You can eat healthy all day long all year long. But if you don't take time to exercise and relax, you are missing the benefits of a healthy eating regimen.
How often have you gone to bed restless? Ever heard of restless leg syndrome? Sometimes I have so much good nutrition in me, my body is literally jumping up and down saying - "Go EXERCISE!!" All that nutrition would go to waste if I didn't get outside for a walk or a run, or to the gym for a great class or work on the treadmill, or into the pool for a swim.
But we can exercise and exercise and exercise and forget that our body and brain sometimes just needs some peace and quiet. Have you tried your gym's sauna yet? OOOoooohhhh, the benefits of the sauna!!
The Benefits of the Sauna
We live such busy lives with our immediate technology that keeps our brain a buzz. If you want to maximize your world, then step into the sauna for a breather.
Typically, you spend no more than 15 minutes at a time. What does it do?
1) It allows you to be quiet for a moment - unless, of course, you are accompanied by some chatty people. Typically, its quiet. The quiet is a great stress reliever, and the heat in the relaxing environment increases endorphin production - the happy hormone.
2) The deep heat penetrates muscle to bone increasing your circulation. It is great before a work out to thoroughly warm-up your muscles and prevent injury. It's great after a work out to increase the circulation and decrease lactose build up in the muscles that cause that stiff soreness from a hard work out.
3) The heat from the sauna has been shown to increase the production of white blood cells, boosting your immune system and fighting disease.
4) The heat induces the sweat that flushes the toxins out of your body also helping to fight illness.
5) By inducing the sweat and flushing toxins, your skin as an elimination organ is free to regenerate healthier cells making it smoother and younger looking.
6) Just as with exercise on a hot day, the heat of the sauna causes your heart rate to increase in an attempt to cool you down - just as sweating is the body's attempt to cool you down. The affect is improved cardiovascular function. If you follow the sauna with a cool shower or jump in the pool, you further stimulate the heart. Your heart muscles get exercise in a relaxed environment. It is an easy comfortable way to increase your cardio - especially if you are recovering from an injury and can't be doing what you usually do.
Where do I find a Local Sauna?
I actually have used a sauna in several different places. Right now I belong to a gym that has a sauna in the ladies dressing room. The men have one too so that they are separate for people who prefer the sauna in skimpy or no attire. I have also seen a coed sauna in the local YMCA. My previous chiropractor had a sauna in his office with a tech that would do herbal wraps, which are a dream!! You can either have a professional wrap you, or buy the kits to take with you into a public sauna like the one at the gym. High end salons typically have saunas and will also do the herbal wraps.
There are also companies that will bring the sauna to you. You can have a sauna installed in your home if you truly want a private quiet moment.
Do Your Research
As with anything, do your research, and if you have a special medical condition to take into consideration, check with your doctor first. Accountability leads to responsibility and good health. But what ever you do, DO NOT IGNORE THE BENEFITS OF THE SAUNA. You will be so happy you have discovered this gem, if you have not discovered it already!!
