According to research presented at the 2016 Global Wellness Summit, the number-one wellness trend for 2017 is the reimagining of saunas. And with everyone looking to boost their overall wellness, it is no wonder that celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Lady Gaga have discovered the treatment. Today’s saunas offer a range of state-of-the-art features, including infrared technology. Infrared (2,500nm – 15,000nm) (IR), when used in a sauna, heats the body directly using the invisible part of the sun’s spectrum rays, traditional saunas heat the air using hot rocks or steam. Infrared saunas also differ from light-based near infrared treatments, which don’t heat the body but allow the cells to absorb light energy, says LightStim's Amy Gardner.
Sunlight Day Spa (Overland Park, KS) has saunas with various infrared heaters, which raise the core-body temperature by two to three degrees. This produces a deep sweat at the cellular level and allows the body to detox. When it comes to detoxification, infrared saunas are seven times more effective than a traditional sauna and can help treat the side effects of Lyme disease, auto immune issues, arthritis, chronic fatigue, and autism. It also rids the body of toxic elements, says spa manager Kim Callaway. “The benefit of an infrared device or sauna is primarily overall wellness,” says Aerolase’s Sean Johnson. Callaway suggests spas consider investing in infrared saunas, because they are a low-cost investment that generates revenue. Says Callaway, “Our IR treatments increased 60 percent last year.”
Read More: How Different Hues Are Used for Light Therapy and Warm up in the Artic: Hot Treatments in Cold Places