When I Twittered about my trip to the infrared sauna last week and again last night, a lot of you were curious and wanted to know more. So here goes! Detoxing with an Infrared Sauna: Beautiful Skin, Extraction of Heavy Metals, etc.
Since I found out about the benefits of infrared saunas, I try to go as much as I can. That works out to be anywhere from once a week to once every 6 weeks, depending on how much I am traveling. Note! Do not use your cell phone in the sauna. It makes sense that the radiation would circulate in there- but it was kind of a Duh! moment for me to be conscious of it. I went in there once to send some emails from my phone, and I got a massive headache! Usually I read until I get too drippy, then meditate or chill out!
What does it do? First off, infrared saunas help remove heavy metal toxins stored in our body’s fat and connective tissues. Unlike a regular sauna, it has the ability to penetrate deep into the subcutaneous tissue to help root out these poisons. The profuse sweating helps these toxins also cleanse and eliminate out of the skin. The fact is that we ALL are exposed to chemicals and heavy metals, no matter where we live. They abound in environmental pollution, pesticides in our food, mercury in seafood (if you eat do eat seafood here’s another reason to cut back! 🙂 ), chemicals in our home cleaning products and carpets, etc. The list could literally go on for dozens of pages. When our bodies are constantly assaulted by heavy metal toxins our organs, including our liver and kidneys, can become impaired. Cleansing out some of these heavy metals through an infrared sauna will help purge the toxins out of body and help all our bodies’ organs function at proper capacity.
Infrared sauna may be helpful in our quest to lose weight and that pesky cellulite! Stagnant pockets of fat can be storehouses for chemical toxins- and the more toxins accumulate in our bodies, our bodies will often create more fat to store the toxins. YIKES!! Scary but true! As we shed these chemical toxins, our fat can shrink (phew!). Cellulite is really made up of fat, acidic waste, and trapped water. The infrared sauna can help stimulate these areas- but to really target cellulite you have to also incorporate some dietary changes of course!
** Note that these benefits are unique to an infrared sauna, not a regular sauna!
But as with any sauna, the infrared sauna will also help us beautify our skin (like what a water cleanse will do). When we sweat that much, our skin becomes deeply cleansed, and circulation will improve to the skin, creating a healthy and youthful glow.
Do some research in your area on which spas carry them. More and more health centers, spas, and colon hydrotherapy locations are starting to carry them, and they are definitely becoming more popular. Prices vary, but its around $25.00 for a session.
Any questions my loves??
Happy Infrared Sauna-ing!!
I will write more soon.
Lots of love, Kimberly
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Kimberly –
We are so thrilled to see that you are a believer in infrared saunas – we obviously agree with your assessment of their health benefits! Infrared saunas can give a big boost to chronic pain sufferers, can help people relax, improve circulation and even lower blood pressure – all in addition to the detox, skin and weight loss benefits you’ve mentioned.
Don’t mean to hijack your comments – let us know if you’d ever like to learn more about Sunlighten saunas or infrared saunas in general. We could talk for days! 🙂
Hi Kimberly,
I bought an infrared sauna a couple years ago and I love it! How long do you go in for? I have been trying to do 45-60min most days of the week. Is there a cap on the returns (like is 60 min no better than 45?). What do you think about body brushing beforehand—would that maybe helps toxins/lymph move?
Thanks!
Hi Lisa!
Body brushing is excellent. Length of session depends on how hot your sauna is. I go to 2 different places in NY, and one place is so piping hot I struggle to get through 1/2 an hour, while the other place I feel like I could hang in there for hours! I heard you’re supposed to stay ideally until you get your second sweat. So when you heat up, then cool down slightly, then heat up again is the min. of when you’re supposed to stay.
What brand of sauna did you buy?
xx Kimberly
Thanks for responding! I have the Keys Backyard corner sauna. It’s supposed to fit three people, but that would be a tight fit—I usually go in by myself and lay down on the bench with a book. I go in at about 100 degrees, and stay in till it hits 140 and shuts off (or sooner if I can’t take it!).
Lucky! That definitely wouldn’t fit in my apt. or my backyard. 🙂 One day I def. want to get one though!
Hi Kimberly,
I really enjoy reading your blog. I have used saunas a lot and enjoy the benefits. Wish I had time to go more often. I just have a quick question. I am confused how heavy metals are removed. Of course, I can imagine that a lot of “toxins” are removed while sweating in a sauna, but how does the infrared sauna promote the removal of heavy metals? I’d be interested to read any studies. Thanks!
LeeAnn
Hi LeeAnn! I just read a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that found that repeated use of a far infrared sauna improved vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. There is a lot of science I’ve read about the process that the heavy metals are removed by the infrared sauna. Not sure about any published medical studies (just as there aren’t many on the benefits of raw food, and much of other subjects I talk about!). Maybe Sunlighten knows of any studies??
xx Kimberly
In a study performed by American researchers, the sweat of people using a conventional sauna was found to be 95 to 97% water while the sweat of those using an infrared sauna was 80 to 85% water.
The non-water portion mainly included cholesterol (fat), fat-soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals (such as mercury and aluminum), sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia, uric acid, pesticide residues, PCB’s, petroleum-based toxins, chloride and fluoride.
This unusually high concentration of heavy metals and other fat-soluble toxins was not found in the sweat from normal exercise either.
Your body begins to detoxify when a 10 micron far infrared therapy wave is applied to the body’s large water molecules and the water begins to vibrate.
