By Madelyn Kong
Did you know that Wellness on Whyte has its own cedar far infrared sauna? Do you experience muscle soreness from playing sports, or sitting at a desk for long periods, or suffer from migraines, or insomnia? Are you trying to balance your weight or energy levels, or improve the texture and health of your skin? If so, our sauna may be for you!
While there is plenty of research to support the many benefits of sauna use in general, the difference between infrared saunas and other conventional dry saunas is that those ones rely on heating the body by heating only the air around you at high temperatures between 150-500° F. Whereas, our infrared sauna produces infrared waves which deeply penetrate the skin at much lower temperatures, around 140° F or 60° C, increasing the body’s temperature internally and more quickly than only sitting in a hot environment would. Thus, infrared saunas can provide greater benefits at lower temperatures and in a shorter amount of time, resulting in more effective treatments with each use.
Your body has the amazing ability to heal itself, with time. However, amidst all the hustle and bustle of daily life, more often than not, we can end up spreading ourselves too thin, burning out, and falling out of our body’s natural, balanced state. Over time, toxins build up in the soft tissues of the body, and without a proper flushing of these toxins through healthy sleep patterns, diet, and movement, you may begin to feel sluggish or experience more aches and pains than you normally would. A quick sauna session can be the perfect pick me up when you find yourself needing to recharge, and consistent use over a period of time can help you maintain that balance.
The infrared rays work to rejuvenate and repair the body by activating the body’s natural ability for self-healing by essentially inducing a fever state without an illness. The infrared rays penetrate the body tissues to a depth of about an inch and a half or 3.81cm, to heat the body from the inside out. This induced “fever” state causes your body to sweat out toxins that have built up over time. As you continue to sweat, it is important to rehydrate by drinking extra water, which will further help the detoxification process, as toxins are removed from the body through urination as well. During this process, your heart rate also speeds up to a rate similar to that of light exercise, thus helping your body increase circulation. Some of the benefits that come with this detoxification process include: softer, clearer skin, decreased joint and muscle pain, faster recovery from injuries, decreased inflammation, better, deeper sleep, and reduced stress. Studies also show that consistent use can help lower blood pressure, ease arthritis, aid in cancer recovery, and help support patients with heart problems.
Our custom built sauna from Blackstones Saunas is made of the highest quality cedar wood, which is known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, so you can feel confident that every time you step into our sauna it will feel fresh and welcoming. The natural oils in cedar have antiinflammatory properties as well, which further help rejuvenate the health of your skin. Included in each visit is some coconut oil, which we invite you to try in combination with one of our house made essential oil blends, to soothe and cleanse the skin and invigorate the senses.
Finally, our sauna comes with a special colour therapy light which gives you the option to choose from six different coloured lights to enhance your session. While the red light is a fan favourite, invigorating, giving you that ultimate safe and warm feeling as it is associated with the root chakra, the deep blue light does wonders for easing headaches and helping you find your voice. The green light, associated with the heart chakra, is a beautiful choice for expanding your compassion, and is also great around cold and flu season to help strengthen the immune system, while the violet light gently guides you into a more meditative state. At the start of each session we would invite you to choose whichever color sparks your bliss that day, to help bring an extra dimension to your healing.
So, whether you are a long time massage or acupuncture client and are looking for something to deepen your experience and relaxation, or simply wanting to try a different modality of healing, our infrared sauna might be just the thing! Head to our website for detailed descriptions of all our booking options, or feel free to give us a call with any questions.
