Ok yes some of you are going to think I’m a bit over the top here calling a portable infrared sauna a little bit of heaven, but I assure you anyone who owns, or has tried one will agree with me, and this article is going to explain just a few reasons why a portable far infrared sauna is a must have for the alternative heath nut.

Portable Infrared Saunas the size of a gym bag

These small tent like saunas fold up and come with a carrying case that makes them no more intrusive then a regular gym bag. Add in the fact that you only need about 7-9 square feet to use one and it’s no wonder these infrared models are showing up in more and more peoples homes.

The concept came about when infrared saunas started to become popular, and their health benefits were being touted as the secret solution to arthritis, detox, and other degenerative and auto immune issues. Experts began to notice how the use of infrared saunas help increase blood flow, detox the body, and basically heal from the inside out.

So what exactly do they look like?

A portable infrared sauna looks like a tent. You get inside and there is a small hole at the top for your head to pop through. While they look a little like a space suit (due to the metallic appearance) the often silver coating is used to keep the heat inside.

The far infrared heater takes about 15 minutes to reach temperature, and a 15-20 minute sit inside is the standard. They’re the most energy efficient heaters on the market costing about $3-$5 a month to run depending on your usage habits.

Why buy a portable infrared sauna?

The attraction to the portable far infrared sauna models is mainly the price. Precut and prebuilt units can run into the thousands of dollars, where a portable infrared sauna can be picked up for as little as $350.00. Couple with the savings the fact that it’s portable and can be taken on the road for work, on vacation with the family, or used in any room of your home and it’s a pretty slick piece of equipment to own.

The list of benefits of using a home sauna is long. How ever not everyone has the luxury of being able to take advantage of them. Thanks to portable saunas more people in small apartments, homes and condos can receive all the same healthy relaxing benefits as they could from a spa.

Types of Portable Saunas

There are two distinct types of portable saunas.

Portable Infrared Saunas
Portable Steam Saunas

Infrared red models are available in a tent like construction. They are quick to put together, and pack small enough to take on vacation with you. A Portable Infrared sauna has a small infrared heater inside, and warms the interior of the unit in about 15 minutes. Energy requirements are very low, and the cost for one of these models isn’t out of the average individuals reach.

A portable steam sauna how ever isn’t quite as “portable” shall we say. These models are also known as pre-built saunas. The walls, floor, and ceiling come premade and are assembled at home usually held together with a latching system. They’re portable to the extent that you can easily take them apart and change their location, but they are to large to travel with for short periods of time.

Portable Sauna Costs

A simple tent like infrared sauna can run anywhere from a couple hundred to five hundred dollars. In comparison a pre-built sauna while still technically portable could be anywhere from three to six times that amount.

Portable Sauna Health

Both types of portable home saunas promote healthy living, helping to clean the body from the inside out. Saunas (especially infrared models) promote relaxation, increased blood circulation, and skin health. Combine this with their detoxification properties and a portable sauna is a wise and healthy investment.

The cost of operation of most portable saunas is below $10 dollars per month, and depending on the model (infrared or pre-built) require very little room in your home. If you’d like to be able to take your portable sauna with you on the road for work or vacation the only alternative is an infrared model.

Stress and anxiety are all around us in todays 24/7 world. We have pressure at home, our jobs, and even in our recreation activities and relationships. An easy solution might be just to slow down, or stay away from those activities that stress us out, but that is difficult.

Today’s world is more demanding, and in turn we need to manage our lives differently and take time out for ourselves.

Infrared saunas offer the body numerous health benefits (many of which you’ll learn about on my site), how ever one key benefit that it offers those of us that are wound up a bit to tight or suffering from anxiety attacks is relief.

How do saunas help relieve stress?

OK, so it’s true no sauna, massage, acupuncture or any other treatment can take the stress out of your body and put it in a jar far far away. What an infrared sauna can do for treating stress and anxiety is relieve many of the symptoms that are causing you to feel the way you do.

The #1 subscription for stress relief is time. Time to yourself, time to relax, and time between the multiple tasks that demand your attention every day. It’s the time to relax, and with yourself that saunas help with.

