I Used an Infrared Sauna for 30 days - Here’s What Happened

Originally published in Yoga Journal on 07/23/2021

After a year of extreme isolation and grief over the loss of routines, careers, and, above all, lives, I was craving a post-lockdown detox and a chance to release long-held tension and fear. Enter the purifying power of the sauna.

I got my first taste of sauna on a family vacation at the (mostly shabby) chic town of French Lick, Indiana, in the late ’80s, home to the once-glamourous West Baden Springs and the birthplace of legendary Celtics forward Larry Bird. The condo we rented for the weekend had an indoor cedar sauna, which no one in my family seemed very excited about. So I sat there alone, for a half-hour, wrapped in a towel, reading a sci-fi YA novel until the pages came unglued from the spine due to the intense dry heat.

Even to my tortured preteen soul, the sauna felt like a quiet and relaxing refuge from a stressful world. But it wasn’t until I moved to Russia in my early twenties that I really fell in love with the sauna—or, as it’s called in Russian, banya (баня).

Here’s what happened after a month of infrared. As any good researcher will tell you, correlation does not equal causation. So, whenever trying a new wellness trend, it’s important to maintain a healthy skepticism. Here are my takeaways after 30 days of sweating 4–6 times a week.

I Experienced Relief From Chronic Pain

I’ve had plantar fasciitis on my left foot on and off for more than a decade. It returned with a vengeance shortly after the start of lockdown, and it was seriously hindering my quality of life. I feel like the combination of going back to the gym and the infrared sauna has helped my pain tremendously. I only feel a little soreness in my heel first thing in the morning. After a few stretches, it’s gone.

I experienced a reduction in stress

I look forward to my sauna time as “me time.” The experience itself is meditative and relaxing, and it also gives my mind uninterrupted time to wander and explore new ideas. Much like soaking in a hot tub, problems do seem to “melt away” when laying in the sauna. I always leave feeling refreshed and inspired.

So, did the sauna change my life?

Not quite! Although the infrared sauna experience is a far cry from the communal, celebratory sauna experiences I’ve known in Finland and Russia, it has its own pleasures and health benefits. An infrared sauna session feels more American—like an expensive, efficient, prescriptive life hack engineered to boost your mood and productivity, rather than an hours-long immersive experience shared with friends.

I’ll probably keep going after my 60 days are up, but I’ll need to schedule a trip back to Finland soon to get a taste of the real deal.

My skin looks better than it has in years

That post-sauna glow lasts all day, but after a month, my acne is significantly better and even the texture of my middle-aged skin is smoother. I find myself luxuriating in my evening skincare routine, feeling the smooth contours of my cheeks and chin, much like an actress in an infomercial. The blackheads are mostly gone with only a smattering remaining on my nose. The skin on my body is also smoother and softer. I find myself caressing my arms, delighting in their softness.

However, the chronic eczema between my fingers, an inflammatory condition classified as an autoimmune disorder, has seen no noticeable improvement. This is disappointing.

Sadly, it’s not a workout…

According to my Fitbit, my resting heart rate is between 70–75 beats per minute (bpm). While in the infrared sauna, my heart rate increases to a max of 110–115 bpm, which is the equivalent of a brisk walk for me—not an intense workout.

I do think that infrared sessions would be a good option for those with injuries that limit mobility. It’s a way to get some passive cardio activity without movement.

But it does help with workout recovery

I returned to the gym the same week I started going to the sauna, and I can definitely say that I experienced far less muscle soreness than usual. If you’re restarting an exercise program post-lockdown, you might want to think about adding sauna sessions to the mix.