What’s the difference between a traditional sauna and an infrared sauna?
You might’ve seen a traditional sauna room at your gym, spa or pilates studio. It’s the one where you pour water onto a pile of hot coals in an enclosed, cedarwood lined room. These can get really hot—upwards of 170˚F hot—and can be not so relaxing for those that can’t handle heat. Infrared saunas work a little differently. Instead of heating the air to induce sweating, they use infrared light to heat your body.
How does an Infrared Sauna Blanket work?
Infrared sauna blankets use infrared light to penetrate deep into the skin, warming the body from the inside out. This process is known as far-infrared (FIR) therapy, a type of heat treatment that directly targets tissues, muscles, and joints to promote relaxation, circulation, and detoxification.
Infrared light exists on the electromagnetic spectrum and is divided into near, mid, and far-infrared wavelengths. Far-infrared heat, specifically, is what’s used in sauna blankets, as it can deeply penetrate the body up to 1.5 inches beneath the skin. This deep heat absorption stimulates sweat production without the extreme external temperatures of a traditional sauna.
As your core body temperature rises, your body reacts much like it would during exercise. Your heart rate increases, blood vessels expand, and circulation improves, delivering oxygen-rich blood to muscles and tissues. At the same time, your sweat glands work to expel toxins, heavy metals, and environmental pollutants, leading to the ‘detox’ effect often associated with infrared therapy. The result? A deep, purifying sweat that leaves you feeling lighter, recharged, and refreshed. Kind of like hitting reset on your body from the inside out.
What are the benefits of infrared blankets and saunas?
Professional at home sauna blankets have become incredibly popular, and for good reason. These innovative wellness products have revolutionised the way we experience relaxation, detoxification, pain relief therapy and recovery. “Infrared saunas stimulate healing on a cellular level,” explains Forbes editor, Olivia O'Bryon. “They’re linked with rapid exercise recovery, skin purification, pain relief and even anti-ageing.” Supermodels Bella Hadid and Cindy Crawford are known to routinely visit Manhattan sauna rooms, while actress and wellness guru, Gwyneth Paltrow, actually has a sauna room built into her Montecito home.
If you want to get all the benefits of saunas, but don’t want to break your schedule, our portable infrared sauna blanket might be the way to go.
Muscle Recovery
Whether you’re an athlete, fitness enthusiast, or simply dealing with everyday muscle tension, infrared therapy can support faster recovery. By increasing circulation and oxygen delivery to tired muscles, infrared heat helps to reduce stiffness and soreness, making it an effective tool for post-workout recovery.
Detoxification and Drainage
Sweating is one of the body’s most natural ways to eliminate toxins, and infrared saunas take this process to the next level. Infrared’s deep, targeted heat stimulates sweat production at a much lower ambient temperature, which allows for a more comfortable and prolonged session. This deep sweat helps to flush out heavy metals, impurities, and environmental pollutants while supporting the lymphatic system for better overall drainage. Beyond just detoxification, this increased sweating activates the lymphatic system, encouraging better drainage and helping the body eliminate waste more efficiently. As a result, you experience a sense of rejuvenation and an overall feeling of lightness, leaving you refreshed and detoxed from the inside out.
Sleep improvement
Struggling with restless nights or trouble falling asleep? Infrared heat therapy can also be effective in promoting deeper, more restorative sleep. By lowering cortisol levels, reducing muscle tension, and encouraging full-body relaxation, infrared therapy helps prepare your body for sleep. The gentle elevation of body temperature mimics your body’s natural cooling process as it winds down, signaling to your brain that it’s time to rest. With regular use, a sauna blanket can help you establish a soothing bedtime ritual, making it easier to drift off and stay asleep throughout the night.
For added sleep recovery benefits, incorporating the CurrentBody PEMF Mat into your night-time routine can take relaxation to the next level. PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy enhances circulation, reduces inflammation, and promotes deeper muscle relaxation, making it the perfect complement to infrared therapy. Using both the sauna blanket and PEMF mat together can help you unwind, alleviate tension, and achieve a more restful night’s sleep, supporting overall recovery and mental wellbeing.
Mental Wellbeing
Infrared therapy isn’t just about physical relaxation, it also plays a powerful role in supporting mental wellbeing. The deep, soothing heat encourages the release of endorphins, your body’s natural mood elevators. This can help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and tension, while enhancing overall mental clarity. Many people turn to infrared therapy as part of their self-care routine to combat the mental strain of everyday life. By incorporating infrared heat into your wellness routine, you create a sanctuary for both body and mind, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Do sauna blankets burn fat?
Not quite. As your core temperature rises from the infrared heat, so does your metabolism. That’s what indicates how many calories your body burns naturally (even while scrolling through TikTok). The higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn; which can assist with fat loss as part of an active lifestyle.
It’s not the same as a weight training workout where you increase your metabolism by putting on more muscle. Infrared sauna blankets should not replace a healthy diet and exercise, but it can help to detoxify your system—helping reduce inflammation; something that can actually cause your body to retain water and appear "puffier" than it would naturally.
You can even use these sauna treatments for minimising post-workout aches and pains. The deep penetrating heat is really effective at getting rid of any stiffness and inflammation, similar to what you’ll get from a Bikram yoga session.
What’s more, the increased heart rate and blood flow also boosts your circulation and your immune system from all the nutrients and oxygen getting pumped around your body. If there’s a cold going around your office, don’t fret—you’ll be much more resilient against sniffles and infections if you’re using your sauna blanket at home regularly.
Who Would Benefit from an Infrared Sauna Blanket?
Whether you’re recovering from a tough workout, dealing with stress and anxiety, or simply looking for some extra self-care, an infrared sauna blanket is the perfect addition to your wellness routine. Its soothing heat helps ease muscle tension, alleviate discomfort, and reduce inflammation. For those seeking detoxification, the deep sweat encourages the release of toxins, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. If you’re struggling with sleep, the blanket’s calming effects promote relaxation, helping you enjoy a deeper, more restful night. It’s a winning wellness essential for anyone looking to enhance their daily routine and lifestyle.
