Sweating in a sauna has been recognized as therapeutic for thousands of years. The ancient Mayans used sweat houses 3,000 years ago and many other countries around the globe have historic and contemporary records of sauna use. One in three people in Finland use saunas regularly and there are estimated to be more than a million saunas in use across the US. A sauna is a room heated to 158 to 212 degrees and can be dry or humid, depending on the culture, location, and desired benefits.

There are four primary types of sauna:

• Wood burning: High temperatures and low humidity are the signature of wood-burning saunas, which use burning wood to heat the sauna rocks and room.
• Electric: Electric heaters in the sauna floor heat the room in a similar way to wood-burning saunas, with low humidity and high temperatures.
• Steam: Steam saunas have high humidity and moist heat, usually with water poured over the sauna rocks to maintain the steam level in the room.
• Infrared: Infrared sauna is unique in how it targets the body, instead of heating an entire space. Special lamps or infrared coils to produce far infrared heat, raising the body temperature and causing the person to sweat. In the case of Firecracker Beauty Spa, we use HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blankets to give clients an immediate sauna experience.

Benefits

Sauna benefits are similar to the positive effects of exercise. As the temperature rises, the body must work to cool it down, causing a rise in heart rate and increased circulation through blood vessel dilation.**

• Pain Relief: Increased circulation can help reduce join stiffness, improve movement, reduce muscle soreness, and ease arthritis pain.
• Improved well-being: Increasing circulation can help promote relaxation, which may improve positive feelings and well-being.
• Cardio Health: One study of Finnish men followed 2,315 men ages 42 to 60 over the course of 20 years and found that people who use a sauna may have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, increased sauna use was linked with a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular-related diseases with increased sauna use associated with less incidents of sudden cardiac death. Sauna use may also be associated with lower blood pressure and better heart function.
• Increased Exercise Tolerance: Far infrared saunas are linked to improved exercise tolerance–a great benefit for anyone looking to increase their endurance and capacity for physical activity.
• Reduced Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Pain

As part of Firecracker Beauty Spa’s Body Contouring treatments, we recommend finishing your body cavitation with 30 minutes in the Infrared Sauna Blanket to enhance your results. Alternatively, you can do a hard, heart rate elevating workout for at least 20 minutes immediately after your treatment, but many clients wish to extend the post-cavitation relaxation they feel. Infrared Sauna achieves the sweat results, without the work and leaves you glowing!

What to Expect

You’ll wear comfortable, loose clothing, such as lightweight pants and long sleeve pajamas and loose cotton socks. Your Firecracker Beauty Spa expert will help you into the sauna blanket, placing towels between you and the infrared wrap. Then, a relaxing ambiance is created in the room and you’re left alone to relax. Some clients enjoy listening to the spa music, others use the time to catch up on podcasts and audiobooks. After your time is up, you’ll be helped out of the blanket, provided cool water and cleansing wipes. It’s important to rehydrate for 48 hours after your sauna treatment.

**Before beginning sauna treatment, we recommend you consult your physician to ensure this is a safe addition your health regimen.