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7 Benefits of Having of Having a Home Sauna

Are you considering installing your own sauna at home? We’ve listed 7 reasons to stop considering and start installing!

There are probably as many reasons to get your own home sauna as there are sauna lovers out there. But if you’re still hesitating, you might want to consider the fact that sauna…

… strengthens social bonds

Constantly online and with an ever-diminishing attention span, we’re often not as focused on our near and dear ones as we wish we were. The sauna offers a sanctuary where we get to unwind and give each other our undivided attention. Are you having problems getting your teenager to look up from iPads and smartphones? Spending some time together in the sauna offers a great tech pause, allowing for thoughtful communication and silent contemplation.

… reduces stress

The heat in the sauna helps us to relax and regulates the level of cortisol in our blood. Cortisol is the hormone that is released when we’re stressed, and too high levels of cortisol can lead to a number of health issues such as problems with the immune system and with sleeping. Sauna bathing reduces the levels of cortisol in our blood, and instead it stimulates the production of serotonin. Serotonin is our “happy hormone” that makes us feel good.

… strengthens the immune system

Sauna has a proven positive effect on our immune system, and regular sauna bathing dramatically reduces the risk of catching common colds and the flu. The heat boosts the blood circulation and stimulates the production of white blood cells, which in turn helps protect our bodies against viral and bacterial attacks.

… helps you lose weight

Did you know that a hot sauna can burn just as many calories as a run? The raised temperature stimulates sweating and a calorie burn in the same way as when the body temperature is raised through physical activity. Dr. Steve Faulkner at the Longborough University is behind this discovery that he made when he let participants in a study first take an hour-long hot sauna followed by biking for an hour. What he found was that when sauna was combined with exercise, the combined effect was lower levels of blood sugar and more calories burned.

… helps you sleep better

The heat, the silence and the solitude will help you relax, and research has shown that a sauna session can have dramatic effects on sleeping patterns. By raising your body temperature in the sauna just before it is time to go to bed, your heated body will automatically work to readjust its temperature afterwards. It is this cooling-down process and your body’s return to normal temperatures after the sauna that will lull you off to sleep, leaving you calm and relaxed enough to sleep soundly through the night. You can read more about sauna and sleep here.

… rejuvenates the skin

Taking regular saunas, especially steamy ones, can have a truly transformative effect on the skin’s appearance. The elevated heat and the increased sweating and circulation stimulates the production of collagen and deeply cleanses and rejuvenates your skin. Don’t forget to rehydrate, both from the inside, drinking plenty of water, and externally with a nice moisturizing lotion. We have written more about sauna and skin here.

… protects the heart from diseases

Research has shown that regular sauna bathing may dramatically lower the risk of suffering from heart diseases. A 20-year Finnish sauna medical study (Laukkanen, Tanjaniina, University of Eastern Finland, “Sauna Bathing and Mortality,” JAMA, Apr. 2015) revealed sauna bathing can have dramatic positive impact on heart health. The study also showed the more frequently you sauna bathe, the stronger the positive effects on health and your heart. You can read more about sauna, your heart and health here.