INFRARED SAUNA
Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna
Offered at our Greenlake, Greenwood, and South Lake Union locations only
Kick-start your relaxation by detoxifying your body. The infrared sauna has a myriad of benefits on its own, and is also the perfect way to prepare for a float. Saunas can quickly and effectively help you get back to feeling amazing again. Sauna therapy has been around for centuries as a way to detoxify your body, but full spectrum infrared saunas can go even further by heating up your body’s core to a cellular level, where most toxins are stored.
Infrared’s deep penetrating heat is what most effectively stimulates metabolic activity, which in turn triggers the release of stored toxins through sweat, as well as through the liver and kidneys.
If using the sauna before a float, book 45 minutes before your float to allow for 10-15 minutes of cool-down.
IR SAUNA BENEFITS
What is an infrared sauna?
The sun emits both visible and invisible rays of light. Invisible light rays (infrared wavelengths) causes sunlight to feel warm against our skin. Scientific research has found that infrared waves benefit our overall health by stimulating our cardiovascular, immune, and lymphatic systems. This stimulation assists in removing toxins from the body and promotes relaxation. Unlike harmful ultraviolet light rays (known to increase your risk of melanoma and other types of cancer), infrared rays are harnessed and generally beneficial and delightful.
Instead of using steam or a physical heating element, an infrared sauna utilizes infrared wavelengths of light. Your body readily absorbs infrared heat, which allows your core temperature to increase slowly and induces a relaxing, healthy sweat.
Using a full-spectrum Infrared Sauna on a regular basis helps to promote a lifetime of healthful living through the many benefits of infrared therapy.
Detoxification
Sweating is your body's natural method of eliminating toxins responsible for recurring illnesses and infections. By heating your body's core, infrared saunas work to increase your blood circulation and detoxify your body at the cellular level. Detoxification not only enhances your immune system, it also improves certain biochemical processes in your body that contribute to better digestion and absorption of nutrients from foods.
Boosted Immunity
Raising body temperature in saunas can be an effective natural way to help the body to kill off bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections.
Reduce Joint Pain and Stiffness
Time spent in an infrared sauna benefits those suffering from many forms of arthritis. Radiant heat has also been effective in the treatment of sprains, neuralgia, bursitis, muscle spasms, joint stiffness and many other muscular-skeletal ailments. Much of the stiffness, aches and soreness that comes with aging is reduced or eliminated.
Stress Relief
Infrared saunas deliver soothing, gentle, therapeutic heat that helps you relax and de-stress. Traditional saunas operate at extreme temperatures that tend to stress the body, not relax it.
Studies have shown that sauna use can balance the brain-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the cause of what is commonly known as adrenal fatigue. And because sauna use increases BDNF, this also helps with anxiety, depression, and overall mood.
Weight Loss and Increased Metabolism
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, regular use of a sauna imparts a similar boost on the cardiovascular system as running. As you relax in the gentle infrared heat, your body is hard at work producing sweat, pumping blood and burning calories.
As your body increases sweat production to cool itself, your heart works harder to pump blood at a greater rate to boost circulation. This increase in your metabolism will burn calories. Read more about infrared sauna weight loss.
Muscle Pain Relief
Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscle, so they recover faster.
Muscles relax best when tissues are warm, for greater flexibility and range of motion. Far Infrared heat relieves muscle tension. The deep heat of far infrared saunas help peripheral blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. Infrared heat also reduces soreness on nerve endings and muscle spasms as muscle joints and fibers are heated.
Promote Longevity
Regular sauna use has been shown to considerably decrease risks of heart disease and lead to a lower chance of dying from many causes.
Improved Skin Health
Sauna use was associated in studies with an improvement in skin hydration and overall complexion. In addition, infrared sauna heat stimulates collagen and elastin production to improve skin suppleness, elasticity, and tone. Increased blood flow also enhances the delivery of nutrients to help moisturize and heal damaged skin.
IR SAUNA FAQ
SAUNA Cancellation Policy: Guests and Members must give 6-hours notice for cancelling or rescheduling appointments to allow time for us to fill the vacancy.
A fee of $10 will be charged for late-cancels or missed appointments.
If you need to cancel or change your appointment time, PLEASE email guide@floatseattle.com or call (206) 673-5132, or do so online here*.
*Self-cancellation only available for early cancelling
• Why is an Infrared Sauna better than a traditional sauna?
