Steaming in a sauna or steam room can be incredibly beneficial for those seeking RELIEF from muscle soreness after exercise. Not only does it provide PHYSICAL benefits such as improved circulation and relaxation of tense muscles, but also psychological benefits that come with taking time out to RELAX and de-stress.
The moist heat from steam rooms is particularly effective in soothing sore muscles and aching joints. The warmth helps to relax muscle fibers and joints, reducing stiffness and pain that often follow intense exercise.
Yes, you can take a steam bath after working out. It can help relax your muscles, improve circulation, and promote recovery. However, it's important to hydrate before and after your steam bath, as the heat can lead to fluid loss.
Saunas, with their dry heat, are renowned for improving circulation, promoting detoxification through sweat, and inducing muscle relaxation. On the other hand, steam rooms excel in respiratory benefits, providing relief for conditions like asthma and sinus congestion due to the moist, steam-filled air.
The sauna/steam room should be used “2-3 times a week for no more than 10-20 minutes at a time,” Jay says. Some individuals like to opt for intervals. “You can do 15 to 20 minutes inside the room, take a 5 minute break outside the room, and then go back inside, repeating this for 3-4 cycles.”
While there's no hard and fast rule for which is best to use first, some people prefer to start with the sauna and end with the steam room. Before you enter the sauna, drink one to two glasses of water and rinse off in a shower. Warm yourself in a dry sauna for up to 10 minutes without adding humidity.
“Body odor occurs because bacteria that lives on the skin breaks down sweat, causing an unpleasant odor.” While armpits are the most common site of odor, your body can build up smells in your feet, groin, belly button and anywhere else moisture can get trapped.
Accordingly, saunas can be more effective for weight loss. A 30-minute session in a sauna can help you burn up to 300 calories, while it goes only up to 150 calories in a steam room.
After your body has cooled down, it's a great idea to take a cold shower or dip. There are numerous benefits of steam sauna and cold plunge therapy, including increased metabolism, mental alertness, and more.
Is it equal to doing cardio? The simple answer is that there's a fine line between a steam room and cardio. There is no replacement for cardio, unfortunately. While a steam room can help weight loss, it can't be all you're relying on.
Just a single session in the steam room could help your body to eliminate up to 30 per cent of its waste and toxins through perspiration. Although it is worth noting the more regularly you visit the steam room the better the results. Your immune system will benefit from regular steam room sessions too.
Steam rooms, renowned for their high humidity and elevated temperatures, are not ideal environments for electronic devices like phones. The combination of moisture and heat can lead to irreversible damage, such as corrosion and circuit board wetting. Even phones with water-resistant ratings can be susceptible to harm.
On average, you should spend around 15–20 minutes in the sauna after a workout. This is important since it allows your body to cool down and recover. Post-workout sauna sessions also have many benefits that help alleviate muscle soreness and improve overall health. Let's take a closer look at some of these benefits.
Does shaving your armpits reduce body odor? Yes, shaving can help reduce body odor. Hair provides a breeding ground for bacteria, which break down sweat and produce odor. Removing hair can decrease this bacterial activity.
Sweating is our body's way of regulating temperature by releasing water through the sweat glands in our skin. When the sweat on our skin evaporates, the body is cooled. When we exercise, our body temperature increases because our heart rate goes up.
One 2022 study identified the distinctive odor of study participants in stressful interview conditions as smelling “similar to stir-fried leeks.”
While it is possible to use a steam room every day, it will not be as effective as using it more sparingly or intermittently with a sauna, such as a few times a week.
Shower first!
Make sure you rinse off after working out to wash off any sweat and dirt from your skin. Enter the steam or sauna room only after you are clean and dry. This helps your skin absorb moisture and will increase the steam room benefits you receive!
“Saunas may be slightly better for reducing cholesterol, while steam rooms may be slightly better for reducing muscle soreness.” In general, there is more evidence for saunas than there is for steam rooms, says Dr. Mathis, and the potential risks associated with saunas are lower than they are with steam rooms as well.
Don't wear metal jewelry. It's going to get hot! Take off all metal jewelry or hooks, or anything you might be wearing which could hold in the heat and burn you. You don't want to be thinking, for the whole time you're in there, 'ouch!
The heat of a steam room can make the body release endorphins. They are known as 'feel good' hormones because they help reduce stress in the body. Relaxing in a steam room can also decrease cortisol levels, which is a hormone the body releases in response to stress.
Expert Insights on Steam Rooms and Lung Function
Respiratory therapists and pulmonologists agree that the moist heat of a steam room can aid in loosening phlegm, therefore assisting in the clearance of airways in individuals with chronic respiratory conditions such as bronchitis or sinusitis.