This vibration reduces the ion bonds of the atoms that are holding together the molecules of water. You will detoxify when the vibration continues, breakdown of the water molecules occurs and encapsulated gases and other toxic materials are released.
Let me track down some links to related studies and I’ll post a few! (Sorry this comment is so long!)
Hi Sunlighten,
Excellent!! Thank you so much for contributing. 🙂
xx Kimberly
Hey Kimberly.
Where are the infrared saunas that you go to in NYC?
My co-worker was very sick earlier this year and the doctors were running all kinds of tests on him. Turns out he had very heavy metal toxicity and high mercury levels. I did some restorative yoga with him and that seemed to help the recovery.
But I would love to take him to one of these! Know of any around Chelsea?
Hi love! You can try Release, which is not tooooo far from Chelsea. It is near Grand Central. Tell Tom, the owner, I said hello! 🙂
xx Kimberly
Hey Kimberly,
What would be the ideal for using an infrared sauna? Once a week? Are there any contraindications?
Also, I love your blog, thank you so much for making this information available to people and in a way that makes it seem like we can make these changes, without overwhelming us about all the things we are doing WRONG like some other health/raw/detox sites do.
Since I’m from sauna’s homecountry, Finland, I must comment on this.
The benefits of infraread sauna sound great.
In Finland, regular sauna has been a place where you not only purify your body, but your mind alswell. For Finns it’s also a spiritual place, where women used to give birth. In this sence, also regular sauna is great, not only for your body, but your mind. A real regular sauna should be heated with wood, not electricity.
I am so excited about this! I found a place about 45 minutes away that has a “far infrared” sauna. So I might not be able to go as often as I’d like, but nonetheless…I’m going to wait until these shingles clear up (I can’t imagine that too much sweat would be good for them) and hit it!
I have always believed that true beauty starts from the inside out. The practice of infrared spa is a perfect example. Thanks for enlightening me to the differences between infrared and regular sauna’s. And in reading some of the other comments, it appears the Finn’s have known this for quite some time, perhaps that is why their skin and energy is so pure.
I have a high regard for your post. It contains precious piece of information . Thanks for sharing.
Hi again,
I just read this post and I’m actually getting married later this year and have been thinking about the best way to get me and my mom in “shape”. I’ll be moving out of the country and I want to get her in the habit of really wanting to care for herself while I’m gone. So can you name the other place you go to? I found one place so far in NYC but they charge $40 per session. I also love going to a normal sauna before and after massages, but haven’t done that in ages. I’d love to try this though! Thanks for your thorough post!! xoxo
What was the place you found in NYC for $40 please 🙂
Thanks 🙂
I just went to the Shizuka spa in NYC(on 51st street opp Rockerfeller ctr). There it is $40 for an hour. It is a lovely space. The Sauna is in a private room with a multi jet shower.
I called Release $25 per session but what I don’t like with them is that they do not have a shower onhand so you just have to dry yourself off and leave all sweaty.
Another no frills but good place is called Human@Ease in Williamsburg brooklyn, it is very easy to get to the first stop in Brooklyn on the L train. The environment here is less spa, more hipster gym so I bring my own shower products and and extra towel. They also give you a private room with the infrared sauna and a shower in it. They have sessions for $25 per hour or $199 for ten sessions. The only thing is that they only have one infrared sauna so you have to book ahead to get the times that you want, weekend and after work times are most in demand. Luckily I can go during the weekdays so it is easier to get the time you want. Because of the price and the fact that they have a shower this is now my go-to place.
Hi,
I’m looking for a place w/ an infrared sauna. I tried finding Release mentioned above but couldn’t find it. Would you be willing to send me the name of the places you go to and their prices? Thanks.
Kim! I pray you answer this question! Is cellulite something you can fully get rid of with the beauty detox , exercise, and beauty products?
Btw happy new year!
I use an infrared sauna a few times a week at the gym where I work out and I love it. This gym is like no other gym I’ve ever been to – it’s really like a total wellness center. Their prices seem low compared to other spas – maybe because they’re in Brooklyn… Highly recommended!
Hello All, you can also receive terrific benefits from a special detox foot spa treatment. I myself do not perform these but have had the treatment and they are really fantastic! Should anyone be interested I would be happy to refer you to a colleague who performs these. While we are in Far North Queensland, Australia h=we are always happy to refer.
I just purchased a portable infrared sauna but came across information on Internet stating women with silicone implants shouldn’t use far infrared saunas. Is this true? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hi. I’m very interested in going to an infrared sauna, but I’ve repeatedly read that NEAR infrared saunas are not only more effective but safer than FAR infrared saunas. Near infrared saunas penetrate the cell at a deeper level and emit safer electromagnetic fields. I live in NYC but so far cannot find a spa with near infrared saunas. Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!
@Breezy300 did you find a spa that does it in NYC? I live in NYC also and am having no luck locating a spa that has the infrared saunas….hoping you had better luck than I did.
Excellent website. Plenty of useful info here. I am sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thank you on your effort!
Nice Post. It’s really a very good article. I noticed all your important points. Thanks
Thanks so much Briella Allen. Lots of love! 😉
Great read, I have read a lot of articles about the infrared sauna but this blog post is very informative. I will definitely hare your post with all of my Fans on facebook and twitter. Thank you for a good job done.
Thanks so much Lesley! Lots of love to you! 😉