Infrared Sauna Therapy & Health Benefits Blog

May 12, 2017 By Chris

Meditating in an Infrared Sauna

Recently I have started to meditate using an app on my phone called Headspace. It offers a great 10 minute guided meditation that I have been doing for about a month or so. Being as I am pretty busy throughout the day, I decided to try to meditate during one of my daily sauna sessions.

I have noticed a few things:

I am much more calm throughout the day with a much clearer head.

I am not as volatile with my emotions and I let go of things much easier.

I am much more aware of the space around me in all directions.

I am more aware of sound; instead of listening for things, I let sound come to me. Sounds strange, I know, but it’s a shift.

I breathe much easier throughout the day.

I am less focused on made up problems that I create throughout the day. I am much more in the present moment.

My blood pressure is stabilized at around 120/80 for the first time in my life.

What I have noticed from meditating in my sauna:

Because the air is hotter it’s a bit more intense during deep breathing–which makes the meditation feel a bit more intense. You are overcoming extreme heat to arrive at a peaceful mind. Once you do, it feels like an accomplishment.

You have to learn to not let the sweat dripping down your body interfere with your thoughts, or lack thereof. This helps keep you focused actually–very similar to holding a pose in yoga.

With all the good from meditating inside an infrared sauna, I would say to change up the location of where you meditate from time to time so it doesn’t get routine. Don’t get me wrong, routine is good. But you don’t want to have the same thoughts and visuals each time you meditate. You want to explore what’s around you and new things help bring in new insights. Just a thought.

While I am no pro in teaching you how to meditate, after one month I am sold. I highly encourage you to try it–especially in your sauna.

April 26, 2017 By Chris

Can You Set Up An Infrared Sauna Outdoors?

Short answer: Yes!

After a long winter cooped up indoors, people are longing to get outside and soak up a little Vitamin D. They, however, are wondering if they can soak up the far infrared rays of their infrared saunas outdoors.

And who could blame them?

Again, the answer is Yes, you can set up your infrared sauna outside, but there are some things you should consider first, namely—the warranty, the power supply, and the effect the elements will have on your sauna.

But having set up many infrared saunas outside, we have some tips for you. Let’s go!

Check your warranty

Most infrared saunas come with some sort of warranty, and many come with a lifetime warranty. Check the fine print of your warranty, however—most have a clause for outdoor storage that will void it if stored outside.

There are ways around this, too. For instance, at Sauna Cloud, if you want to keep your infrared sauna outside and keep your lifetime warranty, all you need to do is use the canvas cover we provide.

You can also purchase our Sanctuary Outdoor infrared sauna [insert link]. We cover our outdoor saunas with a 5 year warranty on all outdoor parts and a lifetime warranty on all indoor parts.

Bottom line—Check the details of your warranty or call customer service before setting up your sauna outside!

The effects of sunlight on your infrared sauna

Believe it or not, the UV rays of the sun are usually more harsh to the exterior wood of the sauna than anything else; besides a hurricane! Long-term exposure to sunlight can affect the look of the exterior wood. It won’t necessarily harm the functional aspects of your sauna, but can have a negative effect on the appearance.

Again, using a canvas cover can keep the sun from bleach the wood.

Bottom line—Different wood reacts differently to exposure to sunlight.

The effects of rain and snow on your infrared sauna

Snow in the Spring?! Depending on where you live, the elements can be harsh on the wood of your infrared sauna.

While it’s true that most infrared saunas are designed to withstand some moisture, if pools of water are left standing on top of or around the base of your sauna, you may seem some negative effects like mold or warped wood. Usually this won’t affect the actual operation of the sauna, but you’ll need to check with your model.

Bottom line—Keep the rain and snow off with a cover to stop the moisture from lying directly on top of the wood for extended periods of time.

Power supply

Again, we can’t speak for all infrared saunas, but every model we Sauna Cloud requires at least a 120 volt plug. I used to think that 110 volt and 120 volt plugs were the same (whoops!), but they’re not. 110-volt plugs have the two vertical plugs and 120-volt plugs have three prongs (with one horizontal and one vertical). Like this:

It’s pretty easy to install a 120-volt outlet, but most homes in the United States don’t come standard with them outdoors, so you’ll need to account for that.

