There’s something deeply therapeutic about a sauna and the atmosphere it creates. The warm lighting, the aroma of wood, and the soothing warmth all help create a stress-free ambiance. Just the simple act of sitting in a sauna regularly can give your mental health a boost. Try it, and you’ll come out a happier person! Don’t believe us? Check out the mental health benefits of a sauna.
Produces Happy Hormones
You’re probably aware that exercise causes the body to produce a hormone called endorphins. These endorphins are also known as “happy hormones.” They’re natural painkillers that uplift the mood, leaving you energized and content.
Saunas work the same way. The heated environment in a sauna prompts the heart to beat faster to keep your body cool. As the heart pumps more blood, it delivers more oxygen to the brain. It also triggers the release of endorphins into your bloodstream, which has an anti-depressant effect.
If a quick 15-minute sauna can induce such euphoria, imagine the effects of long-term use on your mental health!
Balances Mood
Mood can be a complex concept, but it only needs something as simple as a sauna to enhance it.
Saunas can stabilize our mood, no matter how angry, sad, frustrated, or stressed we are. Negative moods can trigger the release of the cortisol hormone, also known as the “stress” hormone, into our bloodstream. This hormone makes us more reactive to even the most trivial stressors.
Prolonged sauna use lowers cortisol levels in the blood, which helps to balance our mood. Take refuge in your sauna the next time you feel like you’re ready to lose it, and let it work its magic!
Alleviates Chronic Fatigue Symptoms
Sadly, the modern world is fraught with hectic lifestyles centered on work, which leads to high-stress levels. Who hasn’t experienced burnout’s slow but steady progression at some point?
Many of us unknowingly suffer from chronic fatigue conditions. Our bodies are in constant distress, swinging between anxious and depressive states.
Fortunately, saunas can help turn this around. Traditional and infrared saunas can help ease chronic fatigue symptoms when used regularly.
A study reported that research participants who received daily infrared sauna therapy had:
- Better sleep
- Less pain
- Fewer mental disturbances
If you’ve been feeling fatigued lately, sauna therapy may be just what the doctor ordered.
Reduces Dementia Risk
Did you know that the number of dementia patients is anticipated to double in the next 20 years?
Chronic stress conditions lay the groundwork for dementia-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s later in life. One of the best ways to defend ourselves and our loved ones against these debilitating conditions is to invest in preventative measures like saunas.
Sauna therapy circulates oxygen-rich blood to the brain, reducing inflammation. Low inflammation leads to healthy brain function, reducing the risk of cognitive decline.
Start regular sauna therapy today to remain sharp as a tack into your golden years!
Improves Sleep
If you’re tossing and turning in your bed most nights, you’re losing out on good-quality sleep, which is a major issue.
Here’s why.
Sleep has traditionally been linked with improved cognitive performance and mental well-being. A good night’s sleep helps rejuvenate your brain, allowing it to work at its full capacity. Are sleep supplements the only way to get some good-quality shut-eye? Thankfully, no.
Regular sauna sessions are one of the most natural ways to induce restful sleep. The comforting warmth in a sauna boosts the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. It also has a calming effect that helps you unwind and go to sleep quicker.
The result? Deep, restorative sleep just as nature intended.
Pro tip: To sleep better, schedule your sauna sessions before bedtime.
Final Words
Sauna bathing is one of life’s simple pleasures. Its heat therapy can bring calm and focus into your life. Even on good days, it can help you relax and prolong your positive mood.
Saunas should be used at least twice a week for 15 minutes for the best long-term mental and emotional health results. It’s not always easy to access community saunas so frequently, so why not invest in a home sauna?
Daily access to a home sauna can help cultivate a healthy sauna habit, allowing you to reap both physical and mental health benefits. My Sauna World is a great place to shop for your first home sauna. Visit our website to browse our infrared and traditional sauna collections for your home. Invest now for a better and healthier tomorrow.
Sources:
Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review (hindawi.com)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/permanently-cure-chronic-fatigue-infrared-saunas-lifestyle-mearns/
