There’s a new fitness gold rush happening with steam showers after workout sessions. In fact, such is the demand for this steamy and humid heat therapy that almost every major gym chain in the country now has a steam room. Not to mention that the number of people building a home steam bath addition for post-workout benefits has skyrocketed too. But what exactly are the benefits of steam room after workout? This is something I am often asked by fitness enthusiasts, and I am sure you have the same question. Now, I’ve explained the overall benefits of steam shower sessions earlier. However, it was essential to separately break down steam room benefits after workout to provide an in-depth answer. So, read on as I’ve explained science-backed benefits of steam sauna after working out along with my insights on how to make the most out of it. Benefits of steam room after workout 1. Helps achieve instant muscle recovery If there’s one complaint that almost all gym-goers have, it is post-workout sore muscles. And this happens due to the microtears that occur as you undertake an intensive workout. Now, as you might already be aware, post workout muscle recovery is among the most acclaimed steam sauna benefits. So much so that the heat and moisture in a steam room is sure to provide you an instant relief from all that soreness and ache. But how does this magic happen? Well, prolonged exposure to steam room ambiance dilates your blood vessels and increases the blood flow to muscle tissues. This ensures increased oxygen and nutrient supply to your muscles, thus accelerating the tissue repair process. Also, since moist heat is known for relieving muscle tension, you experience an immediate relief from soreness. In fact, if a PubMed research is any suggestion, post-workout heat therapy in a steam room helps release heat shock proteins, which are known for muscle repair and growth. And this helps reduce muscle stiffness and promote quick recovery. Pro tip: Maximize muscle recovery with light exercise in a steam room An exercise in steamy room is the last thing you want to do after an already strenuous workout, and I can’t agree more. However, you can simply double muscle recovery by doing something as simple as gentle stretches in the steam room. You see, not only will this further relax muscles but also improve flexibility, just like yoga in a steam sauna. 2. Relief from post-workout joint pain Stiff and painful joints are yet another common sight after an extensive workout session at the gym. And this is especially true after a leg day or weight training session. But did you know that a post-workout steam room session can provide immense relief from stiff joints? You see, just like in case of sore muscles, the moist heat conditions in a steam shower helps increase blood flow to your joints. This, in turn, reduces inflammation and provides relief from joint pain. Moreover, this is one steam room benefit that people with arthritis and joint injuries also find helpful. All in all, post-workout heat therapy like stem showers can help combat fibromyalgia, arthritis, lower back pain, and joint pain, among others. 3. Relieves workout-induced stress and anxiety While the physical benefits of heat therapy are well documented, stress relief is among those steam room benefits after workout we rarely talk about. You’ll agree when I say that intense physical stress during a strenuous workout also leads to stress and anxiety. In fact, even though the stress levels vary from person to person, you experience some stress for sure. As Dr. Meghan Marcum observes in a PsychCentral article, “You are more likely to experience anxiety with intense workouts because cardiovascular activity increases heart rate and blood pressure.” And this is where the therapeutic element of steam rooms work wonders, helping release endorphins aka feel good hormones. The result: Your cortisol or stress hormones reduce significantly, your mood improves, and you start feeling calm. 4. Better skin health and natural glow after exercise Sweaty skin clogged with dirt and oil is a common sight after an intense workout. So it makes perfect sense to reap the skin benefits of steam room after workout. How? Although a steam room session induces more profuse sweating than a workout, it also opens up skin pores and flushes out dirt and toxins. And this cleanses your skin from the inside out. Furthermore, the high heat leads to increased blood circulation to your skin, which helps grow new skin cells and leaves you with a radiant skin. Not to mention, a post-workout steam room session will also bring other steam sauna skin benefits. This includes eliminating acne, eczema, and other skin irritants. 5. Increased detoxification Apart from helping you keep fit, workouts also help detoxify your body by eliminating toxic elements through sweating.
Now, a steam bath after workout further accelerates this process, flushing out harmful toxins like metals and environmental pollutants. In fact, a hot and excessively moist steam room ambiance induces more sweating than during a workout session. And this ensures more detoxification than during workout. That’s interesting, isn’t it? How to reap maximum benefits of steam room after workout? By now, you know how a steam room session works wonders for your body and mind. But it is also essential that you know how to use a steam room after workout safely and smartly. The idea is simple: You should be able to make the most out of your steam bath after workout and do so while being safe. Overall, here are five things I suggest you do before and after a steam bath: 1. Drink fluids: Your body is already dehydrated after a strenuous exercise and you don’t want to make it worse. So, I suggest you drink plenty of water and other hydrating fluids like watermelon or cucumber juice before entering the steam room. 2. Take a shower: A Shower is more than just for hygiene as it cleanses your skin before steam bath and maximizes detoxification. As such, showering is a great way to increase post-workout steam bath benefits. 3. Set a time limit for steam bath: You might come across fitness freaks claiming how longer steam sauna sessions are more beneficial. But I strongly suggest you not spend longer durations and limit the timing to 20 minutes since long exposure, especially after a workout, can be counterproductive. 4. Do stretches in the steam room: An exercise practiced in a steamy room can be more beneficial than your exercise. And it doesn’t take long as some gentle stretches are all you’ve got to do. 5. Cold shower or dip: Once you’ve stepped out of the steam room and your body has completely cooled off, I suggest you take a cold shower or cold dip. That’s because cold dips after steam sauna are linked to an array of health benefits. Steam bath after workout: Frequently asked questions Should you use a steam room before or after workout? While it doesn’t hurt to use a steam room before workout, I suggest you use one after workout. That’s because most of the steam room benefits we discussed above can only be experienced post-workout. Now, you might find it difficult to decide whether to use a steam sauna before or after exercise. And in this case, you can go to the steam room before workout as well. But you should always keep hydrated and let your body completely cool off afterwards. How long should you stay in the steam room after exercise? You’ve already undertaken an intensive exercise and your body has lost lots of fluids. And in this situation, a longer steam bath duration can do more harm than good. So, I suggest you limit your time in the steam room to 15-20 minutes. Steam room vs sauna after workout: Which is better? When it comes to post-workout heat therapy benefits, both steam rooms and saunas are equally beneficial. You see, while a steam room has near 100 percent humidity levels, a sauna has dry heat and is usually more warm. And while a lot of fitness enthusiasts like the steam, many prefer dry heat for post-workout recovery. Meaning the choice between the two will depend purely on your personal preference. Can you use a steam sauna after working out everyday? Yes, you can. It is completely safe to use a steam sauna on a daily basis as long as you’re following the basic steam sauna etiquettes for safety and hygiene. To sum up As you can see, the benefits of steam room after workout are quite fascinating to miss out on. In fact, you can increase your exercise benefits and even recover from post-workout problems by simply sitting in a steam room. However, the only catch here is to use a steam room after exercise responsibly by drinking enough fluids and limiting the duration. And for those of you who don’t have a gym with steam and sauna enclosures, you can build one right in your home. Curious how? You can get in touch with us! At Steam and Sauna Experts, we are South Florida’s most seasoned steam room installation experts. And we’ve got a massive inventory of steam room essentials from industry leaders like Delta Faucet, Mr Steam, Amerec, and more. Simply put, we’ve got all your personal steam room requirements covered on a budget.
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AuthorJ.D Moreno
Steam and Sauna Technician and Enthusiast. 786-837-1235 Archives
October 2024
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