Should you swim in the pool or sauna first?

Author: Laurianne Runte  |  Last update: Monday, November 24, 2025

SWIM IN THE POOL FIRST 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 swim before or after the sauna?

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 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.

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.

5 Tips for Sauna Beginners

Should you float or sauna first?

🤔 We strongly recommend using the Infrared Sauna prior to your Float session to detox, relax & absorb 4 TIMES more magnesium than if you were just to Float.

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 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.

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.

In what order should I treat my hot tub?

The Step-By-Step Sequence We Recommend For Adding Chemicals To Your Spa:
  1. Add Metal Sequestrant Or Stain Preventer If Necessary. If you need to add this to your water, do so before adding any other chemicals. ...
  2. Adjust Alkalinity And pH. ...
  3. Adjust Sanitiser Levels (Chlorine Or Bromine) ...
  4. Adjust Calcium Hardness Levels.

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.

Is swimming and sauna good for weight loss?

Swimming not only acts as a spectacular cardio exercise that helps you lose weight, but also is great for your soul to dip in a warm, ambient pool and swim at your own pace. Even greater if it's followed by a replenishing steam in the sauna or steam room.

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.

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.

Should I sauna before or after swimming?

SWIM IN THE POOL FIRST

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.

Should you do a sauna or plunge pool first?

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.

Is 10 minutes in the sauna enough?

The recommended length of time to spend in a sauna is 15-20 minutes. First-timers should start with five to 10 minutes. People with certain health conditions should not use a sauna. If you're not sure if that's you after reading this article, consult with a healthcare provider.

Should you swim steam or sauna first?

We prefer to start with a sauna session for gradual acclimatisation to the heat before you experience the humidity of a steam room, we also find our muscles are more relaxed and our pores feel cleaner. Don't forget to always keep hydrated before, in between, and after any session.

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.

Should you do the sauna or Jacuzzi first?

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.

What order should you sauna and cold plunge?

In conclusion, while the debate between whether to take a cold plunge or sauna first continues, the general consensus leans towards starting with the sauna and then moving on to the cold plunge.

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

As you exercise, your body becomes stressed. Healthy blood flow is vital for delivering oxygen to the muscles, which can reduce tension. Immersing in warm water helps to improve circulation by dilating the blood vessels, which is why a stint in the tub ahead of starting your workout can be beneficial.

When should I go to the sauna morning or night?

To maximise detoxification, it's best to use the sauna on an empty stomach or at least a couple of hours after a meal. This allows your body to focus its energy on sweating out toxins rather than digesting food. Morning or late afternoon sauna sessions can be ideal for this purpose.

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