Infrared saunas are a marvellous innovation in the world of health & well-being, but how long should you spend on a session? What is the average time you should spend in one and are there any negatives that you must be aware of?
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know before you get started, including as to whether or not you can take your mobile phone in your infrared sauna with you.
If you’re interested in learning more, read on and we’ll reveal all…
How long should you sit in an infrared sauna?
So, just how long should you sit in an infrared sauna? This all depends on you as an individual, what you’d like to gain from your sauna sessions, and what kind of tolerance you have.
- If you are new to the world of infrared saunas, a good place to start would be 2 or 3 sessions per week at 10 to 15 minutes a session.
- As your body acclimatises to the heat and you gain more experience with your infrared sauna, you can extend those sessions to 30 to 40 minutes per session and use it 3 to 5 times per week.
- It is not advised that you use an infrared sauna more than once a day. If you do decide you would like another session, cap out at 2 and keep the session shorter.
If your body isn’t used to the sauna yet, you should refrain from spending more than 20 minutes in there at a time. The whole purpose of an infrared sauna is to feel safe, calm, and relaxed. If you are feeling uncomfortable during your sessions, then it’s a clear sign that you should reduce their length and take regular breaks.
Remember to thoroughly hydrate your body before a session – especially if you will be sitting in there for longer than 15 minutes.
If you want to spend 40 minutes or so in your infrared sauna, there’s no reason why you can’t step outside every 10 minutes for a short break and a glass of water.
Listen to your body and try not to over-do-it too quickly.
Are there any negatives to infrared saunas?
There are certainly negatives to overusing and abusing infrared saunas. For example, if you have no experience and yet rush into having 45 minute sessions, 5 times a week, you are going to have a difficult time.
You need to ease yourself into it and allow your body time to adapt to the soaring temperature conditions.
For prolonged sessions, if your body overheats it can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat strokes. Below are some more potential negative effects that you must be aware of:
- Heat discomfort
- Low blood pressure
- Leg pain
- Airway irritation
- Light headedness
- Claustrophobia.
Rest assured that these symptoms are rare. So long as you listen to your body and take your time, you should not run into any problems. If you start to feel dizzy and lightheaded, exit the infrared sauna immediately.
However, if you train your body and slowly increase your session duration, over time you will be able to benefit in a great number of different ways.
What are the benefits of infrared saunas?
Infrared saunas are believed to provide a number of wonderful health benefits, both physically and mentally:
- Improved feelings of well-being
- Help with pain tolerance
- Protection against cardiovascular diseases
- Stave off dementia
- Assist with certain skin and lung conditions
- Battle high blood pressure
- Alleviate heart failure
- Relieve headaches
- Reduce pain from arthritis
- Combat type 2 diabetes.
As it stands, there is not enough empirical data to state firmly that infrared saunas combat the above with absolute certainty. However, there have been many studies that have shown individual improvement in the above areas.
That, and the fact that there have, as of yet, been zero reports of any negative long-term ailments due to infrared sauna use, it’s safe to say that (in the right dosage) infrared saunas are indeed very good for the body.
Can you take your phone in an infrared sauna?
The short answer is no. The average temperature of an infrared sauna is around 45 – 60 degrees Celsius. Operating a mobile phone at such temperatures will invariably lead to it becoming unresponsive and even switching off randomly. This is not only a nuisance, but there’s no telling what kind of long-term damage it can do to your phone.
Certainly, some mobile phones may be better suited to withstanding higher temperatures than others, but why would you want to take any unnecessary risks?
Have you ever been on a hot beach on holiday and felt your phone overheating? Even at temperatures of 35 degrees, a mobile phone will begin to lose functionality, switch itself off, and in some cases suffer irreparable damage.
The real question is however, not “can you take your phone in an infrared sauna”, but “why would you want to take your phone in an infrared sauna?”
As mentioned above, a decent infrared sauna session will be between 30 and 40 minutes. If you are unable to relax without your phone for half an hour, then perhaps forcing yourself through a little digital detox will be a very good thing indeed.
This time should be used to detox your entire body – and indeed your mind as well. Switch off from the digital world and meditate on your thoughts. Focus on your breathing. Be present in the moment.
Leave your phone outside!
Final thoughts
Let’s have a quick recap:
- Start off at 10 to 15 minutes per sauna session.
- Once your body begins to acclimatise, extend your sessions to 30 – 45 minutes per session.
- You may experience some negative symptoms and feelings if you abuse and overuse your infrared sauna before your body is used to it.
- Provided you take your time and listen to your body, you can enjoy many wonderful physical and mental health benefits.
- There is absolutely no reason to take your mobile phone into the infrared sauna with you. Do so at your own risk as it will invariably overheat and break.
If you like what you read and want to start cashing in on the many health benefits, why not check out these awesome Australian-made infrared saunas for some inspiration?
We hope that you’ve found this article insightful and wish you the very best in your quest for wellness.