Why going to the sauna all year round is good for us
Saunas are for winter ‒ far from it! Many people associate saunas with the colder seasons, and honestly, who would think of sitting in the sauna when it’s 30 degrees in the shade?Read on to find out why going to the sauna in summer is still a great idea.
Strengthen your immune system all year round
The pleasant warmth in a sauna and the fact that you work up a good sweat are just two of its many benefits. A much more important aspect, however, is the effect on our health, especially when we can train our bodies regularly. The alternation between heat and cold triggers several reactions in our bodies that benefit the skin, heart, and circulation:- When you take a sauna, your pulse and heart rate increase, pumping more blood through your veins. This causes the blood vessels to expand, then contract again as you cool down. Regularly exercising your blood vessels this way throughout the year enhances the hardening effect and strengthens your immune system.
- But it’s not just the heart and circulation that benefit from sauna sessions on warm days. In summer, air conditioning runs indoors, exposing our respiratory tract to dry air. The circulation in the nasal mucous membranes can improve with regular sauna sessions, helping to prevent colds.
- Your skin also becomes smoother and healthier with year-round sauna use. Steam and heat improve circulation in the skin and open the pores. This cleanses them and allows excess sebum to escape. The result is a silky-smooth skin surface after a sauna session. You can enhance this effect with a salt scrub after your sauna.
- Year-round sauna use helps our bodies cope better with temperature changes, in summer and winter alike. Experienced summer sauna-goers often report that they can tolerate the summer heat much more easily.
- An evening sauna promotes restful sleep, as the alternation between warmth and cold also relaxes our muscles. A gentle tiredness sets in, helping us switch off from everyday life.
Tips for sauna bathing in summer
If you have a sauna in your garden or home, you can bring summer into the sauna with fresh or floral scents in your infusion concentrates or herbs. With lavender flowers or thyme leaves in the bio sauna, you can breathe in the captivating scent of Provence ‒ lemon or orange scents feel refreshing even while you’re sweating.Cooling down after a sauna session is an important part of sauna bathing in every season, allowing our bodies to cool down and return to normal. But especially in summer, a thorough cool-down in a plunge pool or under a bucket shower is not only something we crave, but also invigorating and important for our bodies. So take a little more time to cool down.
Enjoy relaxing during your rest period and give your body time to recover. Listen to your body and do what feels good for you; decide how long and how often you want to sauna. When outdoor temperatures are high, your body can quickly reach its limits, so it’s especially important to drink plenty of fluids and replace what you lose. Tea, fruit juice, or sparkling mineral water with lemon and mint are just the thing for enjoying summer.
Older people, people with cardiovascular conditions, and pregnant women should take care when using a sauna in summer. In warm weather, your circulation can quickly struggle, or you may feel dizzy. If in doubt, consult your doctor beforehand.
Conclusion
Summer is sauna season too ‒ so if you use a sauna during the hot summer months, you’re doing yourself and your body some good. Regular, year-round sauna use trains your body, so it won’t be overwhelmed in fall when the official sauna season begins, and helps us cope better with temperature changes.Listen to your body ‒ if you have circulation problems or feel unwell, take it slowly and cool down thoroughly. Then nothing will stand in the way of enjoying the sauna in summer.