Here’s a ridiculously thorough resource on electrical outlets, if you’re interested.

Bottom line—Make sure you have the right plugs in place for your saunas power requirements.

Space planning

We can’t speak for every type of infrared sauna, but most of our saunas weigh between 500-1000 lbs and take up at least 4′ x 4′. Make sure that the surface you’re going to put your sauna on can handle the weight.

For detailed specifications on all our different sauna models, including drawings, check out our product pages.

Buy a sauna specifically designed for outdoor use!

Yes, we saved the best for last. If you’re keen on permanently storing your infrared sauna, why not buy one that’s specifically designed to stand up to the elements?

Our newest line of IR saunas, the outdoor sanctuary line, are purpose-built for the outdoors. The main differences between our traditional line of saunas are:

• Composite wood made out of plastic to make sure the outside of your sauna does not leak or fade.
• 1000 pound sauna that will not be moved or destroyed by the outside elements.
• 4 500 watt full spectrum heaters to make sure your sauna can heat up even in the coldest environments.

If you’re interested in learning more about outdoor saunas, please don’t hesitate to request a catalogue or get in touch with us.

April 6, 2017 By Chris

My Green Smoothie Recipe

Since I started becoming more health conscious I have started to drink a daily green smoothie in the morning. I have found that it’s the best way to start the day that provides you with the nutrition that your body actually wants and sets you up for the rest of the day to make healthier decisions.

There are a lot of different green smoothie recipes out there but there is no correct one.

1 banana
1 handful of spinach
1 handful of kale
1 handful of raw almonds, sunflower seeds or raw cashews
1 teaspoon of hemp hearts
1.5 cups of almond milk
4 figs or dates
1 cucumber or celery stalk
1 spoonful of almond butter

I refuse to drink a smoothie without a banana. I also love the consistency when you put almonds in. It makes it much thicker and way easier to drink (for me).

Feel free to figure out what you like best; however, try your best to stick with both the spinach and kale combo. You can also add in some protein powder if you like. I have yet to find any protein powder that doesn’t ruin the taste, but I’m still on the lookout.

Also, the better the blender you have the easier it will be mix and the better it will taste. I have a Vitamix knockoff and it works great.

Try to get in the habit of drinking a green smoothie each day!

April 5, 2017 By Chris

10 Supplements I Take Daily and Why

Recently I have started to listen to Joe Rogan’s (JRE) podcast. I highly recommend listening if you are at all interested in a wide array of topics from space travel, artificial intelligence, philosophy, diet and exercise, and personal health. He covers it all–which is what makes it so interesting. However, where he shines is how health conscious he is and his daily practice of exercise, a morning green smoothie and his daily supplement advice.

Since starting to listen to his podcast I have bought 10 new vitamin supplements to take. I will tell you about which ones I decided upon and why below!

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is great because it repairs and regenerates tissues, it protects against heart disease, aids in the absorption of iron, prevents scurvy (not really a 2017 issue, but still interesting), and decreases total LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Vitamin C may also help protect against certain cancers by combating free radicals, and helping neutralize the effects of nitrites which are the preservatives found in food.

I’m convinced that taking vitamin C daily helps to boost my immune system and prevent the common cold.

Vitamin b12: Vitamin b12 helps to support adrenal function, maintain a healthy nervous system, are necessary for key metabolic processes, and are important to DNA synthesis.

Taking vitamin b12 is also great for improving your mood and I just feel more even keeled after starting to take b12.

Vitamin D3: Vitamin D assists in the absorption of calcium and promotes healthier bones which may slow osteoporosis. It also strengthens the immune system and protects against a number of serious diseases, including rickets and osteomalacia.

If you have any bone issues you can take D3; however, this is very preventative as you won’t need strong bones until it’s too late.

Vitamin D protects from high blood pressure, skin conditions such as psoriasis, and several autoimmune diseases (including M.S. and arthritis). Evidence has also demonstrated vitamin D defends against cancer (studies link a deficiency of vitamin D to as many as 18 different cancers).

This one seems very preventative as you don’t want to have a vitamin D deficiency.

