From now on, you can alternate hot saunas with a cold one at Thermae Grimbergen. Not only is this a great way to cool down after an Aufguss session or hot sauna, it also has many health benefits!
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Unlike a traditional sauna, this cold sauna is a cabin that actually gets cold, not hot. The temperature fluctuates around 12°C and it has been decorated with stunning murals of snowcapped mountains and an ice cave. It is lit with blue light and cold air is circulated in the room. Cold exposure has several health benefits. Hippocrates was one of the early proponents of cold therapy and throughout the centuries, doctors have recommended it for certain health conditions.
The cold stimulates the nerve endings in your skin, causing you to shiver. Your body wants to do everything it can to stay warm, to maintain its core temperature of around 37 degrees. So, your blood flows faster, circulating more oxygen-rich blood around your body and supplying your vital organs more quickly. At the same time, waste products are removed more efficiently. This has an invigorating effect.
A cold sauna strengthens the immune system. The alternate exposure to hot and cold improves circulation and gives your cardiovascular system a boost. The cold kickstarts your body to produce more white blood cells, the very cells that are a vital part of your immune system!
Spending just a short time in the cold sauna improves your sleep and has a positive effect on your mental wellbeing. The cold promotes the production of endorphins and serotonin. This not only lifts your mood, it also gives you a real energy boost, making you more stress resilient. And, when your body is able to get rid of excess heat, you are able to get a better night’s sleep.
Research from Norway and the UK has shown that cold exposure improves concentration as well as skin health. It boosts collagen production, which improves your skin’s elasticity.
How long should you spend in a cold sauna? It’s simple: just like in hot saunas, listen to your body. You shouldn’t expose yourself to low temperatures for ages, i.e. taking a nap in the cold sauna is not a good idea, but spending 5 to 15 minutes is certainly okay. A good rule of thumb is that you should cool down for about the same amount of time as you spent warming up in an ordinary sauna.
A little bit of cold exposure is good for you, but going to extremes is not. If you feel your muscles are starting to get stiff, it’s time to leave the cabin and find a place to warm up for a while because you don’t want to become hypothermic. Also, if you notice that you are having trouble breathing, that, too, is a sign of hypothermia. Hypothermia is something you need to avoid at all costs. So, be sensible, know your limits. That way, you can enjoy that lovely invigorating feeling the cold sauna can give you without putting your health at risk.
Another really important piece of advice: stay well-hydrated. A cold sauna is a dry sauna, making your body lose moisture. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids, even if you are not thirsty.
Finally: if you are okay to have hot saunas health-wise, you should generally also be okay to have a cold sauna. If you are pregnant or have any serious health conditions, we advise you to consult your GP before having a cold sauna.
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