Tips for Athlete Recovery & Interview With Skier Mo Lebel

Being an athlete requires skill and a strong focus on keeping your body in top shape. Unfortunately, even the most cautious can face injury. Amateur and professional athletes alike are prone to injury, and having the right process for recovery is important for staying in top shape and getting back into action. Read below for an interview with skier Mo Lebel on her inspirational recovery journey. Additionally, find athlete recovery tips on what tools to use and which exercises to try for injury prevention and reduction to stay safe and healthy!

Interview with Mo Lebel & Her Athlete Recovery Experience

We have had the pleasure of speaking with 2018 U.S. National Downhill Champion Mo Lebel on her experience with the athlete recovery process. 21-year old Maureen Lebel, also known as Mo, has had an impressive ski career. Essentially raised on the slopes, Mo has proved to have skiing in her blood. Today, she is now a member of the U.S. National Training Group (NTG) and was crowned the 2018 U.S. National Champion in downhill. Suffering an injury in early 2018 obviously hasn’t held her back from achieving big dreams.

Read below for Mo’s take on athlete injury and how she found success in recovery:

How long have you been skiing? Were you involved in athletics before then?

My whole life! I started skiing before I was two years old and have never looked back!

What are your biggest successes and motivators in your sport?

My biggest successes would be representing the United States at the Junior World Championships and becoming the 2018 U.S National Downhill Champion.

My motivation is my love for the sport. Whether it’s ski racing or just skiing, I love being out there on the snow. In a lot of ways, ski racing is addicting and everyday that makes me want to be better and better. I meet people who will be in my life forever, go places I could only dream of going, and have learned life lessons that carry me through my day to day life. It’s pretty cool how ski racing has shaped me!

In all of your time in athletics, is injury a common occurrence?

Generally, yes. Ski racing is a high risk sport and injury is not uncommon among a lot of ski racers. Almost every ski race I compete in, an athlete will injure themselves. Luckily, I’ve only had two season-ending injuries (both within the same year). Us ski racers work tremendously hard in the gym to become as strong as possible to prevent these injuries.

What are the biggest setbacks that come with being an injured athlete?

The inability to continue to fulfill your passion!

The setback is not only personal, your support crew feels it too. This can be added stress, but also added motivation. So much hard work goes into any sport and when all of a sudden it’s ripped away from an athlete, it can feel as if your whole life is put on hold. In reality it’s just a bump in a very long road. Negativity, sadness, and anger are pretty common. What really matters is how fast an athlete can put those thoughts behind them and move forward in a positive way. The biggest setback for any athlete is the limitations of their own mindset. It’s all a learning proces,s and developing resilience is the lesson we learn.

How do you work through your injuries, and why is recovery process important to you?

I have found that staying as positive as I possibly can has helped me heal the fastest and get through my injuries. When I get down on myself I lose sight of what I’m working towards and what I have already accomplished in my career. Personally, sticking to a routine is mandatory. I work through my injuries by establishing a recovery process that includes eating right, exercising as much as possible without pushing it too hard (which is very difficult as a ski racer), spending as much time in my infrared sauna as possible, getting LOTS of sleep and remembering to never take myself too seriously!

How has using infrared technology helped in your recovery process?

I am so impressed with my infrared sauna! It has helped my muscles recover exceptionally fast. Currently, I have a lot of muscle strength to gain back on one leg and spending time in my sauna allows me to strengthen my leg everyday versus every other day. Rarely do I need a “recovery day”. My blood circulation has improved tremendously and I haven’t had swelling in my broken leg for about two months. I broke it three and a half months ago.

I can tell my healing process has been expedited. My infrared sauna has also been great in lowering my stress and mental fatigue during my recovery process. I believe that the infrared sauna heals on all levels, from incision sights and scars, to deep tissue and bone and the benefit of mental stress reduction. It is a fascinating recovery tool. I can foresee this technology becoming a standard for recovery and maintenance for all.

Do you have any advice for athletes currently going through recovery?

To any recovering athlete, consider finding access to an infrared sauna or investing in one. My recovery is moving in such a positive way, so fast. I can’t imagine this process without infrared technology. I am feeling so great physically and psychologically and I know how crucial that is for athletes. The healing progression is noticeably superior with the incorporation of infrared technology.

