What is Far Infrared Heat Therapy?

Far Infrared (FIR) Heat saunas emit rays from the infrared, healing portion of the light spectrum, that are then absorbed by the surface of the skin. Also called radiant heat, Far Infrared light heats objects directly without increasing the temperature of the air in between. This healing light is so safe that it is used to warm incubators for premature babies.

Far Infrared heats the body directly causing a rise in core temperature resulting in a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where toxins reside. Far Infrared energy resonates with the water and organic cells of the body. The pulsating of resonating water molecules causes an increase in core temperature, which mobilizes the lymphatic system. This dilates the capillaries and increases the pH within the body by reducing acidity, which then further facilitates the removal of toxins from the body.

The sun produces most of its energy output in the infrared segment of the spectrum. Far Infrared heat safely and completely provides all the health benefits of natural sunlight, without the harmful side effects of solar radiation (from the sun), such as ultraviolet rays associated with suntans and skin cancer. At Living Well Balanced, we are proud to provide our clients with the Relax® Far Infrared Sauna, the industry leader in cutting edge FIR technology.

Is it like a traditional sauna?

The energy sources for the Relax® Sauna that we use at Living Well Balanced are auto-temperature controlled Far Infrared Ray ceramic semiconductor radiators, which do not cause burns, so the sauna is 100% safe. Its patented semi-conductor chip converts electrical energy to absorbable FIR energy and filters out all light energy emitted that your body does not absorb (i.e. near infrared, ultraviolet, microwaves, etc.). The reflecting tent further enhances the effects, by reverberating the Infrared light repeatedly by reflecting it off the silver-embedded cloth that is on the outside of the sauna tent. This allows you absorb Far Infrared energy from every nook and cranny of the tent.

Many are surprised to discover that most of the wooden Infrared saunas have panels that generate only 40-60% absorbable Far Infrared light. Furthermore, that 40-60% of the energy emitted by their panels are space heater or hair dryer energy — which only gets the skin hot and does not create a cascading energy of deep penetrating warmth! Additionally, most wooden saunas require a 10-30 minute warm up period. You can be in and out of the Relax® Sauna at Living Well Balanced in 20-25 minutes, while someone with a wooden sauna is still waiting for their sauna to be ready! Many other types of saunas take a minimum of 18 minutes just to start sweating, and about 55 minutes for a full sweat. Our Far Infrared Sauna generally takes only 8 minutes for a person to start sweating, about 15 minutes for them to be dripping, and about 20 minutes for a complete sweat treatment.

The bottom line is that the Relax® Sauna used at Living Well Balanced is faster, safer, more efficient, and more effective than other saunas.

What are the benefits of using Far Infrared Heat Thearapy?

Detoxification
Perspiration, or sweating, is the body’s safe and natural way to heal and stay healthy. Far Infrared heats the body directly, causing a rise in core temperature. The result is a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level where toxins reside. Researchers found that people who used a Far Infrared Sauna eliminated more heavy metals and other fat-soluble toxins in their sweat when compared to people who used conventional saunas or normal exercise.

The FIR Sauna at Living Well Balanced supports cellulite elimination, as profuse sweating and cellular activation together clear away this unwanted form of debris from the body. Due to a deeper heat penetration into cellulite, combined with more effective heating in these tissues, our FIR Relax® Sauna is significantly more effective than conventional saunas!

Improved Blood Circulation & Lower Blood Pressure
Far Infrared energy helps dilate blood vessels, which improves blood circulation and reduces blood pressure. Once blood flow is smooth, it can freely flow throughout the blood capillaries of the entire body effectively and ensure a sufficient supply of nutrition. Far Infrared saunas induce a deep sweat to make the heart pump faster, which in turn increases blood flow, lowers blood pressure and helps circulation. Scientific evidence shows that using a Far Infrared sauna a couple times a week lowers blood pressure. Far Infrared light therapy can also decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease.

Heating the muscles with far infrared rays produces an increase in blood flow like that seen during exercise. Regular Far Infrared sauna use can significantly stimulate blood flow up to twice the normal rate. The increases in blood circulation strengthens your cardiovascular system. As your body increases sweat production to cool itself, your heart works harder pumping more blood, achieving the conditioning benefits of continuous exercise. By widening your blood vessels and enriching your blood with oxygen you will feel more energetic and your skin gets a beautiful, youthful glow!

