spend more time with your mom and get into some healthy habits, you could set up a healthy detox diet plan. You could even make it a challenge and partake daily with your mom – it’s easier hitting your health goals when you have a partner to keep you accountable!

Getting your mom a Fitbit can also help keep her more health conscious. If you have one too, you could join her virtually and do daily or weekly challenges together!

*Pro Tip* Whoever wins has to take the other out at the end of the month for a nice lunch or dinner. Spending time with mom has never been more fun (and delicious).

Take an organic or “go raw” cooking class together. There are usually a few cooking classes in each city, but if you can’t find one to your liking, you can find a lot of good recipes here. I am a sucker for their smoothies!

Some other healthy Mother’s Day ideas include:

A zoodle slicer
An indoor herb garden
A box of organic dark chocolate – it promotes heart health
Organic snack boxes with cheese, fruits and nuts
Buy her a subscription to a wine of the month club – a glass of red wine is also good for the heart
A DIY Body scrub kit
A few months with a personal trainer
A foam roller – great for relaxing the muscles after a long run – but not quite as good as a Clearlight Sauna
An aromatherapy set
A set of silky PJs – it can help her relax in style!

Whatever you get your health-conscious mom for Mother’s Day, we recommend getting her something which greatly improves her quality of life. A happy mom equals a happy life! Additionally, we do have some Mother’s Day Specials we are debuting for the month of May.

You can click here to find out our Mother’s Day special pricing!

Be sure to ask about our 12-month zero Interest financing available with approved credit!

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy Mother’s Day!

6 WAYS SAUNAS HELP FIGHT CANCER

BeatCancer.org posted this great blog post on their health and wellness blog. We thank them for allowing us to share it with you:

Saunas and sweat baths have been used by various cultures throughout history to flush out toxins and disease and maintain optimal physical and mental health. Saunas, and particularly infrared saunas, can also play a big role in preventing or reversing cancer.

In a 2004 article in the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Lawrence Wilson, MD, wrote, “If I were to single out one method to combat cancer, it is the sauna. It assists removal of chemical toxins and heavy metals, increases oxygenation, enhances the immune system, and reduces the radiation burden in the body.”

Using heat to treat illness is not new. Over 2,000 years ago, the famous Greek physician Parmenides said, “Give me the power to create fever, and I will cure any disease.” Modern medicine has also noted that cancer patients who developed a fever sometimes went into remission. Such an observation prompted New York Memorial Hospital physician Dr. William Coley in 1891 to publish a paper on how inducing a fever in the body of a cancer patient might stimulate the immune response and cause cancer remission. Cancer clinics in Germany and Mexico routinely apply this principle by using both infrared hyperthermia and infrared saunas with their patients. Hospitals in more than 20 of the United States are offering some form of hyperthermia treatment for cancer – either locally, regionally or systemically.

While saunas are not nearly as potent as hyperthermia treatments (which can expose the body to up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit), infrared saunas can heat the body a few degrees and cause a fever. This is a much gentler and slower method, but it is much safer and easier to tolerate and control.

Infrared saunas provide a form of whole-body hyperthermia that boosts health in many ways. Dr. Wilson noted that infrared sauna therapy for cancer offers a combination of healing mechanisms that act simultaneously and synergistically to support the fight against cancer.

1 – Direct Cancer Cell Death: The principle of hyperthermia is that cancer cells are much more sensitive to and intolerant of the effects of excessive heat than normal cells. Tumors have an impaired ability to adapt their blood circulation to the effects of high temperatures. Said simply, because cancer cells are weaker than normal cells, they are more susceptible to damage from heat. In fact, high temperatures can actually kill cancer cells, usually without damage to healthy cells.

According to the National Cancer Institute, “Hyperthermia (also called thermal therapy or thermotherapy) is a type of cancer treatment in which body tissue is exposed to high temperatures. Research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues. Many studies have shown a significant reduction in tumor size when hyperthermia is combined with other treatments.”