Never forget the reasons why you’re recovering! No matter where you are in life, always bring your best!

Athlete Recovery Equipment

Infrared Sauna

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.

Inversion Table

Inversion therapy is a pretty simple concept. It uses gravity to relieve pressure, increase blood flow, and reset important bodily functions – all of which are vital to the recovery process. Triathletes and other athletes with punishing workout schedules have seen incredible improvements in their overall health as a result of inversion therapy. Inversion therapy helps improve joint health, increase core strength, ease stress, and boost circulation.

Recovery Boots

By using recovery boots in your daily workout, you can speed up the recovery process that your body’s lymphatic and vascular systems perform naturally over a longer period of time. Pneumatic compression increases blood circulation and helps your body get rid of accumulated waste in your muscles faster and more efficiently than your body normally can. The result is that your muscles heal and recover faster.

Athlete Recovery Tips

One of the most frustrating parts of being an injured athlete is the feeling of being inactive. While you may be tempted to jump right back in to your regular routine once you start to feel better, getting back into fitness after an injury must be done slowly and carefully to prevent delayed healing and avoid any further injury. Before getting started with any intensive actions, do these few things:

Explore different physical therapies to find relief such as compression, inversion, and infrared therapies
Prepare yourself mentally, understand that you won’t be performing at your optimal levels
If you suffered a serious injury, consult with your doctor before starting any strenuous activities
Listen to your body and stop or slow down if needed, do not push yourself to unbearable discomfort
Diversify your workouts with cross-training, focusing on non-injured parts of your body to keep moving

Once you are ready to get active, try low-impact athlete recovery exercises to ease you moving in a safe and healthy manner so you can be back to full-form in no time.

Athlete Recovery Exercises

Back Injury Recovery

Properly recovering from a back injury is critical to your spinal health. It ensures you maintain your mobility, posture and muscle strength so you can protect your spine. The key to recovering from a back injury is your core. If you’re returning to exercise after an injury to your back, try these core strengthening pelvic tilts and bird dogs.

Shoulder Injury Recovery

Shoulder injuries such as bursitis or tendonitis can be chronic and take a long time to heal. They can cause severe pain and impact your quality of life, making it difficult to perform movements such as reaching, pulling or pushing. Once you’ve been cleared to begin using it again, shoulder injury rehab is the next step. You can rehabilitate and strengthen your shoulder muscles with the pendulum and crossover arm stretches.

Hamstring Injury Recovery

Hamstring strains can be incredibly painful and debilitating. Like shoulder injuries, if a hamstring injury isn’t properly rehabilitated, it can become a chronic or recurring problem. To properly rehabilitate your hamstring, it’s important to find ways to continue to use it without straining it even more. To start your rehabilitation, try single-leg bridges and hamstring curls.

Groin Injury Recovery

Groin injuries can be caused by pulled or strained groin muscles (adductors). These injuries typically affect athletes and can recur if not properly treated. After resting and icing a groin injury, you may decide to return to physical activity with some groin injury rehab exercises such as the adductor squeeze and the side-lying leg lifts with crossover.

Knee Injury Recovery

Knee injuries are very common as it’s one of the most used joints in the body—and the most susceptible to wear and tear. Initially following a knee injury, you’ll want to work on getting your range of motion back, and it’s advisable to work with a physiotherapist for this. To help rehabilitate, try straight leg raises and step-ups.

Suffering from an injury as an athlete may feel restrictive, but with patience and good recovery practices, you are sure to set yourself up for a successful healing period and prevent further injury. As Mo Lebel proves, even major injuries are merely road bumps, and they don’t have to require a full-stop. Follow these athlete recovery tips to get back on track and reach your goals!

11 Tips & Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

With spring comes beautiful new flowers and April showers. While it may look beautiful, the pollen often brings about irritating seasonal allergies that cause symptoms like puffy eyes and runny noses. We’ll discuss natural remedies to make your allergy treatment a little easier, and even prevent allergies all together!

