Benefits of the sauna: all the benefits for the body and mind
If you are looking for a remedy to rest and relax, the sauna is undoubtedly the perfect solution.
Sometimes the stress of work and the hectic pace of everyday life mean that the body needs to stop and take a well-deserved break. Among the various activities that can offer refreshment to our body and mind, there is precisely the sauna, a moment of self-care, psychological as well as physical, capable of giving intense well-being and a priceless feeling of relaxation.
After all, there are many remedies against fatigue that we can resort to to carve out a moment for ourselves; in the following video we suggest some of them.
What does the sauna consist of?
It is a tradition born in Scandinavia 2000 years ago, which has now spread all over the world, becoming a "habit adopted by many both as a simple moment of well-being and as a result of" sporting activity.
The sauna is a small wooden cabin or a room where you take a dry steam bath. In this enclosed space, a wood or electric stove heats the sauna stones in a container and, once the heat has built up in these stones, a large amount of water is poured over them to produce a cloud of heat. .
Unlike the hammam, or Arab bath, the sauna is dry and has a humidity of between 3 and 20%, making the temperatures higher, reaching on average between 80 and 90 ° C.
If you suffer from low blood pressure, it would be better to avoid doing it or in any case stay in the room for a few minutes and better if accompanied by someone.
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The rules of using the sauna
To take the sauna, no type of clothing or bathing suit is necessary, because they would make it difficult for sweat to evaporate and create hygiene problems. Instead, a towel is enough, which must be placed between the bench and the skin to protect from heat and absorb sweat.
According to the indications of the experts, a sauna session should last between an hour and a half and 2 hours and should consist of two or three phases, which we will see in detail below.
Steps to follow in the sauna
It all starts with a mandatory soap shower from head to toe.
The purpose of this first step is threefold: to eliminate germs and bacteria, to warm the body, especially the extremities, to avoid thermal shock when entering the sauna and to clean the skin to facilitate perspiration.
Given the strong heat present in the sauna, the loss of water through perspiration can be greater than 1 liter per hour and the body temperature can rise up to 40 ° C. To compensate for this dehydration, it is essential to drink plenty of water between each entrance.
Phase 1: Once inside, you have to sit on the towel, preferably with the limbs (arms, legs, feet ...) at the same level and try to relax. Breathing becomes deeper, heart rate and blood circulation accelerate and blood vessels dilate. You should come out as soon as sweat runs down your body. This first phase should not exceed 15 minutes. Then you should shower again with hot or cold water, dry off and allow yourself a few minutes of rest by stretching.
Step 2: You have to enter the sauna again for another 15 minutes. When you go out, the protocol always remains the same: take a shower, dry off and take a moment to relax.
Phase 3: If you feel like it, you can also continue with the third phase, but it is not mandatory. Then remember, as already mentioned, that as soon as you feel tired, you should stop and leave the sauna. After this last session, you should take a break of at least 20 minutes.
The benefits of the sauna
Thanks to its essential element, heat, a session in the sauna has the primary objective of allowing us to relax, eliminating physical and mental tensions.
In fact, in addition to being a real cure-all for body and mind and preventing tiredness and stress, the sauna has significant benefits, including:
- gives relief from physical pain, especially osteoarticular
- it disposes of lactic acid and relaxes the muscles
- fights water retention and makes you lose weight
- improves circulation and oxygenates the tissues
- helps with breathing
- eliminates toxins and cleanses the skin
- purifies the body
- strengthens the immune system
- contributes to the temporary reduction of cold symptoms
- favors the improvement of sports performance
As a safety measure, during a session in the sauna it is essential to listen to your body, go out at the slightest warning sign, respect the rules of use and not skip the stages.
The contraindications of the sauna
Since the sauna promotes the dilation of blood vessels, it is not recommended for those suffering from hypertension, venous insufficiency, heart problems and cardiovascular diseases. It is best to consult your doctor if you have kidney failure or epilepsy. Furthermore, this practice is not recommended for pregnant women.
As already mentioned, it is finally to be avoided if you suffer from low blood pressure because there could be a risk of a physical decline and fainting.