Feeling overwhelmed and tightness in the chest can only be remedied by relaxing and bring things back into perspective. How ever depending on the severity you might find that even an hour away from it all doesn’t remove those tight muscles and tension.

Infrared technology (the same that is used in many types of dry saunas today) relaxes the muscles and increases the blood flow to deep tissues. Accelerating the relief you feel from stress and anxiety in your body, along with providing you time to sit back and relax.

Loosening your muscles and putting you in a somewhat meditative state (which saunas are known to do) helps you take time out from the world around you to recharge and rethink what’s happening in your life at that moment in time.

Where to find an Infrared Sauna?

Many health clubs and gyms are now opting for an Infrared sauna system for their members rather then a steam powered model. Reason for this is cleanliness, without the steam there is less chance of bacteria growing inside the sauna.

If you’re looking for a more permanent solution to your stress relief using a sauna infrared sauna kits are dropping in price every month. As more people discover the health benefits of using infrared heat more companies are popping up selling home kits.

These kits can be assembled indoors, and dis-assembled for easy transport to another area of the house or a new location all together. Out door kits are also available, how ever the majority of infrared home saunas are installed inside.

It’s hard to believe but there are more then 70,000 different toxins we’re exposed to (not all at one time) in the world today. From the air we breath, to the food we eat there are more chemicals to contend with then ever before. How can we help combat these substances that enter our bodies? While a sauna was once thought to be a luxury item only the relationship of detoxification and sauna is being researched strongly now. So strongly in fact that some medical professionals now prescribe sauna usage to patients suffering from severe toxic levels.

The toxins we take in as we go through our day-to-day lives build up and are stored in our fat cells below the skins surface as well as in other tissues and even our brain. Since as much as 30% of the toxins in our body are exhausted via our skin it makes sense that if we can induce sweating more often we can speed up the detoxification process. That is exactly what sauna usage promotes.

Saunas Open Our Pores

When our skin temperature increased which happens within minutes after entering a sauna our pores open wider then normal. While this isn’t anything we feel as it’s happening you can see with your own eyes as you begin to sweat from the heat. This sweat removes unwanted toxins from our skin and cells below the surface. Sauna detoxification is quickly catching on as an alternative method of treating patients suffering from chronic illnesses thought to partially be caused by high levels of toxins in the body.

Saunas Increase Metabolism

When enjoying a sauna session our heart rate is increased. This increased heart rate is so dramatic that it can resemble a brisk walk for the time period you’re in the heat. Similar to when we exercise the sauna causes our metabolism to speed up causing our bodies to lose weight by burning fat. Reducing the additional weight we carry can also help with toxins.

Sauna therapy an Excellent Alternative Health procedure

If you’re not experiencing any health issues that might be related to toxic chemical or heavy metal exposure using a sauna regularly still isn’t a bad idea. Think of it as how you’d take supplements and vitamins daily to promote good health. We generally don’t wait until we get sick to start taking these supplements we do so ahead of time. The role a sauna can play in detoxification is the same, don’t wait until you’re sick to consider using one start now.

With the price of home saunas coming down all the time you can purchase a modular infrared or steam sauna at a good price and enjoy the use of it daily.

Saunas are always praised for their relaxation benefits and ability to detox our bodies from chemicals and toxins we take from our everyday life. One thing we don’t hear a lot about is sauna health skin benefits that are derived from regular sauna bathing. Our skin is our bodies largest organ and it’s exposed all the time to the harsh elements of todays world. How ever spending time in a sauna helps rejuvenate our skin and bring back that healthy glow.

Sauna Detoxification

If you’ve been doing research on saunas for any length of time then you’ve likely read your fill about sauna health benefits and detox. How ever you probably have not read the benefits of detox to your skin. 30% of toxins in our body are removed through the pores in our skin. This is done primarily through sweating, most toxins are stored just below our skin so by increasing the size of our pores more is released.

It takes all of about two minutes in a sauna to heat up our skin. This is when the detoxifying begins to occur. Our pores open, and we begin to sweat, this is just one of the sauna health skin benefits.

