Health Benefits

Whether your visit is post-workout inspired or because you feel the need let off some steam by being enshrouded by steam, the second you pull open that door and are assaulted by the sensuous heat and dry air of the sauna, you know you’ve arrived at a place where you can unwind and luxuriate in peace.

• Relieves tension – Heat from the sauna soothes your nerve endings and also warms and relaxes your muscles. Saunas and steam rooms can also minimize joint pain as well as arthritis, migraines, and headaches due to the high heat environment.
• Reduces stress – Heat from the sauna causes the body to release endorphins, or “feel good” chemicals that reduces the feeling of stress on the body.After leaving the sauna, you will feel rejuvenated and content and even have the confidence to tackle more during the day.
• Clears the skin – Steam clears skin impurities and can serve as an acne treatment.  It also improves circulation throughout the body which will give you a healthy glow, and make your skin look and feel great.
• Aids in weight loss – Because of the high heat, steam rooms and saunas will definitely get you sweating. Frequent visits to the sauna can lead to extra sweat loss and will help even shed a few extra pounds of water weight.
• Opens the sinuses – Wet heat opens and thins mucous membranes in your body, sinuses, throat and lungs. Loosening mucous can immediately be felt after entering a sauna as your breathing feels clearer. This can be especially beneficial for those who suffer from chronic congestion or sinus infections,
• Removes toxins – Sweating relieves the body of waste products, and sitting in a sauna for as much as 20 minutes or less can rid the body of an entire day’s sweat and all of the toxins that come with it.
• Treats cardiovascular diseases – When you’re in a sauna, your body reacts to the heat and humidity in a similar way that it reacts to mild exercise. This gets your heart pumping, exercising the muscle without exhausting it, making it stronger without risking injury or disease.
• Promotes healthy blood flow – Capillaries dilate when exposed to the heat of a sauna or steam room, so blood flows freely and easily through the whole body, transporting oxygen everywhere you need it and leaving you feeling refreshed.
• Post-workout relaxation – Muscles need to be relaxed and stretched after they are exercised in order to promote healthy recovery. When muscles are worked out, their tiny fibers break apart. When the fibers heal, the muscle gains mass and becomes stronger. This process is expedited by muscle relaxation, which occurs in response to a hot environment.
• Encourages social interaction – Going to the sauna can be a bonding experience with loved ones. Being social heightens your self-esteem and makes you more likely to live a healthy lifestyle.

Not only do saunas and steam rooms both increase the heartbeat and improve circulation,
The heat from a sauna soothes your nerve endings and warms and relaxes muscles, in turn relieving the tension from your body and minimizing joint pain. This is especially beneficial for those who suffer from illnesses such as arthritis, painful migraines and headaches.
Saunas can be used as a means of calming the body and relieving it of stress. If you suffer from insomnia (one out three people have a mild case), it can also help induce sleep. The heat from the sauna helps the body release endorphins, a feel-good chemical that reduces the effects of stress on the body which can relax you enough to sleep better. The sauna heats up your body, so when you leave and begin to cool down, your body releases increased levels of melatonin, helping you feel more relaxed and therefore allowing you to have a deeper sleep.

Steam Room Health Benefits

Overview

A steam bath is a holistic health treatment, geared toward extracting impurities from the body using heat. It differs from a sauna, in that its effect is brought about by the use of wet heat as opposed to dry. The ceiling of a steam room is intentionally made to a point that allows condensed moisture to flow down the walls instead of dripping onto patrons. Traditionally, steam room walls have been constructed using some type of ceramic or stone. However, the porous nature of these materials provides a breeding ground for bacteria, mildew, mold and various parasitic organisms. For this reason, hybrid models have been developed. The hybrids are fashioned from less permeable materials, and can self-sanitize at the end of each day.

Skin

Steam therapy reinvigorates the skin, offering a natural alternative to chemical treatments. Dr. Reinhard R. Bergel, in a special report extolling the restorative benefits of steam, said: “A great advantage of the steam bath lies in its highly beneficial effect on the skin, a feature particularly appreciated by women. The moist heat stimulates the subcutaneous blood flow and cleanses the skin intensively, opening the pores, removing dead skin and impurities and leaving the skin feeling soft, clean, and silky smooth.” By opening the pores through perspiration, steam induces the expulsion of toxins, rectifying exercise-related skin problems
For centuries, the inhalation of steam has been prescribed to treat various disorders of the lung. A study conducted at the Common Cold Unit at Harvard Hospital reported that "Nasal hyperthermia can improve the course of a common cold and also give immediate relief of symptoms."

Circulation

During a steam bath, blood vessels enlarge in response to heat. This action translates into an increased flow of blood throughout the body. More blood means more oxygen and nutrients delivered to the cells, which accelerates the repair of tissue damaged through exercise.

Hyperthermia

Hyperthermia is defined by Merriam-Webster's online dictionary as an "exceptionally high fever, especially induced artificially for therapeutic purposes." Many invasive organisms cannot survive once the body exceeds its normal temperature. Dr. Zane Gard, board-certified applied kinesiologist, said that "The only detoxification program that has proven successful in removing fat stored toxins from the body is hyperthermia, or heat stress detoxification."

They are Relaxing

The main reason any of us even try a steam room or sauna in the first place is to chill out. After a hard workout or a long day you need to just relax, which is exactly what you will do. The combination of heat plus being disconnected from the rest of the world for even just a few minutes can transform your attitude and make you feel more mellow.

They Help Clear Your Pores

Think about it: saunas and steam rooms cause your pores to open so you can release sweat. As your pores open and sweat, they also flush out the icky stuff sitting on your skin's surface or just below the surface. All the dirt and germs from your environment, your day, even your makeup get washed away in the stream of sweat.

They Help You Decompress after a Hard Work out

An intense exercise session can leave your muscles tired, sore and stiff. Using the heat from a sauna (dry heat) or a steam room (wet heat) can loosen muscles and help muscle fibers recover faster.