In a clinical study published in 2009 in the Journal of Cancer Science and Therapy, scientists studied far infrared’s effects on human cancer cells in vitro and on cancer cells in mice. Far infrared therapy reduced tumor volumes 86% in just 30 days.

In another study, researchers in Japan discovered that whole-body hyperthermia with far infrared strongly inhibited the growth of breast cancer tumors in mice without deleterious side effects. Researchers believe this therapy is a promising noninvasive treatment for breast cancer.

2 – Improved Circulation: Infrared saunas boost circulation, which helps to bring essential nutrients, oxygen and other substances to the cells of the body. Since cancer often grows in tissues with poor circulation – and thus poor nutrition and oxygenation — and since cancer cells do not thrive in a high oxygen environment, improving circulation can help reverse the cancer process.

During a sauna, the pulse rate jumps by 30% or more, allowing the heart to greatly increase the amount of blood it pumps each minute. Most of the extra blood flow is directed to the skin. Saunas powerfully shunt the blood from the internal organs to the periphery of the body in an attempt to get rid of the heat. They also increase circulation to the lungs, improving oxygenation. This combination can be of great benefit for cancer patients, many of whom cannot or should not exercise much, especially older or physically impaired patients.

3 – Elimination of Toxins: Without efficient circulation, not only do health-promoting nutrients and oxygen not get into our cells, but also waste materials cannot get out. Saunas help purge the body of hundreds of toxins, such as heavy metals, chemicals, and pesticides. Sauna treatments can help remove lead, copper, mercury, arsenic and cyanide and help to balance the body’s pH by neutralizing excessively acid body chemistry.

The heat that saunas produce creates perspiration which cleanses the skin from the inside out. Although the skin is designed to be a major organ for eliminating body wastes, in most people, it’s inactive because they don’t sweat enough. The deep penetration of infrared heat releases toxins from the fat layers just beneath the skin and flushes out those toxins through the sweat. The dry heat of a sauna can cause skin temperature to rise to about 104° F, and many persons – especially those who drink several glasses of water before entering the sauna — will pour out a pint of toxic sweat during a short stint in a sauna.

In addition to cleansing the skin, infrared saunas also help decongest and eliminate toxins from the internal organs. The liver, kidneys and other internal organs can become burdened with estrogen, chemicals, and toxic metals. Overload, sluggishness, and congestion of these eliminatory organs greatly inhibits the detoxification of all toxic substances in our bodies. This is a very critical problem for cancer patients. Saunas move blood away from the center of the body toward the extremities to get rid of the heat. By causing blood to move toward the body surface, infrared saunas help to decongest the body’s internal organs as well.

To see how this works, researchers analyzed the sweat from both traditional and infrared saunas. Sweat from traditional saunas was about 97% water and 3% toxins. Infrared saunas produced a sweat that was only 80-85% water. The remaining 15-20% was made up of heavy metals, sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia, uric acid and fat-soluble toxins.

4 – Weight Loss: According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, obesity is a known risk factor, not only for cancer, but also for cancer death. There are many reasons for this, among them the fact that cancer-promoting hormones and carcinogens are lipophylic – they hang around in fatty tissue and have a tough time metabolizing out.

Infrared saunas have been clinically shown to help burn fat and dramatically aid in weight loss. A 2009 study showed that infrared saunas provide significant results in lowering weight and waist circumference in just three months. And for those who are sedentary due to medical conditions such as cardiovascular or respiratory problems, results were even more profound. Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a well-known integrative cardiologist, states in his article on the many benefits of far-infrared saunas: Their penetrating infrared rays increase blood circulation, which helps speed up your metabolism and burn calories — up to a few hundred calories per session. During a 30-minute sauna session, core temperature increases, and the body works hard to cool itself, often burning 300-500 calories in the process.

5 – Immunity Activation: While conventional cancer treatments often suppress immune function, hyperthermia can actually enhance it — through a whole cascade of immune cell responses. According to German professor Rolf Issels, MD, PhD, of the University of Munich, hyperthermia produces ´heat shock´ proteins on the surface of the cancer cells, making them more prone to attack by the immune system.