More blood flow

Saunas whether wet or dry increase our heart rate up to 50%. With this increase in heart rate the amount of blood that passes through the organ increases also by 30-50%. This results in a health benefit of sending more blood to organs. As our skin heats in the sauna it wants to cool itself, with the increased blood flow in the body our skin begins to receive more of the overall blood flow up to 50%. Compare this to 5-10% of normal blood flow and you can see it’s a big jump.

With increased blood flow comes more oxygen and nutrients to our skin. This leaves our skin looking rejuvenated and healthy. Most sauna health benefits are tied to this increase in blood flow and overall body temperature increase.

Help Heal Skin imperfections

If you suffer from any skin imperfections such as acne, eczema, and even scrapes and cuts increased blood circulation and the production of healthy blood cells can speed up the healing process. Sauna bathing regularly if you suffer from a skin condition is the best idea to maximize the health benefits.

Overall, spending sometime in a sauna is a positive thing for the appearance of our skin. Whether it’s an infrared sauna, or one powered by steam the heat effects our skin in similar fashion by opening our pores and helping us to detoxify and supply more nutrients and oxygen to our skin.

Saunas while often thought of only as a steam room come in a dry heat variety as well. The dry sauna uses a different heater then a wet sauna to produce it’s extreme heat and warm the skin and our bodies. While the health benefits are similar it’s thought that a dry sauna produces these effects much quicker then a steam room. While the heat in a steam room is produced primarily from the water that is poured over the sauna rocks the heat produced from a dry sauna heater heats the skin quicker. Allowing us to sweat and also cool our skin at the same time.

Sweating rids body of toxins

Sweating is beneficial for our health. It’s not known by all but up to 30% of toxins are released through our skin when sweating. If we increase the rate of sweating (thought to be almost a pint per hour when in a sauna) we rid our bodies of more toxins. A dry sauna heats our skin directly not with steam and humidity so we reach an increased body temperature faster. Along with the higher temperature a sauna will open the pores in our skin to allow more moisture and toxins to escape. This combined process is one of the best health benefits of a dry sauna.

Increased Blood Flow and Heart Rate

As a dry sauna increases our body temperature our heart begins to beat quicker. It varies on sauna type and the individual but we can see up to a 50-70% increase in heart rate during a sauna session. This increased heart rate also increases the volume of blood the heart pumps through our body. Aiding with the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to our organs. The organ that receives the most health benefit from this process is our skin.

Our skin receives approximately 5-10% of our over all blood flow under normal conditions, how ever when in a sauna that amount can be almost half help to rejuvenate our skin and leave it looking bright and healthy.

Infrared Dry Saunas

We’ve mentioned the health benefits of a dry sauna with a dry sauna heater there is an alternative. Infrared saunas provide a dry heat without actually heating the air. They allow us to begin sweating as they heat up the surface of our skin causing the release of toxins and other unwanted materials through our pores. The interesting thing with an infrared heater is there are additional sauna health benefits we receive from the infrared energy as it penetrates our skin to our organs.

Without going into a detail discussion of the health benefits of infrared saunas it’s been documented that they can help heal deep tissues, and reduce symptoms with diseases such as Lupus and Fibromyalgia.

People have their own preference as to whether they enjoy a wet or dry sauna. Both offer health benefits to the bather, and individuals might find one type of heat more bearable then the other. For many the dry heat can make it easier to breath, and be a more relaxing experience. Most home saunas being purchased today use an infrared heater providing a health benefits similar to a dry sauna our recommendation is to give both a try before you make a purchase decision on what type of sauna will provide you the most benefit.

Today’s world is chalked full of over 77000 different chemicals that we’re taking in everywhere from our food to the air we breath. How does this all tie into Sauna therapy? Well one of the biggest health benefits of sauna therapy is the detoxifying effects sweating has on our body.

These chemicals we take in everyday have the ability to create changes in our metabolism, cause nutritional malfunctions and hormonal dysfunction, and also reduce our resistance to chronic illnesses. Sauna therapy is an actual medical procedure that patients are put through in order to detox their system from the sometimes 400 to 800 toxic chemical residues which can be stored in our bodies fat cells.

