Research shows how using the sauna can improve one's health

Many of us will go to the sauna regularly, but we've often wondered about the benefits of it. How does it help our physical health, as well as our mental health?

We all know how good we feel after a lovely sauna session, but did you know there are a heap of benefits behind the Finnish tradition?

One of the best things about using a sauna is the impact it can have on your mental well-being.

In one study by Kunutsor and Laukkanen, one participant, Juha Mieto (a well-known Finnish cross-country skier), found that frequent sessions helped with his and his son’s grief after his wife’s passing:

"It was a huge shock. My son had just turned eight. I started heating the sauna at 6 pm every evening. It became a ritual that brought us calm." 

"We kept this up for many years. Sauna played a key role in helping us find peace, giving rhythm to our lives."

Laura Foon, a sauna therapist, told the BBC that the sauna is like a safe space; she even compares it to the feeling of ‘returning to the womb’:

"Today, we're constantly on high alert. Diving into soothing darkness in the sauna is profoundly healing."

Ilpo Huhtaniemi, an endocrinologist at Imperial College London, explains:

"When you go to the sauna, hormones that respond to physiological stress will increase.”

“Levels of endorphins, our body's natural mood-boosters, our internal feel-good chemicals, will go up.”

So, nowadays, if you are under a lot of stress, and are looking for a healthy alternative to manage your stress, this might be one to check out.

With this research, it might be good to look into the benefits of saunas and how they can help with managing your day.