Infrared Saunas Renew Your Mind and Body

Anxiety, depression and stress are upon us. After all, the holidays are here. And although it is a time of great joy, togetherness and fun, it also can be a great stressor for many.

The stress of the gatherings, the present buying and financial burdens, can really cause a lot of anxiety. It is during times like this that we look for solace and comfort. A place to escape and momentarily "decompress" so we can efficiently deal with stress.

Infrared saunas are actually an excellent way to help ease your way through stressful periods of time like this. These toasty warm boxes serve as an escape from our every day reality. Not only that, they help to deeply penetrate our muscle tissue with healing, pain-relieving and rejuvenating heat.

For those of us that live in climates where the winters can be cold, long and harsh, infrared saunas also serve as a temporary escape from the bone chilling cold There's nothing like stepping into the enveloping warmth and soothing cedar scent of a sauna in the dead of winter. It seems like troubles just melt away when I set foot in our sauna.

When you feel relaxed, it does a great deal for your body. Your blood pressure lowers, your levels of cortisol, the "stress hormone", go down, and your body returns to a state of zen, like it's meant to be in all of the time.

Cortisol is an extremely destructive hormone. When your are under a lot of stress and going through periods of increased anxiety, your body releases more of this toxic hormone. It is linked to weight gain, mood imbalances, and even heart troubles. You can see why lowering levels of anxiety and stress are beneficial.

Having a sanctuary of peace in your home is important. Whether that sanctuary is an infrared sauna or some other designated place of relaxation is up to you. However, there are a lot of other considerations that you may want to be aware of when it comes to FIR (Far Infrared) saunas.

FIR saunas use a concept in heating called radiant heat. Instead of heating the environment around an object (in this case YOU), it heats the object (YOU) directly. This means that you can tolerate higher heat for a longer period of time than you could in a regular sauna that uses surrounding heat.

The longer you can stay in, the more you can benefit from the relaxation and detoxification benefits of the sauna, which is why many believe FIR saunas are superior to traditional saunas.

I can tell you from my own personal experience owning an infrared sauna of some of the benefits I've enjoyed. I've noticed that my back and neck pain have been much more easily managed. The sauna really penetrates my problem areas well, and relieves this pain effectively.

I feel like a new woman when I step out of it, my pain is usually completely dissolved after about thirty minutes. My anxiety and stress are much more easily controlled. If I've had a long, hard day at work, I come home and sit in the sauna for a while, and it melts my tension and stress away, enveloping me in a dry, soothing, and therapeutic heat.

My skin looks great, especially when I'm using the sauna regularly. It stays clear from acne, and it takes on a much more youthful appearance after a few sessions in the sauna. I think it must give me some sort of "facial" every time I'm in there, because I notice my skin glows the next day.

I notice that I do not catch the colds and flues that are going around at the office when I'm using the sauna regularly. This may have something to do with the sauna's high temperatures keeping viruses away, but I can't be sure of any exact science behind it, I just know my experience.

Most of all, I look forward to my sessions in the sauna because I know that I feel great when I emerge from this place of warmth and rejuvenation. I feel totally relaxed and carefree. For me, it's been a wonderful way to recharge after a long, trying day.

Infrared saunas have a wide range of practical and therapeutic uses for the human body. If you are looking for an all around de-stressor and pain relief device, the infrared sauna is exactly what you need.

Danna Norek owns several websites and weblogs dedicated to natural health and wellness Information on far infrared (FIR) saunas such as best places to buy and most competitive prices on the best models can be found at Infrared Saunas for Weight Loss. For more information on how to naturally treat anxiety and depression with herbal remedies, see Herbal Remedies for Depression and Anxiety.