Infrared Saunas at a Glance

Anyone who belongs to a gym has heard about, perhaps even used infrared saunas before. In the last few decades, infrared saunas have overtaken traditional saunas in popularity. They are even being seen more commonly in homes, where people install them for personal use or as part of their home gyms.

Infrared Sauna Technology Explained

Infrared radiation (or IR for short) is a type of radiation emitted by nearly everything; even our bodies! Depending on the source, it is released at different levels. An infrared heater, such as the ones used in infrared saunas use a type of infrared radiation called FIR (for far infrared). IR incubators are used at hospitals for newborns, these heaters are similar to the ones found in infrared saunas, that is to say, they use FIR technology.

How Do Infrared Saunas Differ from Traditional Saunas?

When saunas were invented (and keep in mind, this was a very long time ago), the way heat was generated was to heat rocks and stones in a wood lined room. Water was poured on these rocks, creating steam, which warmed the air inside the sauna. This type of sauna is known as a "Finnish sauna" – later improvements included more efficient ways of heating the stones such as wood burning stoves, then electrical heaters; this is still the most common method today! While electricity is used to heat the rocks, rocks are still used as a medium of conducting the heat. In these rock saunas, temperatures of up to 200 degrees are generated. This is why these saunas are often followed by a cooling down in a cool shower, a pool, even (in the Finnish style) snow!

From the outside, there is no obvious difference between rock saunas and infrared saunas. Both are contained in a small wooden room, but the difference is that an infrared sauna uses an infrared heater to pass FIR heat waves directly to the bodies of those inside via a process called conversion. This is different than a traditional sauna in that they generate heat by warming the air inside. Infrared saunas don’t create the same high temperatures as a rock sauna, because they don’t need to. Infrared saunas are rarely warmer than 130 degrees, so sessions can last longer.

Differences between Traditional vs. Infrared Saunas

A traditional sauna generates temperatures of up to 200 degrees while warming only the surface of the body. This is less energy and space efficient than infrared saunas and has another problem as well – unless they are carefully maintained, it is easy for bacteria to run rampant in a rock sauna.

Infrared home saunas use their FIR heaters to send heat directly into the body, with no steam being generated. These rays penetrate up to one and a half inches into the body, which heats the surface and the core at lower temperatures than a rock sauna. These FIR saunas are more economical to use, take up less space and are more sanitary than their traditional counterparts.

Is FIR Safe?

None of the studies which have been done on infrared saunas suggest that they pose any health risk. The heat produced by an FIR sauna is actually safer than the rays of the sun, since there is no ultraviolet radiation.

Benefits of Far Infrared Saunas

Our modern world produces in us a genuine need for stress relief and relaxation. Infrared saunas are an ideal way to relax after a hard, hectic day and have some other possible health benefits as well:

- The heat from infrared saunas penetrates deep into the body, which helps the body eliminate toxins by sweating.

- Infrared heat has been used as an effective therapy for arthritis, back pain, stiffness of the joints, even deep tissue injuries.

- They have been linked to improved circulation, which promotes a healthy heart and overall improved fitness levels.

- Infrared personal saunas are much more cost-effective to operate than traditional saunas, costing just pennies an hour.

- They seem to accelerate weight loss, burning as many as 1,000 calories per hour.

- Saunas which use far infrared heat are the choice of many athletes as an aid to muscle recovery after workouts.

Infrared saunas are the most popular type of home saunas on the market. Infrared electromagnetic waves are completely safe and provide great health benefits.

About the Author:

Kevin Urban is the editor for Sauna-Talk, a consumer guide to home saunas and sauna kits. Visit the site for a great selection of home infrared saunas and tips on planning your sauna installation.