Far Infrared Saunas

A sauna is a room, designed particularly for heat sessions, where people are exposed to temperatures of 175°F or more. In order to overcome such high temperatures, the room is maintained at low humidity. The main objective of a sauna session is to induce sweating, which promotes relaxation. A sauna session also boosts the natural healing process of the body, stimulates detoxification and helps to burn calories. Nowadays, gyms, sports centers and swimming pools have sauna facilities. Also, there are home saunas that can be installed at one's residence.

Far Infrared Saunas

There are two types of saunas, namely, conventional or Finnish sauna and far infrared saunas. In a conventional sauna, the heat generated is by means of heated steam; whereas a special heater is used to generate infrared rays, in case of a far infrared sauna. An infrared radiation is an electromagnetic radiation, having a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than a radio wave. This radiation produced by far infrared saunas, is similar to the infrared rays from the sun. Hence, there are no side effects. Some of the common heaters used in a far infrared sauna are electric heaters, oil and gas heaters, and wood-burning heaters.

Advantages of Far Infrared Saunas

There are certain advantages of far infrared saunas in comparison with conventional saunas. Some of the advantages are:

• Far infrared saunas operate at a temperature range of 100° F to 130° F, whereas the temperature of conventional saunas is between 180° F to 210° F. Since, far infrared saunas operate at a lower heat, some people, especially those with cardiovascular diseases find them more comfortable and relaxing than the conventional ones.
• Far infrared saunas warm up much faster than the traditional saunas. They take only 8-10 minutes to heat up, whereas steam saunas usually take more than 30 minutes. Also, due to lower heat, there is less electricity consumption in far infrared saunas. Thus, the operating cost of a far infrared sauna is lower than a steam sauna.
• Though, far infrared saunas are operated at a lower heat, they heat the body tissues three times more and also induce higher perspiration than the conventional saunas. Hence, more toxins are expelled from the skin and hair.
• Traditional saunas create hot, humid and dry air, making it difficult for some people to breathe. In far infrared saunas, only 20% of the total infrared energy heats the surrounding air. Hence, air is pleasant and comfortable to breathe. As water is not used in far infrared saunas, there is no bacterial growth. In case of traditional steam saunas, water is used and hence regular cleaning is essential to avoid bacterial build-up.
• Another advantage of far infrared saunas is that they are lightweight and easy to install, whereas it is not so in case of conventional saunas.

Some people are of the opinion that far infrared saunas give more health benefits than the traditional ones. However, according to some, a far infrared sauna doesn't provide the feeling of relaxation, as a traditional sauna. This may be due to low heat and lack of steam. Thus, based on the preference of each individual, a far infrared sauna can be an advantage or disadvantage over a conventional one.