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil contains three fatty acids that help to prevent illness. They are caprilic acid, lauric acid and capric acid. Half of the fatty acids found in coconut oil are lauric acid. In the body, lauric acid converts into monolaurin, which is responsible for fighting off viruses and bacteria. The only source of lauric acid besides coconut oil is from breast milk.

Saturated fats in coconut oil are medium chain triglycerides, which means that the saturated fat chain is shorter than that of animal fats. The body handles the medium chain fat in a positive way–they metabolize quickly and are not stored as fat.

Caprilic acid aids in digestion by balancing bacteria in the gut. It also inhibits arteries from clogging and helps to prevent heart disease.

Coconut oil is amazing to cook with as a replacement for butter or oil. Just make sure that whatever you are cooking is already at room temperature before you add in coconut oil. Otherwise the coconut oil will solidify.

Maybe it’s just me but I can feel the difference with daily coconut oil use. It tastes great and makes me feel much less lethargic than using butter. While I try to cook each day I usually don’t get around to it more than 2-3 times a week. As a result I take two coconut oil pills with my daily supplements.

Probiotic 40 Billion CFU: Probiotics are still being underestimated by the health community. Gut bacteria greatly affects both overall physical and mental health as there are 400 to 500 species of bacteria residing in your gut. This is important to know as probiotic bacteria has more functions than just digestion. They trigger immune system reactions throughout the body, including activating T-cells (which are a huge part of the body’s immune system response).

Good bacteria needs to comprise 85 percent of the intestinal flora while allowing the remaining 15 percent to be pathogenic. Two-thirds or more of the immune system relies on this, so if your body gets out of intestinal balance your immune system takes a giant hit. Probiotics are crucial for overall health as are normal bowel movements. That’s where I’ll leave it.

Tumeric: Research shows that turmeric can help to alleviate pain and improve function in people with arthritis and joint pain. There’s also studies that suggest that tumeric has protective effects against certain cancers, including prostate, breast, skin, and colon cancer. Community studies of people who consume turmeric regularly, as they do in India, has shown low rates of Alzheimer’s disease.

This is maybe my least favorite taste aside from apple cider vinegar. So I take it in pill form. I have a slight tinge in my knee after exercise and I have noticed it much less after starting my tumeric regimen.

Omega 3 Fish Oil: Omega-3 benefits your heart health. A study of over 11,000 heart attack survivors found that patients taking omega fish oil reduced their risk of a second heart attack, stroke, or even death. A separate study reported that men who consumed fish once or more every week had a 50 percent lower risk of death from a cardiac event than do men who eat fish less than once a month.

Omega 3’s also normalize and regulate your cholesterol levels. Studies have also shown that omega 3’s are anti-arrhythmic which prevent an irregular heartbeat. They also prevent blood clots, fatty deposits in your arteries and counteract inflammation. Long story short–eat fish.

Milk Thistle: Milk thistle is used by herbalists to treat liver diseases includingacute and chronic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, as well as liver damage caused by chemicals, poisoning by the mushroom Amanita phalloides, jaundice and chronic inflammatory liver disease. Having a healthy liver is essential in staying healthy and detoxifying your body.

Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV has shown to help heartburn and acid reflux, support healthy cholesterol, and protect from arterial damage or oxidation (the rust of your arteries, which is the main risk of high cholesterol). ACV can also help you lose some weight. It helps to suppress your appetite, it increases your metabolism and helps to reduce water retention.

The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can also help to increase your body’s absorption of minerals from your food. This is great if you’re also eating healthy or drinking a green smoothie for breakfast.

I love taking ACV but I hate the taste, so I take it in pill form. It’s much easier this way and I feel more energized for the rest of the day after.

Cayenne: Cayenne benefits are maybe my favorite on this list. While cayenne is used to help digestion, cure diarrhea and is a remedy for cramps. But it’s amazing for me personally as it’s also used for heart conditions and expanding blood vessels-–which improves circulation, reverses blood clotting, lowers high cholesterol and prevents heart disease.

Results: I never get sick. Period. I also attribute this to taking a daily infrared sauna session. However, an infrared sauna isn’t a cure all to your health. You must practice a daily regimen of eating healthy and regular exercise. By adding these supplements I have started to take care of different parts of my body that I was neglecting previously. I am no longer doing that and I feel great as a result.

