7 Practical Things Every Infrared Sauna Beginner Needs to Know

After all, everyone wants to do it right, so that he can enjoy all the benefits of infrared saunas to the fullest.

Let’s take a look at some questions infrared sauna beginner might have.

What is the best temperature for an infrared sauna?

Infrared saunas usually operate at lower temperatures than the traditional ones. The ideal temperature is around 110-140 degrees.

If the unit has a vent, you can open it to regulate the temperature. In this way, you don’t have to turn off the heaters, as the infrared energy is only emitted when they’re on.

Don’t worry about the exact numbers. Make sure that you feel well and relaxed. As long as you relax and sweat in the sauna, you are receiving the health benefits.

How long should I stay in an infrared sauna?

The usual infrared sauna sessions last between 30 and 40 minutes.

If you are an infrared sauna beginner, you may start with 15 – 20 minutes of sweating before you get used to the higher temperatures. It is normal if you don’t sweat a lot the first time you are in an infrared sauna.

Don’t forget that these times are only the recommendations and you should leave the sauna immediately if you feel any kind of discomfort or encounter any problems.

How often should I use an infrared sauna?

Infrared saunas are safe to be used on a daily basis, so it is mostly up to you and how much time you have. Most of the regular sauna visitors use it 3 – 4 times a week.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of the infrared saunas, we recommend regular sessions at least once a week.

What to wear in an infrared sauna?

While in the sauna, you can wear a towel or bathing suit. The rays of light of infrared technology penetrate through your skin and are not harmful in any way. On the contrary, you want to be exposed to them directly.

One of the benefits of having a home infrared sauna is that you don’t have to worry about your attire at all. As long as you’re comfortable, you can enjoy the sauna session wearing nothing but a smile 🙂

The only recommendation is to sit on a towel so that the bench is not all sweaty after you leave.

If you are thinking about having your own infrared sauna at home, don’t forget to check our ultimate buying guide to finding the best infrared sauna.

Is it better to go to the sauna before or after a workout?

It is a known fact that infrared saunas can improve your fitness endurance and speed up the recovery from strength workouts. The question remains – should you use the infrared sauna before or after the workout?

As an infrared sauna session has a relaxing effect on the body, it is usually recommended to be used after the physical activity. This helps you to relieve the tension that was created during the workout and relieve the potential muscle soreness.

After all, a relaxing infrared sauna session can be a nice reward after the workout 🙂

Should I drink water while in an infrared sauna?

It is advisable to hydrate yourself thoroughly prior to and during your infrared sauna sessions. This is because your body loses a lot of water through sweating while you are in the sauna.

Failure to hydrate can lead to harmful effects, like the change in electrolyte concentration in your body. Detoxification also requires a lot of water to flush out toxins from the body.

So yes – drinking a lot of water is one of the key elements of a healthy, comfortable infrared sauna session.

Should I shower after an infrared sauna session?

Well, this one goes almost without saying – it is very good and advisable to take shower after you visit the infrared sauna.

Not only is it good to wash out all the sweat but the “contrast therapy” created by the sudden switch from hot to cold is good for your blood circulatory system and boosts your immunity.

No wonder that Finns end their sauna sessions by rolling the body in the snow. Although infrared saunas work on a little different principle than the traditional saunas, the health benefits of such ritual are shared among both types of saunas.

Some users recommend a shower before the infrared sauna session as well in order to start the body circulation and get rid of the dry skin, dirt and other elements that might block the sweating.

That’s it. If there are any other questions that were not covered in this article, feel free to ask them in the comments.

The only stupid question is the one not asked.