Spring Allergy Symptoms

Do you have a cold, or are you just suffering from seasonal allergies? The two have very similar symptoms, but seasonal allergies typically appear more abruptly, last a longer period of time, and can often be predicted due to timing of the seasons. Below are some of the common spring allergy symptoms:

Ear or nasal congestion	Coughing
Runny nose	Postnasal drip
Sneezing	Sore throat
Watery eyes	Fatigue
Itchy eyes, nose, or throat	Facial pressure or pain

How to Cure Allergies Naturally

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has a wide range of uses, so it’s no surprise that being a natural remedy for both chronic allergies and seasonal allergies is one of them. Studies have shown that acupuncture helps patients reduce nasal symptoms and the need for allergy medication. This practice can also help improve the immune system, lessen pain, decrease swelling, and reduce mucus production.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Adding spices and anti-inflammatory foods to your diet can help clear up spring allergy symptoms. Your spice rack is filled with natural remedies for seasonal allergies. Look for anti-inflammatory items such as ginger and turmeric to add to your meals, and sprinkle some cayenne pepper to help clear nasal passages. Research also indicates that having a mug of green tea can help you find allergy relief.

Apple Cider Vinegar

This natural remedy is something you probably already have in your kitchen, and is probably something you have heard all about in recent health trends. Apple cider vinegar, or ACV, can help cleanse your lymphatic system and reduce mucus production to alleviate spring allergy symptoms naturally. When allergies hit, or to prevent future symptoms, take one tablespoon of ACV with “the mother” daily – you can mix it with lemon and warm water to make it more palatable.

Bee Pollen & Local Honey

While not fully backed by science, using local bee pollen and honey have been said for generations to help lessen spring allergy symptoms. The local aspect of these items are meant to help your body naturally build immunity to the local allergens in your area. Raw, unfiltered honey and bee pollen can be found from your local farmer’s market. Simply add honey to tea or drizzle on toast, and use bee pollen to top yogurt or blend with smoothies.

Butterbur, Nettle Leaf & Quercetin

These three supplements are all effective, natural antihistamines to help control the itchiness that comes from seasonal allergies. Butterbur has been shown in studies to be equally as effective as antihistamine medications in reducing itchy eyes. You can make a tea or take capsules of nettle leaf to naturally block the body’s ability to produce histamines. Lastly, quercetin is an effective antihistamine and anti-inflammatory supplement.

Essential Oils

Three essential oils should be in your medicine cabinet for spring allergy symptoms. Peppermint oil has been studied to test its effectiveness in reducing inflammation to improve quality of life for those suffering from nasal and bronchial allergies. Using eucalyptus oil is great for its antimicrobial properties, and frankincense essential oil has been shown to reduce nasal spring allergy symptoms. Either diffuse the oils or apply directly to your skin with a carrier oil.

Exercise

Working out with a stuffy nose or scratchy throat doesn’t sound great, but it can be effective in naturally relieving seasonal allergies. Have you ever stood up and walked around with a stuffy nose to have it clear up for a bit? Working out does something similar. Working out increases blood flow and reduces inflammation which helps alleviate symptoms. Be sure to listen to your body and work out indoors to avoid outdoor allergens.

Infrared Sauna

Far infrared heat (FIR) has been shown in studies to relieve eye itching, nasal itching, nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea (runny nose), and sneezing. Spending time in an infrared sauna can reduce your spring allergy symptoms with the FIR technology. Infrared saunas also help detoxify your body to reduce the number of toxins and allergens that may be present. You can diffuse the previously mentioned essential oils in a sauna for a relaxing and detoxifying experience.

Probiotics

A weak immune system can lead to more intense reactions to seasonal allergies. One way to strengthen your immune system and treat allergies naturally is through probiotics. Probiotics help boost your immune system through introducing healthy bacteria to the gut, and studies have shown that the addition of probiotics to your diet can lessen spring allergy symptoms. You can add probiotics to your diet through fermented foods or probiotic capsules.

Saline Solution

One of the most effective natural remedies for seasonal allergies is a simple sterile saline solution. Using a saline solution for nasal irrigation has been shown to reduce nasal symptoms, expedite the clearance of mucus, and reduce the need for medicine. For those wary of pouring water through their nose, a saline spray is a great alternative. Simply spray a saline nasal spray into your nose a couple times a week or daily as needed.

