What is Infrared?
Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. The radiation penetrates the body and heats through a process called conversion, instead of heating the air around you.
Infrared light, as radiated by the Sun, lies between the Visible and Microwave sectors of the electromagnetic spectrum.
What is an Infrared Sauna?
An infrared sauna is a sauna that heats its occupants with heaters that emit far infrared radiant heat. Unlike traditional Finnish Saunas, infrared saunas do not use steam, (which heats the air, and thereby the user) but instead use infrared radiation to directly heat the user.
In an infrared sauna, the infrared heater produces radiant energy, which is the same as the heat from the sun, only without the harmful ultraviolet rays. Most of these heaters draw on technology developed in 1965 by Dr. Tadashi Ishikawa, a member of the Research and Development Department of Fuji Medical.
The experience of a far infrared sauna is similar to sunbathing, which gives you the radiant heat that is all your own. The far infrared heat penetrates your skin, giving you that wonderful natural warmth. Unlike sunbathing, Infrared heat therapy is completely healthy and safe. You can relax in a far infrared sauna and it will never cause your skin to burn. Far infrared heat is completely healthy and safe for all living things. In fact, far infrared heat is so safe it is used in hospitals to warm newborn infants.
Are Infrared saunas safe to use?
Infrared saunas use safe and effective radiant heat just like the sun’s soothing warmth. Radiant heat is more efficient because it warms you, not the air around you. Your body directly absorbs as much as 93% of the heat generated by our Carbon Fiber heaters.
The infrared radiant waves penetrate the body’s tissues to a depth of over one and one half inches. Its energy output is tuned to correspond very closely to the body’s own radiant energy that our bodies generate.
At what temperature setting should I have the infrared sauna?
The recommended temperature is between 120 and 140 F. If a sauna is following safety guidelines, the temperature control will not allow settings above 140 F. Normally, I will have it set and warmed for you when you arrive.
Here is a helpful tip for getting the most of your infrared session:
First of all, once the sauna reaches the temperature set by the user,the heaters will not work at full capacity because they will cycle on and off once they reach their set temperature. We recommend that you start using the sauna before it reaches the set temperature in order for you to get the most infrared benefits and to maximize the output of the heaters.
If you set the sauna to 130(an ideal setting), then you should start using it around 115 or 120 while the heaters at full capacity, you will sweat more this way. Another option is to set the sauna to maximum temperature setting of 140 which will make the heaters operate at full capacity most of the time, you may not reach 140F during your sauna session but that is not important, getting the most infrared benefits is more important.
How long should I sit in an infrared sauna?
Not exceeding 40 minutes at a time.