Traditional vs Far Infrared (FIR) Sauna Pt1- The Difference

Both traditional Finnish saunas and far-infrared saunas offer distinct health benefits, but they differ in how they generate heat and impact the body, making each appealing for different reasons.

Heating and Operation:

• Traditional Finnish saunas heat the air to temperatures between 65-90°C by using hot rocks, often with added humidity from water being poured on them. This results in a more intense environment with higher humidity levels, creating significant sweat, and are suited for those who enjoy a deeply immersive sauna session.

• Infrared saunas, on the other hand, use infrared light to heat the body directly, without significantly heating the air. This results in a milder environment, usually between 50-65°C . Infrared saunas heat the body from the inside out, involving far less sweating, which some users find more comfortable and easier to tolerate for longer periods .

  Sweat & detoxification:

• Traditional Saunas: Cause heavy sweating due to the intense overall heat, which is thought to help in detoxifying the body by releasing toxins through sweat.

• Far Infrared Saunas: create a far less, but deeper sweat as the infrared heat penetrates the skin and warms the body from within leading to detoxification at lower temperatures.

  Time in Use:

• Traditional Saunas: Sessions are usually shorter (10-20 minutes) due to the high temperatures.

• Far Infrared Saunas: Allow for longer sessions (up to 30-45 minutes) because of the lower temperatures and slower heat build-up.

  Ultimately, the choice between a traditional Finnish sauna and an infrared sauna depends on personal preference. Those who enjoy high heat and humidity, and more profuse sweating may prefer the traditional experience, while those seeking a gentler session with far less, but potentially deeper sweating might opt for an infrared sauna.

  Both types offer significant wellness benefits, making either a valuable addition to health routines which will be discussed in the next article on this site.

  Despite frequent marketing from manufacturers as the whether either of these types of sauna parcatice is better than the other, there are few, or no comparitive studies that provide substantial evidence either way.

  But there’s now plenty of research showing that sauna therapy offers significant and far ranging health benefits, so the best form of sauna for you is the one that you do!

  Basically, it’s your preference.