Water

Drinking water is always one of the top health recommendations, whether you’re learning how to treat seasonal allergies or if you’re trying to lose weight. When it comes to allergies, hydration is key to improve your overall health and lessen the impact of spring allergy symptoms. By staying hydrated, you also allow your body to detoxify impurities such as toxins and allergies that may be exasperating your symptoms.

Spring Allergy Tips

In addition to trying natural remedies for seasonal allergies, there are a few spring allergy tips to follow to prevent future symptoms. It’s important to keep your space clean to remove any allergens, so be sure to vacuum, wash sheets, and change out air filters in your home to remove any settled particles. Showering when you get home or before bed will help wash off any allergens picked up throughout the day. Lastly, be mindful of going outside. Pollen counts tend to be higher between 5am and 10am, and hot, dry, and windy days are most likely to be high in pollen.

Now that you know how to treat seasonal allergies naturally, go forth and be healthy this spring! Taking preventative measures before your seasonal allergies start is always preferable, but there are many natural treatments to get you on the right track once symptoms hit.

Should You Use a Sauna or Steam Room for Weight Loss?

When on a weight loss journey, it’s important to find the practices, tools, and activities that work for your body. For years, people have used the power of heat through sauna and steam room use during their process. While both are similar tools, they each offer unique benefits for losing weight. So when it comes down to it, should you use a sauna or steam room for weight loss?

Below, learn more about how these tools aid in losing weight and find information on the shared weight loss benefits of sauna and steam room use, along with the differences that set them apart when sweating it out:

Sauna vs Steam Room Weight Loss Basics

What is an Infrared Sauna?

An infrared sauna is a room constructed of wood that warms the body through infrared rays with a dry heat. Infrared heat can penetrate 1.5” into the skin to warm the body efficiently. Because of this heat penetration, infrared saunas only need to operate between 115°F and 130°F as opposed to the 170°F to 200°F temperatures of traditional saunas. Outside of weight loss, there are many sauna health benefits, including boosted metabolism, detoxification, and stress reduction.

What is a Steam Room?

A steam room, also known as a steam bath, is an enclosed space outfitted with a steam generator. Because of the moisture content, steam rooms often have tile floors and either glass or tile walls to avoid the growth of bacteria in porous materials. Temperatures often range between 110°F and 114°F with 100% humidity. Due to the high heat and moisture, steam room benefits include skin hydration, respiratory relief, and lowered blood pressure.

Learn more about the sauna vs steam room debate here.

Are there any Risks of Steam Rooms or Saunas?

As with any big lifestyle change such as a weight loss journey, it is always advised to consult with your doctor to avoid complications, especially if you have any health conditions. Those with heart conditions, pregnant women, those on medication should take extreme precaution when using a sauna or steam room.

If you are incorporating these methods into your weight loss journey, one key factor to keep in mind is hydration. Sweating means your body is losing fluids, so it is extremely important to replenish those fluids to avoid dehydration. Keep sessions in both devices to approximately 15 to 20 minutes. If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, stop your session immediately and take a break.

What is Water Weight?

One thing that is very important to consider on the topic of steam room and infrared sauna weight loss is water weight, or the collection of fluids in your tissues. This buildup of fluid causes bloating, and can make the scale fluctuate by 2-4 pounds every day. If you hear about something that will help you “lose weight quickly,” water weight is typically being targeted. While it is a quick weight loss tip, long-term weight loss requires more than simply losing water weight.

There are a number of ways to reduce water weight, including reducing sodium intake, reducing carbohydrate intake, increasing water intake, and sweating it out – something both infrared saunas and steam rooms are great at helping you achieve.

Unfortunately, the weight lost from this process is merely water weight and no fat burn. This means, as a stand-alone activity, the results of using a sauna or steam room for weight loss are very short-term and the weight will return once you drink water again.

Infrared Sauna Weight Loss

Boosted Calorie Burn

There are many claims stating that sitting in a sauna can help you burn a lot of calories fast, but infrared sauna weight loss is more of a gradual burn. The infrared heat increases your heart rate and boosts your metabolic rate to burn approximately 1.5 times your regular calorie burn. For example, if you typically burn 40 calories in 30 minutes, a 30-minute sauna session will burn 60 calories. While it isn’t a large difference, any additional calorie burn helps!