Doctor Gurdev Parmar, of the Integrated Health Clinic in Fort Langley, British Columbia, agrees. He explains that heat makes cancer cells look distinct from healthy cells, thereby generating an immune response that is both immediate and long-lasting. Because the damaged proteins on the surfaces of tumor cells look very different from healthy cells, the immune system is alarmed, and natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages are immediately sent to the tumor. These cells then activate dendritic cells (DC), which in turn present the heat-damaged proteins to T cells. Hyperthermia promotes the maturing and migration of the DCs to the lymph nodes, where T cells become activated against the cancer cell proteins. The activated T cells, called Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes, then attack and kill tumor cells.

Doctors at Clifford Hospital Hyperthermia Center in Guangzhou, China — possibly the largest hyperthermia center in the world – concur that heat treatments, in particular whole body hyperthermia, “can stimulate and reinforce the function of the body’s immune system.” At a core temperature of 41.8 ℃ (about 107 degrees Fahrenheit) it can activate long-acting T-lymphocytes. At body temperature of 39.8 ℃ (about 104 degrees Fahrenheit) maintained for a period of six hours, whole body hyperthermia “can increase the activity of T- and B-lymphocytes and the anti-tumor activity of…NK cells, and can facilitate the redistribution of the body’s white blood cells to improve the monitoring function of the body’s immune system.”

Although there are many techniques for generating hyperthermia, infrared sauna is definitely one of the easiest and safest. In an article published in the International Journal of Biometeorology, the authors conclude that “materials emitting electromagnetic radiation in the far infrared range, which are widely used in Japan for cosmetic [and] therapeutic… purposes, appear capable of potentiating leukocyte functions without promoting oxidative injury.”

6 – Stress Reduction: Inside a sauna, there is peacefulness. One can easily shut out daily cares and interruptions from the world outside. One can read, listen to music, meditate or pray without interruption. But saunas do more for your nerve system than make you feel good.

Saunas have the ability to powerfully reduce the activity of the sympathetic nerve system. Excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system is a contributing factor in many cancer cases. The sympathetic branch of the body’s autonomic nervous system activates the brain, muscles, thyroid and adrenal glands in its fright – fight – flight response to stress. However, it also strongly inhibits digestion, immune response and eliminative organ function. Cancer patients desperately need more immune, digestive and eliminative activity.

Therefore therapies such as infrared sauna that inhibit the sympathetic nervous system are helpful for cancer recovery. The body heals when it is in parasympathetic dominance, the part of the nerve system that promotes rest, relaxation and recovery.

Saunas can support parasympathetic activity in several ways. Sauna heat greatly slows normal heat production, a sympathetic function. To dissipate heat, saunas draw blood from the center to the periphery of the body. This opposes an important sympathetic nervous system activity, which is to draw blood to the central part of the body as a protection against attack. Furthermore, saunas eliminate toxins that irritate the body’s tissues and keep it in a sympathetic state. Inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system can also promote cancer healing by helping to reduce excess acidity in the body. Cancer, as we know, thrives in an acid environment.

The effect of saunas on the nerve system can also potentially impact appetite loss, pain and depression, all of which are common among patients with cancer. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine looked at a group of 28 mildly depressed patients. Half of the patients utilized an infrared sauna once a day for four weeks and the other half had just bed rest for four weeks. The sauna group showed a significant improvement compared with the control group.

BEYOND DETOX: UNCOVERING INFRARED SAUNA HEALTH BENEFITS

Detoxification is a well-known health benefit of infrared saunas, but did you know that you can dramatically improve your overall health, wellness and sleep quality all at the same time. When using your Clearlight Infrared sauna you may experience the following benefits: raising of your core body temperature, increased heart rate, improved blood circulation and profuse sweating. As a result, saunas are quickly gaining in popularity as the health benefits have been proven to make a dramatic difference in the lives of dedicated sauna users. For instance, many people say that stress relief is one of the first benefits they receive. Here are a couple other infrared sauna health benefits you can expect to see with regular infrared sauna use.