One thing to note is not to start taking everything all at once. I did this and I felt a bit off for a few weeks and my body ran hotter. I think it was a shock to my system but now I feel great, have lost a bit of weight and have lowered my blood pressure.

February 14, 2017 By Chris

A Guide to Infrared Saunas and Inflammation

Inflammation: a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection. Swelling, puffiness.

Far Infrared sauna therapy is one of the most effective tools available when it comes to battling inflammation. Recently I fell while skiing. Nothing was broken but my entire body felt swollen. After just a couple of sessions in my sauna symptoms began to disappear and within days I was feeling much better. Sweating in an infrared sauna enables your body to release toxins, metals and chemicals. It also aids in pain relief, enhanced circulation and greatly reduces inflammation.

When circulation is improved the body’s core temperature rises stimulating blood flow, improving muscle recovery and most important, reducing inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s attempt at protecting itself from harmful stimuli so it can begin healing. We now know inflammation to be the beginning of many if not most diseases. Inflammation is also part of the body’s immune response. It begins with irritation and changes into the immediate healing response of inflammation. Chronic inflammation can last several months even years. This can lead to certain cancers, arthritis, atherosclerosis, periodontitis and allergies. Inflammation is part of the body’s innate healing process however, best to heal the inflammation prior to allowing it to develop. This can be accomplished with consistent use of far infrared sauna therapy.

Between fifteen and thirty minutes a day in an infrared sauna is all that’s needed to improve your circulation and reducing inflammation. Increased circulation is also wonderful for lowering blood pressure, relieving pain, reducing stiffness and, of course, fending off inflammation.

How does infrared sauna therapy actually work in terms of reducing inflammation?

Infrared saunas use invisible light to create heat without warming the surrounding air. This heat is far more comfortable than the steamed, high temperature air from traditional saunas. Infrared saunas don’t get nearly as hot as traditional saunas. As a result, you can remain inside an infrared sauna longer than in a traditional steam sauna; thus gaining all the benefits from the warm and gentle heat over a 30 minute period.

Inflammation has currently been identified as the leading cause of most ailments and health conditions”

Infrared sauna use increases blood flow, bringing healthy, oxygenated blood to whatever area is in need. The relief that comes from this gentle heat can be felt and be beneficial for so many conditions however, the main inflammation reduction occurs due to this comfortable Far Infrared heat penetrating joints, muscles, tissues and nerve endings, while also producing additional white blood cells which alleviates inflammation.

Also, far infrared heat produces vigorous perspiration which in turn accelerates heart rate as when involved in moderate exercise. There is serious evidence, sited by many studies, that validate these results in terms of successfully treating various painful and also silent health conditions such as inflammation, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis. Most of all, even after the first session, inflammation is reduced and pain is relieved; the longer the therapy the more successful.

Far infrared sauna users have also experienced improvements in the level of inflammation on their skin. Difficult cases of psoriasis and other skin ailments have improved dramatically after use of infrared saunas, often over a short period of usage; one to two months. Skin health has also greatly improved with reduction in cellulite, clearing of acne and relief from psoriasis and eczema.

The skin is the window to your overall health. The healthier your skin is the healthier your overall health is.”

Far infrared sauna therapy also neutralizes blood toxicity and smooths the walls of arteries, capillaries and veins. it also allows for the healing of upper respiratory infections. It has proven to be outstanding in the ease of inflammatory symptoms from asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, colds, flu, sinusitis and congestion as it clears the inflammation, swelling and mucus clogged passages.

Total detoxification is possible as the absorption of infrared enhances white blood cell function, increasing immune response and the elimination of foreign pathogens and cellular waste products. When toxins are eliminated lymph node function improves and immune function strengthens. Further research has also tagged additional ailments currently and medically proven to be beneficial when using far infrared sauna therapy when battling anything that includes inflammation.

Far infrared sauna therapy is such a wonderful tool for your overall physical health. It is always good to remember to leave enough time in your day for a quick infrared sauna session. Remember, far infrared sauna therapy involves the use of infrared rays to gently heal, soothe, stimulate and detoxify the body as well as the mind. The rays have the ability to penetrate all layers of the human body, penetrating into the inner-most regions of the tissues, muscles and bone. Not only is this relaxing but it benefits the mind, body and spirit.