Sweating Sauna Benefits

While not the most glamorous of health benefits the sweating that occurs when we use a sauna helps emit the toxins held in our body. Up to 30% of toxins are removed through the skin and when in the sauna our pores expand by up to 50% allowing more to escape our bodies.

The medical benefits of sauna therapy effectively flush our system of subcutaneous oils and reduce those toxins stored in fat cells. Reducing excess salts and heavy metals found in the body reduces the chance of having metabolic imbalances leading to poor digestion and weight gain.

Increased Protection from Illness

Another medical benefit to sauna heath is the increased white blood cells created from the simulated fever our body receives while sitting inside a sauna. When we get sick and have a fever our body manufactures more white blood cells which protect us from illness and fight it off when we are ill. This process is an excellent way to help strengthen our immune system.

Far Infrared Technology

Not all saunas have offer this health benefit, how ever if you’re using an infrared sauna not only do you enjoy the increase in body temperature and detoxifying effects but there is research to show that the infrared energy produces even further medical benefits to saunas.

Infrared energy warms the skin directly unlike other dry or wet saunas that heat the entire space inside the sauna. This energy also penetrates the skin to deeper tissue and organs. This energy is said to help heal internal organ damage, reduce aches and pains, and of course supply all the other sauna therapy health benefits.

Number one Health Benefit of Sauna Therapy

The number one health benefit of sauna therapy is likely stress relief. It’s what we all thing of when we spend some time in a sauna. Stress is a big cause of many chronic disorders and diseases. The reduction in stress that occurs during sauna bathing is the result of several effects the heat from a sauna has on our bodies.

Sauna therapy facilitates the expansion of capillary vessels in the body, there by improving circulation and the reduction in chemicals the body produces in stressful situations. This reduction lowers stress levels and is a major health benefit of sauna therapy.

More medical professionals are beginning to recommend patients to integrate sauna therapy in their healing routines. As we continue to pollute ourselves with chemicals and toxins in the air we breathe, food we eat, and water we drink we’re going to need a way to help reduce those toxins in our body. Combine that with the fact that todays world is a lot more stressful then ten or twenty years ago and the health benefits to sauna therapy are endless. Consider exploring what sauna therapy can do for you.

Saunas are long said to provide bathers with a multitude of health benefits. Of course since saunas are more of an alternative health solution some medical professionals disagree with extent of sauna health benefits. For the studies that have been done there’s a variety of sauna benefits our bodies enjoy with a 10 – 20 minute sauna bath.

Detoxification

No secret, saunas make our bodies sweat, how ever what happens when our bodies sweat may not be known by all. As much as 30% of our bodies waste is removed through the skin therefore increased sweating helps remove more toxins faster. This combined with the fact that our pores increase in size when our skin heats up allows more toxins to release then when we sweat on a hot summer day.

Weight loss and Increased Blood Flow

After only a couple of minutes in a sauna our heart rate increases between fifty and seventy percent. The increase in heart rate actually has some positive metabolic effects. Similar to exercise or a brisk walk will increase your heart rate a positive benefit of a sauna is it can help you lose weight.

Of course with a faster heart rate the volume of blood flow increases as well. Spending 15 minutes in a steam sauna increases blood flow by as much as 50% with the majority of that flowing to the skin because of it’s increased temperature.

Sauna Skin Benefits

The increased blood flow the skin receives as a benefit of its increased temperature brings more nutrients and oxygen to our skin. Under normal conditions our skin while it is the largest organ receives between 5% and 10% of total blood flow. The increased blood flow rejuvenates our skin leaving it brighter and healthier.

Physiological Sauna health benefits

It’s not just blood flow and sweating that occur when inside a sauna. Some physiological sauna benefits include relief from pain due to arthritis, and muscles. Some injuries that cause swelling can see a reduction in the swelling due to the increased heat a sauna places on the body. Those suffering from respiratory issues such as bronchitis, congestion, and sinus troubles can also see relief in their symptoms after a brief sauna bath.

Cautions

Now with all the positive effects saunas have on our health it’s important that we pay attention to any dangers that can occur in a sauna. Never use a sauna while consuming alcohol, and if you’re on medication you should consult your physician to ensure there is no danger with the increased heat. Also while a key sauna health benefit is increased blood flow those with high or low blood pressure to be cautious when using a sauna for any period of time.