Detoxification of the Body

The body naturally accumulates toxins through a process called “toxic bio-accumulation,” and these toxins are generally maintained in fatty tissues where they can re-enter the bloodstream when individuals feel stressed or anxious. Sitting in a heated sauna actually places gentle controlled stress on the body, which then allows for the release of these stored toxins through body sweat. Saunas detoxify incredibly well, and far infrared saunas have been shown to do an exceptional job at removing toxins from the body due to their deep-penetrating infrared waves.

Improving the Immune System

Many experts believe that direct exposure of the skin to the warming heat of a sauna helps stimulate the rapid production of infection-fighting white blood cells that can strengthen the immune system. Medical research in Germany has recently shown that incidents of colds and the flu can be reduced by up to 30% by using a sauna regularly. The benefits to the immune system are significant, and with the number of people we come in contact with each day, it simply makes sense to guard against infection and illness.

Enhanced Sleep

Saunas help you sleep better, producing positive benefits for your overall health and wellness. Your body is relieved of tension or fatigue as sauna use may lower cortisol levels. Also endorphins are released into the body, which create a calming, almost tranquilizing sensation that can lull virtually anyone into sleep. To add to the overall effect, you can use deep nasal breathing techniques to deliver the utmost in relaxation – you’ll be ready for bed in no time. Just make sure to cool down adequately with a lukewarm shower to keep your body prepped for bed.

Stress Relief

Stress relief is another one of the key health benefits of infrared sauna sessions. Studies repeatedly show that hyperthermia, or the higher, safe heat levels endured by the body when in a sauna, can prevent protein degradation and muscle loss when the body is subjected to harmful stress or external stimuli. Heat shock proteins are produced when an individual spends time in a sauna, and these substances are used by your body’s cells to counteract the impact of toxins, extreme heat or cold, or stress brought on by exercise.

Infrared Saunas have also been shown to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) relaxing the body and allowing your body to heal. This is a necessary break from the sympathetic mode (fight or flight) we are all in these stuck in traffic or always connected on your phone.

Heart Health

Heart health is an important concern for many of us, and spending time in an infrared sauna can help virtually anyone strengthen their heart and cardiovascular system. A research study by the University of Eastern Finland that spanned more than 20 years and included thousands of study participants showed a reduction in life-threatening cardiac events among participants who regularly used a sauna. Those who took sauna 2 to 3 times per week showed a 23% lower risk of fatal events, while those who completed 4 to 7 sauna sessions per week indicated a 48% lower risk. The amount of time spent in the sauna was deemed important, too, with longer-duration users seeing increased heart health benefits.

Increased Metabolism and Weight Loss

In a comfortable 35 minute sauna session one’s heart rate can reach an aerobic state. Consistent aerobic cardiovascular workouts lead to a healthier heart and increased metabolism. This boost in metabolism burns calories and can trigger weight loss in individuals who have a little extra weight. Just as jogging increases heart rate and burns calories, infrared sauna use can trigger the same cardiovascular stresses by simply sitting in the sauna. An added plus – we are also seeing infrared saunas the world over as a comfortable effective way to help minimize cellulite.

Minimizing Joint Pain

Another big health benefit of infrared saunas is the minimization of joint pain and inflammation. This type of radiant heat therapy is used around the world to effectively treat patients suffering from bursitis, neuralgia, muscle spasms, stiff joints, and arthritis. From customers of all levels of fitness and health, we hear about lasting relief from soreness, aches, and pains with consistent sauna use.

Athletic Recovery

Athletic recovery is made easier, too. Growth hormone is naturally and safely increased when sauna sessions are combined with consistent exercise routines, and blood flow is boosted. This means the skeletal muscles are better fueled, and are more easily flushed of lactic acids and calcium ions – two fatigue-inducing substances.

There is no doubt that infrared saunas provide serious and lasting wellness boosts. Like with normal exercise, the extent to which these health benefits prevail depends on the time spent per session as well as consistency of use. Whether you’re looking to use infrared saunas for detoxification, weight loss or as a sauna stress relief technique, one thing is certain – your overall health and well being is improved!