5 Things to Do After a Sauna Session

When it comes to things to do after a sauna, there aren’t many.

Or so most of us have accepted. 

After all, you have taken your well-deserved rest, rinsing off impurities and pumping up your heart rate.

Now, you can go back to your usual routine.

Well…yes.

But did you know that by not following a specific after-sauna routine, you are missing out on significant health benefits? 

A sauna is a great way to get your blood pumping while simultaneously helping you kick back and relax.

However, there are a few things that you can do after your sauna session to make the most of your heat therapy. 

You see…saunas have been around in some shape or form for a long time.

Humans realized the therapeutic values of steam and sustainable heat very early.

It is the Science that had some catching up to do.

Now that we are technologically more advanced, we are starting to realize the wide variety of benefits that a steam bath or a sauna session offers. 

Many people get their sauna therapy in a commercial spa or resort.

However, residential sauna and steam room solutions have recently been on the rise. 

As more people realize how affordable installing a sauna or a steam room in their homes, residential steam rooms and saunas are becoming a trend.

If you use saunas or steam rooms regularly or are looking to give heat therapy a try, we can help you maximize the effects.

Here are a few things you can do after your sauna or steam room session to gain additional mental and physical benefits.

Hydrate Yourself

Hydration is essential, both before and after a sauna session. Make sure to drink water when you enter a sauna and after you end the session. The purpose of a sauna or steam room is to make you sweat. 

A sauna works to heat the core of your body, expanding your blood vessels and making you sweat profusely. The sweat carries away the impurities in your skin and your system. And expanded blood vessels allow for even circulation throughout your body. 

This whole process drains you of the water level in your body. This phenomenon also gives false bodyweight loss ideas. Since you lose a lot of water content in your body during your heat therapy session, you tend to appear lighter on the weighing scale. 

It is better to stay hydrated throughout and after the sauna session, so you don’t lose your electrolytes and remain charged.

Take a Cold Shower

While it might sound contradictory, taking a cold shower after your heat therapy works wonders for your health. When you get out of a sauna, your body is already trying to cool itself off according to the surrounding environment.

You can quicken this process by taking a cold shower or dipping yourself in cold water. This helps build your immunity and your body’s resilience. 

Moreover, taking a cold shower after the sauna helps you close the pores on your body and return your heart rate to normal. 

Vikings have been known to jump into ice-cold water after a sauna session to help relax their muscles and return the body to its natural state. 

However, you must avoid jumping into cold water directly after a sauna or steam room session, especially if you have underlying health conditions. 

It is better to let your body cool off a little first.

Eat Nutritious Food

When you come out of the sauna, you feel worked. It feels as if you have participated in a rigorous exercise. And just like after an extensive workout, our body needs nutrition; when you come out of a sauna, you should eat something healthy and sustaining.

The electrolytes also exit your body when you sweat, leaving you feeling tired and depleted. Find foods that help you replace the lost minerals and keep you active after the sauna session. While it might be tempting to devour a pizza after a long sauna session, it is better to avoid any sort of junk food right after. 

Not to mention, if you are taking sauna sessions regularly, you are planning on living a healthy life. So, junk food is already a no-go. 

Relax

It is important to understand the value of relaxation. While taking a sauna might feel relaxing, the true relaxation begins after you have stepped out of it. Think of your sauna sessions as your body working itself out without your interference. 

The heat helps your body improve and boost its functionalities. When you sit in a sauna, your body continues to try to cool you down. As a result, you sweat a lot. While you know you are sitting in a sauna, your body thinks of it as a dangerous situation and prepares itself for the action.

When you come out of the sauna, you must relax and let your body soothe in all the steam goodness. Take a few minutes to lie down and cool off yourself before doing anything else.

Go to Sleep

Sauna heat helps you calm down and relax. The best way to take full advantage of your sauna session is to cool yourself off, take a cold shower, and go to sleep after the session.

If you are suffering from sleep disorders, you will be glad to know that an extensive sauna session can help you sleep like a baby. 

This is also why most people schedule their sauna sessions after evenings, during their bedtime. So, if your whole point of the sauna therapy is to relax, end your session with deep, sound sleep, and you will wake up fresher than ever.

Conclusion

We hope these tips help you make the most out of your sauna sessions and reap the endless benefits of heat therapy.

Try inculcating these activities after your sauna session, and you will find your sauna sessions working much efficiently for you. 

If you are looking to bring a sauna or steam room to your home, reach out to us, and we will fix you the best steam room and sauna solution in South Florida.