Regulated Lipids

Lipids such as fats and cholesterol can be big deterrents in weight loss. The penetration of infrared heat helps increase blood flow to fat cells, helping detoxify and reduce the appearance of fat cells. Additionally, sauna use has been shown in studies to significantly decrease in LDL (bad cholesterol) and slight increase in HDL (good cholesterol), which is a good sign of weight loss and leads to better health due to improved cardiovascular health.

Muscle & Joint Pain Relief

When your muscles and joints ache, it makes it difficult to pursue your weight loss goals. Infrared sauna use helps reduce this pain by penetrating deep into muscles to release tension. This use of heat, also known as thermotherapy, triggers heat shock proteins that push the body into optimal repair and rebuild mode. Reducing, and even eliminating, aches and pains makes it easier to keep going back to your fitness routines and your weight loss efforts.

Improved Sleep & Relaxation

Have you ever snacked when you’ve been stressed? Or reached for unhealthy treats when your energy has been low? Feeling well-rested and relaxed helps us make better dietary decisions and stay on track for weight loss. Infrared sauna use puts you in a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state that helps you unwind and sleep well, which will leave you feeling motivated to make healthy decisions to reach your weight goals.

Steam Room Weight Loss

Water Weight Loss

As mentioned earlier, water weight can cause your weight to fluctuate by a couple pounds every day, and sweating it out is one quick way to lose this weight. The humidity in steam rooms create an especially effective environment for sweating, helping you lose weight.

Workout Boost

When used after exercising, the steam room is a great supplementary practice to help you on your journey. Steam rooms can be used after a workout to help sweat out any remaining toxins. The application of steam also helps the recovery of muscles, making it easier for you to get back to your workouts. And like saunas, where calorie burn isn’t much higher than normal, consistent use of a steam room after working out can give you an extra calorie boost to lose weight.

Whether you choose a sauna or steam room for weight loss, both are great additions to your routine. While using as stand-alone treatments may not show quick or drastic results, using saunas and steam rooms can be used to improve your overall health and weight goals when combined with proper diet and exercise.

Thermotherapy & Cryotherapy: Hot & Cold Therapy Benefits

At Clearlight, we know the benefits of heat on the body. Learn about the benefits of the other side of the spectrum – cold shock therapy. From preventing disease progression to boosting your immune system to pain relief, see how your body can benefit from the effects of heat shock and cold shock proteins from thermotherapy and cryotherapy.

Thermotherapy

What is Thermotherapy?

Thermotherapy, also known as heat therapy, is the practice of applying heat to the body for therapeutic benefits. Heat therapy can be as simple as taking a warm bath, but can also be more intensive with practices such as infrared sauna use. Unlike cold therapy, heat can safely be applied for prolonged amounts of time to provide extended relief.

Heat can be applied through two main types of thermotherapy:

Direct Contact: Direct contact heat therapy is the easiest method to do at home. This method requires you to apply either moist or dry heat directly to the afflicted area to deeply heat the muscles in the area. Heating methods include heating pads, hot baths, and even warming topicals. While there is debate whether dry or moist heat is more effective, clinical studies have not noted a significant difference.
Infrared Heat: Infrared heat therapy penetrates deeper into the body than direct contact application. Infrared heat is capable of reaching below the surface of the skin through near infrared, to the body’s soft tissue through mid infrared, and finally into fat cells through far infrared wavelengths.

Heat therapy should not be used if the afflicted area is bruised or swollen, and open wounds should be avoided. Those with conditions such as diabetes, vascular disease, multiple sclerosis, dermatitis, heart disease, and deep vein thrombosis are at higher risk of injury when using thermotherapy, so discuss with your doctor before attempting.

Thermotherapy Benefits

One of the most prominent benefits of heat therapy is the treatment of muscle tension. If you have ever suffered from a sore back or a pulled muscle, you know just how effective heat therapy for back pain is and how much relief can come from a hot pad or a soak in the tub. This is because the application of heat helps your muscles stretch by increasing tissue extensibility, causing any stiff or tense muscles to relax.

