Picture this: you get home from a long day of work. You set down your bag and your keys, but the stressors of the day still linger in your mind and body. To release the tension, you turn to your home sauna.
From relaxing your body to helping you release toxins, all the different types of saunas on the market today have brought benefits to newbies and sauna enthusiasts alike.
Are you new to using saunas? Be sure to avoid making these five beginner sauna mistakes when prepping for your first session.
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1. Being Dehydrated
Hydrating before sauna sessions is a must. When you get in the sauna, you sweat…a lot. While all this sweating is great for helping you get toxins out of your body, it’s not ideal for staying well-hydrated.
When you use the sauna, make sure you’ve been drinking enough water throughout the day. If you need to hydrate before going in, avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks, as these won’t hydrate you as much as plain old water. Feel free to bring a water bottle into the sauna with you to rehydrate occasionally.
2. Eating Too Much (or Not Enough)
Both a heavy meal and fasting can be hard on your body while using a sauna. The high heat will make you light-headed if you don’t have enough food in your stomach. However, if you have a lot of heavy food in your stomach, it will make it harder for your body to both process the heat and digest your meal.
Aim to have a light meal or snack before sitting in the sauna.
3. Setting the Heat Too High
Since sweating helps you release toxins from your body, you’d think that a high sauna temperature would be better than a lower sauna temperature, right? Think again.
While you do want the sauna to be warm, you don’t have to put it on its highest setting. Aim for a temperature and humidity that you can comfortably sit in for 15-20 minutes. If you can’t stand it that long, turn down the heat.
4. Wearing Fragrance
High heat causes your pores to open up, allowing sweat and toxins to pass through and away from your body. However, this also means that any cosmetics on your skin have much more opportunity than usual to seep through your pores and into your body.
For this reason, it’s best to avoid wearing perfumes and fragrances for at least a day before visiting a sauna. Thoroughly cleaning your face of all makeup is also recommended.
5. Wearing Synthetic Clothing
Unless you have access to a private sauna like this 2 person infrared sauna, you’re probably going to be wearing clothes during your sauna experience. Polyester and other synthetic fibers will stick to your body, trapping the sweat against your skin and making for a generally terrible experience for you.
If you want to wear any clothing in the sauna, opt for cotton and linen. Choose loose clothing if at all possible.
Don’t Make Beginner Sauna Mistakes
Now you know all the proper sauna etiquette you need to help you avoid some of the most classic beginner sauna mistakes. If you drink plenty of water, wear natural fibers, and avoid using perfumes, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a sauna expert!
Interested in more wellness tips? Check out the other articles in the Health section of our site!
