Therapeutic heat in the infrared sauna

Most of us are familiar with the traditional Finnish sauna. The infrared sauna, too, has become hugely popular with sauna-goers. With more or less the same purpose, these two are alike in some aspects but quite different in others. While they offer the same health benefits, one notable difference is that the infrared sauna is less hot. That’s because instead of heating the air in the cabin, the infrared light emitted in this sauna is absorbed by your body, warming you up from the inside out. The lower ambient temperature makes this sauna more bearable for many people.

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Among the positive health benefits of both the traditional Finnish and infrared sauna are: better sleep, fewer muscle aches and pains, and improved circulation.

The infrared and traditional sauna are both relatively dry saunas, with the humidity in an infrared sauna being closer to that in your home, for instance. In contrast, in a traditional sauna, the humidity can be raised by pouring water on the hot stones. This ensures that your nasal passages remain moist and allows for the use of aromatherapy.

How does an infrared sauna affect your body?

Healthwise, you can’t go wrong whichever you choose, a traditional Finnish sauna or infrared sauna. Both will benefit your health in a number of ways.

An infrared sauna is aimed more at warming up your muscles, which makes them more supple. What’s more, a session in the infrared sauna improves your circulation, helping you recover from muscle and joint pain faster.

The focus in a Finnish sauna, on the other hand, is more on relaxation. Also, you can pour water on the hot stones, turning your sauna experience into an Aufguss session, or there is the option to use aromatherapy in this sauna. And, because it is hotter and more humid in a Finnish sauna, your body has to work harder to acclimatise i.e. you are training your body to regulate itself more efficiently, improving your immunity in the process.

In short, they both have positive, albeit slightly different, effects on your body.

Is the temperature in an infrared sauna as high as in a Finnish sauna?

The temperature in an infrared sauna is usually lower than in a traditional sauna. In an infrared sauna, the temperature fluctuates between 40°C and 60°C. The infrared rays emitted in the infrared sauna are absorbed by your body, which warms up your muscles and you start to sweat. If you enjoy long sauna sessions, it is better to have an infrared sauna than a traditional sauna.

Generally, an infrared sauna is more bearable. In a traditional sauna, 10- to 15-minute sessions tend to be the norm, while you can quite comfortably spend half an hour in an infrared sauna.

Why do I sweat less in an infrared sauna?

That is more of an impression you have really because you will start sweating whether you are having a traditional Finnish sauna or infrared sauna. That said, it is possible that you will experience less of a full-body sweat in an infrared sauna because the heat is more targeted. Also, you will start to sweat a little bit quicker in a Finnish sauna compared to an infrared sauna, but the actual end result is pretty much the same.

What is the difference between a traditional Finnish sauna and an infrared sauna?

A difference in heating: in a Finnish sauna, there is a stove that heats the air in the cabin. This makes you feel hot and your body temperature rises. In an infrared sauna, the infrared emitters don’t heat the air around you. Instead, they emit infrared rays directed at your body, which absorbs the rays and as a result, you feel hotter.
A difference in temperature: a traditional Finnish sauna is a lot hotter than an infrared sauna. An infrared sauna has a temperature of 40°C to 60°C. In a Finnish sauna, the temperature fluctuates between 70°C and 90°C.
Humidity: both are considered drier saunas, but in a Finnish sauna, you can raise the humidity by pouring water on the hot stones.

Do I have to cool down after an infrared sauna?

Absolutely! Whether you have had a session in the Finnish sauna or infrared sauna, it is important to spend enough time cooling down. Go outside, into the fresh air, and take a few deep breaths in and out. Next, have a cold shower. Start at your feet and work your way up. After this, you can cool down even more if you like in the plunge bath. Finally, you should also take enough of a breather in between two sessions and make sure to rehydrate. If you are having an infrared sauna specifically to warm up your muscles, it is better to have a lukewarm instead of an ice-cold shower. That way, your muscles cool down less quickly.

Which is better, the infrared sauna or traditional Finnish sauna?

We find it hard to choose between them. We are fans of both. That’s what so great about a large wellness complex like ours, you can try all kinds of different saunas!

Did you know?

Infrared therapy is available both in the swimwear and nude area of our castle estate. In the nude area, there are two types of infrared therapy in the four-therapy sauna. In the swimwear area, you can enjoy infrared therapy in the Laconium.

In addition, infrared therapy is provided in our two private saunas and it is also included in one of our treatments, the queen’s bath!

Do also read the following blogposts about infrared sauna:

Want to experience the difference between infrared therapy and the traditional Finnish sauna for yourself? Grab your diary and schedule a sauna day now!