Heat also triggers the body’s response to heal by increasing blood flow to affected areas. This is helpful in speeding up the recovery time of an acute injury, decreasing the discomfort from migraines and headaches, and simply helping the body relax for general stress relief or help with sleep.

Woman Sitting in Infrared Sauna for Health Benefits

More intensive thermotherapy practices create a sudden increase in the body’s core temperature and trigger the production of heat shock proteins, or HSPs, to protect your body from perceived stress. As this happens, muscles reach proper function while the heat shock proteins begin to guard muscles from potential trauma. This helps your body repair and rebuild any damaged areas. Studies show that incorporating heat therapy for cancer treatment can enhance the treatment process.

Heat shock proteins are especially helpful in reducing recovery time and enhancing muscle mass for those who are active. You can activate heat shock proteins by spending some time in an infrared sauna or going all-out at the gym. Just be sure to hydrate after!

Cryotherapy

What is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, is the practice of applying cold temperatures to the body to stimulate healing. This practice can be applied in specific areas for relief, and has also become a popular whole-body therapy. Due to the extremely cold temperatures and related injury risk, it is advised to practice cryotherapy sessions in short intervals.

Types of cold therapy treatments include:

Whole Body: Whole body cryotherapy has been an up-and-coming treatment that exposes the body to extremely cold temperatures below −100 °C for two to four minutes. Liquid nitrogen and refrigerated air are blasted in a chamber to create the chilling effect. The ears, nose, mouth, fingers, and toes are covered for protection.
Direct Contact: This cold therapy approach places cold temperatures on specific areas of the body to numb affected areas and alleviate symptoms of discomfort. Ice packs and cold spray anesthetics are both designed to provide short-term pain relief.
Cryosurgery: Cryosurgery is the practice of using extreme cold to destroy damaged or diseased tissue. This can be used on common skin disorders to remove surface conditions. Additionally, cryotherapy has been used to eliminate unwanted fat through fat-freezing procedures.

Extremely cold items should never have direct contact with the skin without medical supervision, and require a protective barrier. Those with diabetes or nerve conditions should not use cryotherapy to avoid injury and nerve damage.

Benefits of Cryotherapy

Two of the main benefits of cold therapy are its anti-inflammatory and numbing effects. The coldness helps numb irritated nerves and decrease blood flow to swollen areas, which then makes recovery more manageable. This can be used for injuries, arthritis, and migraines. While masking the symptoms may not be the final treatment of the issue, pain relief makes recovery efforts more effective.

Cryosurgery takes a more permanent approach. This procedure uses extreme cold to freeze off unwanted tissue with the use of liquid nitrogen, and is commonly used to remove skin conditions such as moles, warts, atopic dermatitis, skin tags, and more. This practice is also used to target low-risk tumors for cancer treatment.

In contrast with the heat shock proteins produced by hyperthermia, cold shock proteins, or CSPs, are triggered by an extreme drop in core body temperature. Cold shock proteins are more easily produced than heat shock proteins, and can be triggered by something as simple as a cold shower.

These CSPs are believed to boost your immune system and improve the overall function of the body. The extreme temperature of intensive cryotherapy helps your body learn to adapt to stress and helps build your tolerance. Additionally, cold shock proteins have been thought to slow the progression of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Alternating Ice and Heat Therapy

Thermotherapy and cryotherapy both provide many health benefits, whether it’s simple pain relief or aid in treating cancer. To reap the benefits of both, try alternating ice and heat therapy. This will stimulate the production of heat shock proteins and cold shock proteins for muscle recovery and immune system boosts, and can offer a more comprehensive treatment for pain management.

Try hot and cold therapy at home by switching between icing and heating for sore muscles, or treat yourself to a spa day by supercharging your body with a visit to the infrared sauna and cryotherapy chamber!

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.

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

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!

Woman Staying Hydrated After Detoxing While Sweating

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.

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.

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.

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 colors and their health 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 chromotherapy lights.

All of the Clearlight Infrared Sauna models come with chromotherapy lighting. Each of the 15 LED lights contributes to a different aspect of wellness so your infrared sauna experience is both relaxing and productive. Contact us for more information.

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Defining Obesogens: Their Impact and 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.

Obesogens

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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!

A woman drinking water from a plastic bottle

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!

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.

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.