Even if your skeptical of the sauna health benefits we’ve discussed here you can always fall back on the fact that a sauna is one of the best places to relax and unwind from a tough day at the office or just for pleasure.

Sauna’s once only a luxury item at health clubs and spas now hold many health secrets. Sauna health benefits stretch from stress reduction to disease prevention. Of course similar to other alternative health procedures not all medical professionals embrace the concept. How ever the studies that are surfacing today about detoxification, and illness prevention are tough to ignore.

Detoxification by sauna therapy

Our world isn’t get any cleaner and we’re exposed to more toxic chemicals and heavy metals then we ever have been before. Detoxification and sauna go hand in hand. We remove as much as 30% of the toxins from our body by sweating there by the health benefits of sauna therapy are being recognized by health professionals specializing in the treatment of environmental illnesses and chronic diseases tied to toxic build up.

Dry sauna vs steam saunas for health

You have the choice whether you use a wet or dry sauna. Most sauna bathers are familiar with the steam bath or sauna at your local health club, but the health benefits of dry saunas are being studied more and more. The dry heat increases the temperature of your body in a faster and different manor there by providing more or less the same health benefits but quicker.

Either sauna will provide you with a multitude of health benefits, and the steam can be a better choice for those suffering from breathing troubles such as asthma. The type of sauna you enjoy is more of a personal decision then a medical one.

Saunas for skin care

When a sauna increases our overall body temperature it also increases the blood flow to our skin. Our bodies normally send our skin 10-15% of the overall blood flow, this amount can increase to 50% during a sauna session. The increased temperature of our skin demands it. Sauna health skin benefits are tied directly to this increased blood flow and the additional blood cells and nutrients brought to the skin to promote healing and rejuvenation.

Physiological Benefits of Sauna Health

The heat generated by a sauna helps reduce swelling and pain caused by arthritis, and other muscle and joint trouble. As mentioned above especially in a wet sauna those suffering from respiratory issues such as congestion, bronchitis, laryngitis, and sinus troubles enjoy relief in a very short period of time.

The sauna is quickly becoming one of the most popular alternative health treatments. Because of this manufacturers have caught on and are designing saunas for home use. From pre built home kits to modular saunas that you can assemble in almost any room of your home. Saunas are catching on and not just for their stress relieving relaxation benefits. Sauna health helps you feel great, and relaxed at the same time.

Sauna room kits are the easiest way to install a sauna in your home. There are two distinct types of sauna kits to choose from one converting a room in your home to a full blown sauna, while the other is a self contained sauna room that can be placed almost anywhere in your home.

If you’re looking for a sauna kit that can be relocated should you move then a prefab sauna is likely the best option. Available as a steam, dry, or infrared sauna modular kits come with pre built walls and ceiling ready for assembly. The degree of difficulty for assembling these prefab saunas is quite low, and most can be taken apart quite easily should you need to relocate.

The down sides to a modular sauna room kit is that they’re just that, modular. They’re not a room as per se but more of a box within a room. If you have the required space to have sauna in your home they’re a very cost effective way to do so, but they do not add any value to your home overall.

The other option is a pre cut kit. A pre cut sauna room kit provides you with all material required to convert a room of your home into a steam or dry sauna. Prior to ordering your kit you must have the room framed and insulated. Exact measurements of the room are taken and provided to the sauna room kit manufacturer. They then cut all boards for the interior wall and ceiling lining. Build the door, and ship all materials and accessories required right to you.

While you can use a sauna room kit for remodeling it’s generally much easier if it’s done with new construction. Especially if you’re considering a steam room kit and proper seals and insulation must be installed.

The down falls to sauna kits that come precut is the labor and expertise required to install them. If you consider yourself a handy do it yourselfer then it’s a task you may take on yourself. For the rest of us we recommend you scout a contractor that is familiar with installing pre cut sauna kits. You may not realize it but there are remodeling contractors that specialize in spa and sauna installation. Be sure to shop the price around and ask for references before choosing the company to do your install.