Should you do sauna before or after pool?

Author: Reggie Smith IV  |  Last update: Friday, July 18, 2025

Taking a dip in the pool before you relax in the sauna could be exactly what helps you unwind. With your workout done, you're ready to rest your muscles. The sauna's penetrating heat has been shown to speed up the recovery process. This is especially true if your pool water is on the chilly side.

Is it better to go in the sauna before or after the pool?

If your main goal is to enhance performance, using the sauna before swimming might be beneficial. If you're looking to aid recovery and relax afterward, then using it after swimming is more advantageous. Ultimately, it's about what feels best for you.

Should you plunge pool or sauna first?

It's definitely preferable to go from the sauna directly to the cold plunge as directly and quickly as possible. The more heat your retain from the sauna the better the experience. However, if the cold plunge is a shared tub then rinsing first is probably best simply out of consideration for others.

What goes first pool sauna or steam room?

The answer largely depends on your personal preference and wellness goals. Some experts suggest starting with the sauna to induce a deep sweat and kickstart the detoxification process. Following this with a steam room session can then help to hydrate the skin and relax the muscles.

What is the correct order for a spa?

Choose the right procedure for perfect relaxation!

Use the services in the following order: First, use the pool, then the whirlpool, then the saunas, and finally enjoy a massage.

The Benefits Of Using The Sauna Pre And Post-Workout

Should I do sauna or hot tub first?

Should I Hot Tub Before or After the Sauna? If you're using both, start with the sauna before transitioning to the hot tub.

What is the best order for sauna and cold plunge?

It is recommended to first sauna then ice bath and not the other way around, as sauna sessions increase the blood flow and heart rate and make our muscles relax, which cold plunges slows down the heart rate and makes our blood vessels contract.

What is the best order for spa treatments?

All of our experts agree that you should keep your menu of treatments in this general order: steam/sauna, bath treatment, scrub, massage, and then facial.

Should you go in the sauna first or last?

Still, if you do want to hop in the sauna before or after a workout, experts typically suggest doing so afterward. In some cases, a pre-workout sauna might alleviate a little joint or muscle stiffness before exercise, but preliminary studies point to greater recovery benefits from post-exercise saunas.

What is the sequence of sauna and ice bath?

Engaging in a 3-minute ice bath shortly after a workout can immediately help to reduce inflammation and soreness. Following this with a period of rest or gentle activity and then concluding with a 10-15 minute sauna session allows the body to experience the full spectrum of recovery benefits.

What is the best order for a hot tub and sauna?

Recommended Order
  • Hydrotherapy Spa 1.
  • Hydrotherapy Spa 2.
  • Steam Room.
  • Sauna.
  • Hydrotherapy Spa 3.
  • Heated Magnesium Plunge Pool.
  • The reason we recommend you use the facilities in this order is to slowly increase your body temperature, then slowly drop it back down again.

How long should you stay in a plunge pool after a sauna?

After a sauna, cold plunges are an excellent method to cool down. You should not stay in a cold plunge for more than 10 or 20 seconds, or the chilly water will take away too much heat from your body. If you want to immerse yourself entirely in the cold plunge, do so after washing for hygienic reasons.

Should you shower or sauna first?

People use their saunas for many different reasons. If you want to increase perspiration to encourage weight loss and removal of toxins you should shower before an infrared sauna (a hot shower) as this can help to up your perspiration levels. However, we do recommend that you should shower after an infrared sauna too.

What goes first sauna or plunge pool?

According to an overwhelming majority of health and fitness experts, you should first go for a sauna then cold plunge. These experts cite the example of contrast therapy, where your body (or part of it) is first immersed in hot water followed by icy cold water.

Why should you wait to shower after sauna?

Cooling off after the sauna is important because you can catch a cold if you sweat too much. Sauna-goers should leave enough time to cool down before warming up again. If you can, don't have a shower straight after the sauna. It's better for the body if you cool off in the fresh air first.

When not to go to the sauna?

Having a sauna is not suitable for people who have high blood pressure or problems with their heart, liver or kidneys. You should also avoid a sauna if you suffer from skin conditions (such as eczema or psoriasis) or have the flu, cold, fever or any inflammation. The high temperature could worsen your condition.

Is it better to go in the sauna before or after swimming?

Taking a dip in the pool before you relax in the sauna could be exactly what helps you unwind. With your workout done, you're ready to rest your muscles. The sauna's penetrating heat has been shown to speed up the recovery process. This is especially true if your pool water is on the chilly side.

What not to do after a sauna?

After the end of the sauna session, you should not clean yourself with shower gel or soap, just apply some lotion.

Is it okay to sauna everyday?

To achieve a positive effect, up to three sauna sessions are recommended per week. For healthy people, there is nothing to stop them from even taking a sauna every day. However, it should be noted that if you visit the sauna several times a week, you should reduce the number of sauna sessions per day.

Is it better to go in the sauna before or after a hot tub?

Enhanced Muscle Recovery and Pain Relief

Start with the sauna to warm up and loosen tight muscles, then follow up with a soak in the hot tub to alleviate any lingering pain and accelerate muscle recovery.

What is the best spa sequence?

Think about the order of your services (and when you want to eat). Give yourself an hour or two to digest before any bodywork, or eat lightly before a massage. Schedule massages before facials, or else all the products that have been applied to your skin may come off on the face cradle.

How do you use a sauna and plunge pool?

Steam and sauna first, plunge pool second

Beginning in a warm steam room or sauna starts the process of soothing achy muscles and joints. Following the warm-up with a brief dip in a cooling plunge pool then stimulates muscle recovery and is incredibly refreshing.

What is the best sequence for a sauna?

The warm-up phase should last 8 to 12 minutes, and the cool-down phase should last more like 12 to 20 minutes. Beginners start with shorter heating periods, but not with lower temperatures or the lowest bench. A short, powerful stimulus is better processed by the body than a longer, moderate stimulus.

Can I take my phone in the sauna?

The short answer is that it's generally not recommended to bring your phone into a sauna. The high temperatures and humidity levels can cause damage to your phone's internal components, and the risk of overheating or even explosion is not worth the convenience of having your phone with you.

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