Traditional vs. Infrared Sauna

In a traditional hot rock (or Finnish) sauna, a conventional heater heats the air in the sauna (through a process called convection) to somewhere between 180F to 220F. The heated air then gradually heats your body through a process called conduction. The result is a very hot environment that becomes stifling and claustrophobic for many.

An infrared sauna heats the body directly with infrared heat waves, the same type of heat produced by the sun and our bodies. In an infrared sauna, a small percentage of the energy heats the water molecules in the air and the rest penetrates deep below the skin to produce a gentle warming inside the body. Since the body is warmed rather than the sauna cabin itself, the result is a drastically lower ambient temperature, typically in the 110F to 140F range.

These lower temperatures allow you to stay in the infrared sauna for far longer periods of time and in far greater comfort. In a properly engineered infrared sauna one thing becomes very clear—you perspire more quickly and more profusely and you feel more completely heated, enveloped in soft, radiant heat. It’s a luxury that is not only feels good—it’s great for you.