Regardless of your perspective, it’s clear that a sauna brings with it a wide range of different benefits that cannot be ignored.
Yet at the same time, technology continues to advance – and the world of saunas is no different. These days, far-infrared saunas have become an alternative for many for a plethora of reasons, all of which are worth exploring.
Traditional and Far-Infrared Saunas: An Overview
Regardless of the type of sauna, you’re talking about, both essentially share the same goal: to make you sweat. Both a traditional and a far-infrared sauna will do this, it’s just that they’ll accomplish their goal via different methods.
One of the biggest differences between the two types has to do with the overall temperature of the room. The temperature in a traditional sauna will range from between 150 degrees and 185 degrees Fahrenheit. A far-infrared sauna, on the other hand, usually only ranges from between 80 degrees and 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s a big difference, to be sure – but because of the infrared technology being used, the far-infrared sauna will largely achieve the same effect of making you sweat at a far lower and more comfortable temperature.
As is evidenced in the name, the heating method is also different between the two options. In a more traditional sauna, the air temperature is increased to the point where people begin to gasp almost immediately upon entering a room. The air, the walls, you name it – everything has been preheated to achieve the desired effect. You are shocking your autonomic nerve from the very first breath. This raises your blood pressure, heart rate and your blood temperature. It’s a shock to the system.
In a far-infrared sauna, however, low-wattage ceramic emitters are used to emit infrared heat which is very similar to that which the body already naturally emits. So in addition to the regular advantages of a sauna, this has the added benefit of being able to better permeate someone’s muscles and joints.
Heat-up time is another major difference between the two options. For a traditional sauna, it usually takes an hour or more to get the room to the required temperature. Thanks to infrared technology, it could take as little as 15 minutes to get the temperature where it needs to be – although this will obviously be based on the strength of the emitters being used.
So again, both options have their benefits but infrared saunas allow people to sit inside without stressing their lungs or their heart nearly as much. It’s easy to see why far-infrared saunas have become so popular with so many over the last few years in particular.If you’d like to find out more information about the differences between traditional saunas and their more modern, far-infrared alternatives, or if you just have any additional questions that you’d like to talk over with someone in a bit more detail, please don’t delay – contact us today.