Infrared heaters warm the body in the same manner as natural sunlight. Infrared heat therapy uses the wavelength of the visible and non-visible light spectrum of sunlight that heats the body normally. Traditional saunas raise the air temperature to a very high level within the chamber to warm the body. Some people have difficulty breathing in this extremely warm air. Infrared saunas work differently. Instead of heating the air within the enclosure, infrared saunas heat the body directly. The result is deeper tissue penetration. In an infrared sauna, the body perspires and receives all of the healthy benefits but avoids the harmful and extremely hot air of a traditional steam sauna.
• How hot is it inside the sauna?
Our saunas are heated to 145°F unless we get a different request. Due to the nature of our space and running appointments all day, we cannot guarantee anything above 150°F, but we'll try our best for those who love the heat (our saunas max out at 158°F, regardless). As mentioned above, the magic of IR saunas comes from the IR itself and not necessarily the heat. You get full benefits between 125-145°F.
• How long is each session?
The sauna is a full 30 minutes and you'll have a few minutes to change before and after.
• How many people fit in each sauna?
The sauna is the same price for one session and it fits one or two people comfortably. We have two separate saunas available.
• At which locations do you have saunas?
We have two infrared saunas at our Greenwood location, and one each at South Lake Union and Greenlake.
• How should I prepare for my sauna session?
With all the sweating, you want to make sure to hydrate! Please come to each session well-hydrated, not hungover or after drinking alcohol. Drinking water is available in the lobby. Please only use glass or stainless steel bottles in the sauna; plastic bottles are not permitted in the sauna. Towels are provided for your use. Please make sure to wipe off all oils and lotions prior to entering the sauna.
• Can I shower after my sauna session?
Showers are located in our float rooms, and are reserved for float appointments only. We recommend either showering when you get home, or better yet - book a float for right after your sauna! As long as you’re hydrated, the combination can be incredibly blissful. Your body and mind will have a much easier time relaxing into a deeply meditative and relaxing state during your float.
• Are robes provided?
Yes, there is a $5 robe service charge for sauna sessions. Robes are complimentary if you book a float before or after your sauna session.
• I’d like to sauna before my float - any tips?
It’s an awesome combination! In general, anything that helps your body relax will take you deeper in your float session. Definitely stay hydrated, and book your sauna 45 minutes before your float appointment. This allows 30 minutes for the sauna, with a 10-15 minute cool-down period.
• What are the benefits of using Infrared Saunas?
The infrared sauna helps you detoxify, improves circulation, lymphatic drainage and cardiovascular health, reduces pain, increases your metabolic rate to jump-start healthy weight loss, rejuvenates your skin, and reduces stress and cortisol levels. Check out more on our main sauna page here, or read this 20-page report from Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
• How often should I use an Infrared Sauna?
There is no one answer for the amount of sessions per week, but infrared saunas are safe to use every day. In fact, you will see wellness improvements sooner if you use it daily. On average, most people partake in 20-30 minute sessions, 2-4 times a week.
• I’m taking prescription medications. Can I use the saunas?
Individuals who are using prescription drugs should seek the advice of their personal physician or a pharmacist for possible changes in the drugs effect when the body is exposed to infrared waves or elevated body temperature. Diuretics, barbiturates and beta-blockers may impair the body’s natural heat loss mechanisms. Anticholinergics such as amitryptaline may inhibit sweating and can predispose individuals to heat rash or to a lesser extent, heat stroke. Some over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines, may also cause the body to be more prone to heat stroke.
• Can I use the sauna if I’m pregnant?
This is generally not recommended. We advise you to consult with your own physician before using infrared saunas while pregnant.
• I’ve heard about electromagnetic fields (EMFs) — is your infrared sauna safe from EMFs?
EMFs are like invisible energy emissions that come from any object that uses electricity. Most common electrical objects give off such low levels of EMF that they pose no risk to humans. Though infrared saunas are large and powered by electricity, the technology used in our infrared sauna keeps EMF in an extremely low range of 0.2 to 0.3 mG. For context, the Environmental Protection Agency has previously proposed a safety standard of 3 mG, with anything below 3 mG being deemed as safe
• Do you do walk-ins?
The saunas take 50-60 minutes to heat up to temperature. Please always book in advance to gaurantee an available hot sauna for the time you'd like to come in.
• Is it clean?
Yes! Our saunas are sanitized with natural cleaners after each use. The heat and infrared light also helps to kill any bacteria and airborne germs.
• Who cannot use the saunas?
Infrared Sauna use is not recommended for people who are pregnant, children under 12, those who cannot handle temperature extremes, those with hemophila, fever, insensitivity to heat, and those under the influence of alcohol or recovering from alcohol use. Please consult your physician if you: have cardiovascular disease; hypertension or hypotension; are taking prescription medication; have metal pins, rods or artificial joints; or have condition making you prone to bleeding.
