NEWS

“Sauna especially beneficial for athletes” we saw in the newspaper a few days ago.
Are we happy about that?
Of course!
Even though we are invariably convinced of the benefits of a regular sauna round, as wellness ambassadors we look at “wellness” in a holistic way.
For we are convinced that the formula for success for a ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ lies not in one thing or a few individual – and often short-lived – investments, but rather in the sum of several conscious choices you make to promote your mental and physical health. In other words, eating unhealthily, exercising little and sleeping inadequately, but going to the sauna often, is not what we mean by “wellness.
But much more importantly, those who combine healthy eating, adequate exercise and a good night’s sleep with a regular sauna session enjoy an exponential effect on their overall well-being.
The Finn Jari Laukkanen, professor and cardiologist at the University of Eastern Finland, went to survey his “people of the sauna,” and after interviewing a representative sample, it resulted in the following findings.
A higher frequency and greater duration of sauna visits can I associated with:

• reduced risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease;
• reduced risk of influenza, rheumatic diseases and constant headaches.

As we’ve explained many times before, most of these health benefits come from the production of white blood cells (artificial fever) in the body when you confront the high temperatures in a sauna.
One nuance that Marc Geenen, spokesman for Gezond Sporten Vlaanderen and the Association for Sports and Exercise Physicians (SKA), makes, however, is that the body can go into a kind of stress mode when exposed to temperatures of 80 to 90° Celsius, more specifically in inexperienced sauna goers.
Athletes, on the other hand, are more accustomed to temporary temperature increases in the body, and anyone who has been to the sauna before knows that that heat guarantees bliss.
Our advice?
Always try to unwind even before going into a sauna, especially if you are not yet an avid sauna-goer.
Ideally, start your wellness moment with a lovely foot bath, followed by steam bath or mild sauna, and then gradually build up.
Cooling down completely between sauna sessions is an absolute must.
That way you will find that you return home feeling reborn!
If you are still unsure about your first sauna visit, take a look at the section ‘All about sauna’ or ask your questions via the contact form and we will gladly help you.   Warm regards, Sauna Association Belgium