The sauna, also known as a Finnish steam bath, is a place to sit, sweat and enter a state of deep relaxation and perhaps contemplation. According to Harvard Health Publications, a sauna's dry heat, which can reach temperatures as high as 180 F, has a profound effect on the body. In addition to the signficant amount of sweat that is produced during a short session, the increased circulation and raised body temperature may help to relieve your body's aches and pains as well reduce muscle tension and stress.
Therapeutic Atmosphere Effects
High levels of stress in your life may result in chronic muscle tension. A sauna provides a quiet, comfortable atmosphere designed for stress relief. The relaxing feeling you may experience while sitting in a sauna can have a therapeutic calming effect that helps you relax your muscles.
Heat Effects
Heat therapy has long been associated with relief of muscle pain and tension. For example, hot stone massage is now a popular treatment found in health spas to treat aching muscles and provide relaxation. Heating pads have been providing home relief for minor aches and pain for years. According to Kaiser Permanente, the heat of a sauna helps relax tense muscles, and in addition to the immediate relief, electrical discharges in muscles show a more relaxed pattern following a sauna.
Hormonal and Brain Chemistry Effects
Kaiser Permanente cites a study reporting that sitting in a sauna for 30 minutes doubles the release of endorphins into the bloodstream. According to the study, these endorphins relieve pain and may induce a sense of well-being, which produces stress- and muscle tension-relieving effects. In addition, the sauna's heat may increase the production of serotonin, a hormone associated with relaxation and sleep. As you relax in the warmth of the sauna, your muscles become less tense and, in turn, your mind and body may become less stressed,as stress hormones are released.
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