Natural, Drug-Free Pain Relief
Far Infrared heat relieves pain by expanding blood vessels and increasing blood circulation. Better circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscles, helps reduce pain, and greatly speeds up the body’s natural healing process.

Recent health and medical studies name Far Infrared heat as a successful treatment for Arthritis, Rheumatism, Sprains, Neuralgia, Bursitis, Muscle Spasms, Joint Stiffness, Fibromyalgia, and many other muscular-skeletal ailments.

Anti-Aging & Skin Purification
Far Infrared heat therapy is useful in slowing down the aging process. When toxins accumulate inside the body for long periods, the subcutaneous vessels shrink causing poor absorption of nutrients. This results in the blockage of pores and the skin loses its elasticity. Far Infrared energy increases blood circulation, so cells can more naturally absorb nutrition and oxygen and more easily eliminate toxins —which is essential for beautiful, youthful, glowing skin!

Weight Loss
Studies have shown that an infrared sauna session can burn upwards of 600 calories while you relax! As the body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate, causing the body to burn more calories. Coupled with healthy eating habits, it is not impossible to achieve an ideal weight and good health at the same time.

Far infrared heat therapy can play a pivotal role in both weight control and cardiovascular conditioning. This can be very valuable for those who don’t exercise enough, or can’t exercise, but want an effective weight control and fitness maintenance program which provides the caloric burn, detoxification, metabolic improvement, and the energetic body fluid activation benefits of regular exercise. There is of course no substitute for regular exercise to maintain health in body and mind. However, Far Infrared therapy fully supports exercise, yet provides similar benefits for the body’s energetic function.

Relaxation
Unlike traditional saunas which operate at extremely harsh temperatures, Far Infrared heat is a gentle, soothing and therapeutic heat that promotes relaxation and improved sleep. Infrared sauna therapy helps you relax while receiving an invigorating deep tissue sweat, leaving you fully refreshed after each session.

Discharge of lactic acid through profuse sweating helps relax your muscles. Lactic acid is one of the causes of fatigue and aging of tissues. Far Infrared heat delivers the benefits of regular physical exercise without the production of lactic acid with the additional benefit of ridding the tissues of lactic acid accumulation in the body.

How will I feel during a Far Infrared Sauna session?

You will be comfortably seated within the sauna. During the session, it will take about 8 minutes to start sweating. In 15 minutes you are dripping, and in 20 minutes you have had a complete sweat. You have the option to keep your head out of the sauna, so you can breathe, and not get a hot head. Or, if you like, you can put your head in the sauna. You also have the options to keep your hands free, outside of the sauna unit, so you can read to pass the time during your session.

How will I feel after the Far Infrared Heat Therapy session?

Following a sauna session, you will find that your blood flow quantity increases, your metabolic rate experiences a healthy surge, and the induced perspiration in the process of detoxification will all contribute to the burning of both calories and nutrients. This helps relieve fatigue, reduce blood pressure, and relax body muscles.

You will need to replenish your nutrients and gain adequate rest. First time users are more likely to experience hunger pangs immediately and a desire to sleep after several hours.

Athletes experience a similar body change —after sports they feel both tired and sleepy. However, after an adjustment period where the body has become accustomed to using the far infrared sauna, with adequate nutrition, you should feel more energetic and experience better sleep.

How often can I have a Far Infrared Heat Therapy session?

Far Infrared Heat Therapy sessions can be as frequent as daily and many of our practice members find the daily routine provides the most consistent results. Before doing any sessions, you will have an evaluation and be recommended the best course of care for your specific health condition or wellness goals.

How can I get the most out of my Infrared Heat Therapy?

Many of our clients combine far infrared light therapy with their massage therapy to achieve their health goals even faster and more efficiently. Clients can relax in the sauna for 10 minutes before a session. It leaves them loose, limber and improves the tenderness of their skin and muscles. The penetrating energy of far infrared wavelength can target any tighter areas of the body, so the massage therapist can better work on problem areas.

Our personal training and assisted stretching clients have also found success using Far Infrared Light Therapy to warm up before physical activity and is even better for a sore body post workout!

Our skin care and nutrition clients also find that Far Infrared heat therapy goes hand-in-hand to achieving their wellness goals. Detoxification of toxic chemicals and unnecessary fats accelerate weight loss and overall nutritional balance. Our skin care clients find that they maintain youthful, healthy glow when they add FIR to their skin care regimen.