I Love the (Sauna) Heat

I recently read about the amazing health benefits of using a sauna, and so I decided to integrate some time in the sauna after my workouts at the gym. Some sauna advocates love the sauna so much that they end up buying their own personal sauna for their backyard, but I'm perfectly fine sharing the sauna at the gym with other sweaty strangers. People are surprisingly friendly in the sauna, and I've enjoyed some of the spontaneous social interactions, sometimes as a direct participant, and other times as a fly on the wall to other amusing interactions.

For me, using the sauna seems to have the best impact after a hard workout in the morning. I'll do some weights and circuit training for an hour, cool off for a few minutes, and then head to the sauna. I'll usually start with 15 minutes in the sauna, and I usually do stretches while in the sauna instead of just sitting there. At about the 15 minute mark, I'll go outside for a few minutes to cool down, and then I'll either shower or I might return for another 5 minutes in the sauna before showering. My time in the sauna completely relaxes me. I love how it feels, and I tend to carry this feeling of relaxation and well-being for several more hours.

In addition to a wonderful feeling of well-being, there are a host of potential benefits that various studies have shown regarding regular sauna use. Here are some of the potential benefits that some studies have found:

• Increased endurance, especially if used after a workout 
• Increase levels of growth hormone (GH) 
• Increase in plasma volume and red blood cell count 
• Improved look and health of your skin and hair 
• Stronger immune system to better fight of illness 
• Flush toxins 

I've come to love the sauna, and in fact, I was very crestfallen the last two times I went to the gym and the sauna was having downtime. I look forward to further experimenting with sauna use. So far I love this new addition to my life and it is something that I will definitely keep using. 

If you are considering sauna use, be sure to study the health precautions, and check with your doctor if you have any health issues that might be further complicated by the sauna. 

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Featured Photo from Wikimedia