5 Health Benefits of Sauna Use
Marquette, MI – If you’ve been in the Upper Peninsula for any significant length of time you’ve probably been introduced to the sauna culture here, or at least heard of it. Growing up here, some of my favorite memories are of taking sauna at rustic camps in the woods with friends and jumping into freezing cold lakes, streams, or snow. The feeling is beyond invigorating!
Standing naked in the snow with steam pouring off your body, blood thumping through your veins… saunas are truly a fountain of youth. … and who doesn’t want to feel young and alive no matter what their age? But feeling this way can be a real challenge in our day to day lives as we run ourselves ragged and ignore our bodies’ needs. Studies clearly show that stress in our daily lives affects our health. In fact, a majority of diseases in our modern society are stress related. The sauna provides stress relief in a number of ways.
Inside view from an all cedar wood contemporary steam sauna at The Second Street Sauna in Marquette, MI. The sauna is a place to come and unwind from all the stresses of you day and promote a good night’s sleep! (MarquetteMagazine.com photo by Soullenz Photography)
First of all it’s a warm quiet space without any distractions. That’s a good place to start to in order to get connected with your body and begin the process of unwinding tension. The heat of the sauna relaxes the body, improves circulation and stimulates the release of endorphins (the body’s natural feel good chemical) and creating a wonderful “after sauna glow.” The following is a run down of the ways saunas reduce stress and 5 health benefits of sauna use:
1. Soothes Aches and Pains in Muscles and Joints
Under high heat, the body releases endorphins—the body’s naturally produced pain relieving chemical. Endorphins can have a mild and enjoyable tranquilizing effect that also eases the pain of arthritis. Body temperature rises from the heat of the sauna, causing blood vessels to dilate and circulation to increase. The increased blood flow accelerates the body’s natural healing process—soothing aches and pains and speeding up of the healing of cuts and bruises. Following sporting activities the heat and steam of a sauna can soothe muscle soreness from an intense physical workout. The high heat reduces muscle tension helping to eliminate lactic acid and other toxins.
2. Flushes Toxins
Those of us who don’t actively sweat on a daily basis are missing out! Deep sweating has multiple health benefits. Regular sauna usage provides the benefits derived from a deep sweat. There are plenty of books and doctors out there that will testify to the benefits of detoxifying our bodies and saunas are one of the best means to detoxify. As our core body temperatures begin to rise in the heat of a sauna, the blood vessels dilate, causing increased blood flow. As the heated blood moves to the surface of the skin and the core body temperature rises, the body’s nervous system kicks in sending signals to the millions of sweat glands covering the body. The stimulated sweat glands then produce sweat. Sweat production is primarily for cooling the body but chemicals in the body are also released through the deep sweat induced in a sauna helping to reduce levels of lead, copper, zinc, nickel, and mercury – all common toxins picked up from our environment today.
3. Cleanses the Skin
Saunas are one of the oldest and most famous beauty and health treatments for the skin. Sweat rinses bacteria out of the epidermal layer and sweat ducts. Cleansing of the pores improves the capillary circulation and gives the skin a soft, beautiful appearance. Dr. Ben H Douglas, a professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and author of “Ageless: Living Younger Longer,” states “Sweating is a way of energizing the skin almost the way exercising a muscle energizes it.” He goes on to explain, when you sweat, the rush of fluid to the skin “bathes skin cells with a liquid rich in nutrients,” which “fills in the spaces around the cells” and even plumps up tiny wrinkles. He says the nutrients and minerals in sweat “are essential to maintaining the collagen structure of the skin.” Thus, bathing your skin in sweat on a regular basis staves off the collagen breakdown that results in wrinkles and sags. By continually flushing body waste through individual cells, one eventually brings back vitality, tone and a healthy glow to the skin. Sauna is not a cure for acne, but often helps due to the deep cleansing it provides from a deep sweat (cleaning the pores from the inside out).
4. Induces A Deeper Sleep
Sleep deprivation often caused by stress can create of vicious cycle of poor health. During sleep our bodies do their healing work as the body systems rejuvenate themselves. It’s important to get 6-8 hours of sleep on a regular basis for healthy immune system functioning and overall mental and physical health. Research shows a deeper sleep can result from sauna use. In addition to the release of endorphins, when body temperature is raises in the late evening, it will fall at bedtime, facilitating sleep. Numerous sauna bathers around the world tout the deep sleep they experience after sauna use.
5. Fights Illness
German sauna medical research shows saunas significantly reduced the incidence of colds and influenza. As the body is exposed to a sauna’s heat and steam (traditional), it produces white blood cells more rapidly—which in turn help fight illness and help kill viruses. Saunas can relieve sinus congestion from colds or allergies—especially when used with steam (add eucalyptus to the water for added benefit and enjoyment). The steam vapor action helps clear up uncomfortable congestion and is a wonderful part of the Finnish sauna experience. These are but a few of the many health benefits provided by sauna usage. If you’d like to read more about sauna health benefits please visit this Second Street Sauna website or call 906-226-0150 to book a sauna session today! You’ll also find information about how to get the most out of your sauna bathing and you can even book a sauna session if you don’t have one of your own at home or camp! As I said before, I’ve spent time in many saunas here and throughout the United States and the facilities at Second Streeet Sauna in Marquette, MI are one of the best I have ever experienced (and you don’t have to clean up the mess!)
You can find the Second Street Sauna in Marquette, MI on the corner of Second Street and College Ave. Look for the beautiful eagle carving in front of the building and the red neon sign signaling that the saunas are fired up and ready for use!
You must be logged in to post a comment Login