What can an Infrared Sauna Session do for you? Fit n Tan Salon & Spa has the answers!
May 9, 2024

Is an Infrared Sauna Better Than a Traditional Sauna?

The inside of a wooden sauna in St. Louis with a glass door.

If you haven't tried a 30 minute Infrared Sauna session at Fit n Tan Salon & Spa, you're missing out. You feel more relaxed and rested after you’re done, the heat helps relieve sore muscles and improves your overall health and well-being, eliminate joint pains, and leave you feeling like a new person. Not to mention the complete body detox that Infrared Sauna's offer. But if the high temperatures of a traditional sauna are just too much for you to handle, or the traditional steam sauna's leave you feeling as if it's hard to breathe and no other benefit other than sweating, an infrared sauna may offer the benefits of a sauna without the extreme heat. Fit n Tan Salon & Spa is proud to be offering this service.



What is an Infrared Sauna?


Unlike a traditional sauna, infrared Saunas don’t heat the air around you. Instead, they use infrared technology to warm your body directly, actually penetrating under the dermis and heating the body internally.


“These saunas use infrared panels instead of conventional heat to easily penetrate human tissue, heating up your body before heating up the air,” explains physical therapist, Vivian Eisenstadt, MAPT, CPT, MASP.


An infrared sauna can operate at a lower temperature (usually between 120˚F and 140˚F) than a traditional sauna, which is typically between 150˚F and 180˚F. Eisenstadt says this environment is more tolerable, which allows you to stay in the sauna longer while increasing your core body temperature.

 
What are the benefits of using an Infrared Sauna?


The benefits of using an Infrared Sauna are similar to those experienced with a traditional sauna. These include: 


  • better sleep 
  • relaxation 
  • detoxification 
  • weight loss 
  • relief from sore muscles 
  • relief from joint pain such as arthritis 
  • clear and tighter skin 
  • improved circulation 
  • help for people with chronic fatigue syndrome 

 


How do you use an Infrared Sauna?

 

There are guidelines you can follow, but ultimately, how you choose to use an infrared sauna is up to you. Here are some tips to get you started. 


  • Drink water. Make sure you’re hydrated before going into an infrared sauna. Drink a glass of water before your session. You can also bring water into the sauna, especially if you’re sensitive to higher heats. 
  • Choose the temperature. The average temperature for an infrared sauna ranges from 100˚F to 150˚F, with beginners starting out at the lower end and more experienced users at the higher end. If this is your first time, start with 100˚F. You may want to stay at this temperature for a few sessions. You can always increase the temperature each session until you reach 150˚F. 
  • Length of time. For first-time users, start with 10 to 15 minutes. You can add time each session until you reach the suggested time of 20 to 30 minutes. Saunas come with a timer, so make sure to set it. You don’t want to stay in there too long and risk becoming dehydrated. 
  • Clothing. How you dress is your choice. Some people will wear bathing suits, while others prefer to go in naked. 
  • What you can do while in the sauna. Relax, read, meditate, listen to music, or visit with friends. Just don’t go to sleep. 
  • After the session is over. When your session is done, it’s suggested that you take your time and let your body cool down. Once cooled down, feel free to take a shower or bath. Just make sure you are drinking plenty of water. 
  • Number of sessions per week. Fit n Tan Salon & Spa recommends using the sauna three to four days per week. If you are healthy and tolerate the four days, you can use the sauna daily. 



What should you know before you try an Infrared Sauna?



Here are a few things you should know before indulging in your first session. 


  • Avoid using an infrared sauna if you’ve been drinking alcohol. 
  • If you feel ill or have a fever, it’s best to wait to use the sauna until you’re feeling better. 
  • Using an infrared sauna will cause you to sweat a lot, so you may feel lightheaded when you stand up. If this happens, make sure you get up slowly and sit down once you leave the sauna. Drink water immediately after finishing your session and wait for your body to cool down before doing anything else. 
  • In extreme cases, some people may experience overheating (heat stroke and heat exhaustion) or dehydration. 


< Older Post

Newer Post >
Woman's legs on a beach with Tanning Tips displayed above the legs for Fit n Tan St. Louis tips on tanning beds.

Tanning Tips from Fit N Tan

May 9, 2024
MOISTURE is the key to a long-lasting tan! Plenty of lotion and water will keep skin moist! By using lotions and drinking plenty of water, the healthier skin you will have. And with healthier skin comes a tan that will develop faster and last longer. Always wear eye protection! Eye protection is required! Eyewear is available for purchase at Fit N Tan at the front desk. It is dangerous to tan without eye protection. Please stop one of our Spa Consultanst if you have any questions or concerns. Use a Tanning Lotion! For the best results always use a tanning lotion. Indoor tanning lotions will provide you with up to 60% better tanning results and help your skin stay moisturized. We have a numerous selection of lotions, tan extenders, bronzers, and moisturizers for every budget. Ask one of our Spa Consultants how you can get the best results while keeping your skin in a healthy condition while you tan! Fun Fact: You lose the first 4-6 minutes while tanning indoors if you do not use a lotion! So use a lotion and don't waste your money! Allow 24-48 Hours between tanning sessions! You are allowed to tan once every 24 hours! Waiting at least 48 hours between tanning sessions lessens the potential for over-exposure and allows your body to produce a gradual tan. Tanning is a process and shouldn't be rushed. Allow your bronzers in your lotions to do their job before taking a shower! Even if you're using DermaDark bronzers that don't leave a tint to the skin, bronzers require time to do their job completely. A DHA bronzer usually needs at least 12 hours to fully develop. If possible, don't shower immediately after your tan and allow your bronzers and moisturizers to do their job. You'll get better results! A few more tanning tips...  Medications: Some prescription drugs, like antibiotics, contraceptives and others, can make you sensitive to ultra-violet light. Please consult with your physician if you have questions. Goggles: They are a must. Your eyelids are the thinnest membranes on your body and need protection. Our goggles are FDA compliant and shield 99.9% of ultraviolet light. Tanning in the buff: Please be careful with areas not accustomed to sunlight. During the first few sessions, these areas should be covered for half of the session time. (Remember, this for your comfort, not because you will burn!) Lips: Lips have no melanin and will no tan. They can dry out though, so keep them moist with a good lip balm.
Two women are whispering into each other's ear about spray tans in St. Louis

Fit n Tan: What You Need to Know About Spray Tanning

May 9, 2024
At Fit N Tan Salon and Spa, we get asked these questions all the time! Know before you go!
Before and after picture of a stomach to show the benefits of MyLipo Laser Body Sculpting at Fit n Tan St. Louis

What is MyLipo Laser Body Sculpting from Fit n Tan Salon & Spa?

May 9, 2024
Mylipo Laser Body Sculpting has a positive effect on those areas where body sculpting can prove difficult. MyLipo Laser Body Sculpting is a natural and healthy way to lose inches. The treatment is non-invasive, relaxing, and truly effective. You will be using low levels of visible red laser light to create a safe and painless bio-stimulation effect in the targeted fat tissue. It doesn't matter what area of the body you decide to target, the stored fat is depleted from the cells, and then burned off as energy with the vibration plate after treatment. At the same time, your skin will tighten and tone in the areas being treated, so as the fat is eliminated under the skin, the outer layers of the skin are being tightened as well.
Show More