Saunas and Stuff CA

This article is Part Two of our four-part series on the extraordinary effects of hyperthermic conditioning--or heat acclimation--through sauna use on athletic performance and general health. If this series doesn't convince you that a sauna should be a regular part of your health regimen, nothing will! We believe this information is so important, that we are featuring the series on both our Saunas US and Saunas Canada sites.

This series focuses on and breaks down the information provided by Dr. Rhonda Patrick in her YouTube video "Hyperthermic Conditioning for Hypertrophy, Endurance, and Neurogenesis". See the full video pasted below. Throughout the article, we will direct you to specific points in the video so you can jump straight there.

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Hyperthermic Conditioning / Heat Acclimation Through Sauna Use

Heat acclimation--or hyperthermic conditioning--through regular sauna use can have profound effects on health and athletic performance. Specifically, in the following areas:

1. increasing endurance capacity
2. increasing muscle mass
3. improving brain function, including neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells)
4. causing the effect known as "Runner's High"

Refer to 1:08 in the video.

The Effects of Heat Acclimation on Muscle Building (4:40)

The following effects occur during hyperthermic conditioning through regular sauna use:

1. The production of heat shock proteins is induced. Heat shock proteins repair muscle damage, convert amino acids into muscle tissue, and increase muscle density.
2. Growth hormone levels are boosted. Growth hormone is responsible for cell growth and regeneration, and increasing muscle and bone density.
3. Insulin sensitivity is improved. Insulin is a protein critical to muscle building.

Muscle Mass Gains Through Sauna Use (6:30)

It was found that two back-to-back sauna sessions at 80 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes boosts growth hormone levels two-fold.

Two sauna sessions for one hour per day for a week cause a 16-fold increase in growth hormone levels. That's huge!

And You'll Live Longer, Too (7:38)

And if that's not enough, it was also found that heat stress, such as through sauna use, boosts lifespan by as much as 15%.

Be sure to check out the entire series on heat acclimation/hyperthermic conditioning:

1. Building Athletic Endurance Through Sauna Use
2. Increasing Muscle Mass Through Sauna Use
3. Improving Brain Function Through Sauna Use
4. The Runner's High Explained

This article is Part One of our four-part series on the extraordinary effects of hyperthermic conditioning--or heat acclimation--through sauna use on athletic performance and general health. If this series doesn't convince you that a sauna should be a regular part of your health regimen, nothing will! We believe this information is so important, that we are featuring the series on both our Saunas US and Saunas Canada sites.

This series focuses on and breaks down the information provided by Dr. Rhonda Patrick in her YouTube video "Hyperthermic Conditioning for Hypertrophy, Endurance, and Neurogenesis". See the full video pasted below. Throughout the article, we will direct you to specific points in the video so you can jump straight there.

--------

Hyperthermic Conditioning / Heat Acclimation Through Sauna Use

Heat acclimation--or hyperthermic conditioning--through regular sauna use can have profound effects on health and athletic performance. Specifically, in the following areas:

1. increasing endurance capacity
2. increasing muscle mass
3. improving brain function, including neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells)
4. causing the effect known as "Runner's High"

Refer to 1:08 in the video.

The Effects of Heat Acclimation on Endurance (1:49)

The following effects occur during hyperthermic conditioning:

1. blood flow to muscles is increased, delivering nutrients and reducing dependence on glycogen stores during periods of activity, such as running
2. blood flow to the heart is increased, reducing strain and heart rate, which allows activity to be maintained over a longer period of time
3. blood flow to the skin increases, which aids in heat dissipation and helps keep the body's core temperature lower

Endurance Gains Through Sauna Use (3:22)

It was discovered that twelve 30-minute sauna sessions twice a week after an intense run led to a 32% increase in the distance run before exhaustion was reached, as well as a 7% increase in plasma volume and a 3.5% increase in red blood cell count, which aids in oxygenating muscles during exercise.

Heat acclimation through regular sauna sessions can help athletes improve overall endurance, particularly for cardio-related activities.

Be sure to check out the entire series on heat acclimation/hyperthermic conditioning:

1. Building Athletic Endurance Through Sauna Use
2. Increasing Muscle Mass Through Sauna Use
3. Improving Brain Function Through Sauna Use
4. The Runner's High Explained

This sauna is perfect for three people, or for one person to stretch out. Made from Canadian hemlock and high-quality materials, this sauna is affordable, attractive, and very easy to assemble.

Easy Assembly

It typically takes about an hour to assemble the sauna. You may want a helper with larger models.

Free Shipping

We ship this sauna for free to select Canadian metropolitan areas. Enter your postal code here to check to see if you are in an area that qualifies for free shipping.

Sauna Specifications

Questions About This Sauna?

For more information and images of this sauna, visit the product page here. You can also contact us through any of the methods listed here.

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Shower/Sauna Combo in Home Bathrooms

Via Freshome.com

A shower/sauna "cabin" adds instant glam to your bathroom--and practicality. The sauna is just big enough for one (or two people who really like each other). Afterwards, just take one step to rinse off. It saves space, maximizes the resources in that section of the room (electricity, plumbing) and turns your bathroom into a spa retreat.

Outdoor Saunas

via interiorsigndesign.com/

Traditionally, that's where saunas were built: outside. However, in recent years saunas have moved indoors into spas, gyms, and private homes. Now they are shifting back outside again. This return to the outdoors frees up space in the home, adds value to the property, and is a lot more attractive than a shed in the back yard. Some people are even using the top of their outdoor saunas as gardens or green spaces.

Floating Saunas

photo by Härmägeddon via Wikimedia Commons

Saunas floating on the water are turning up over and over again in the news this year. With playful structures like this "saunalautta" floating around and causing scandal in lakeside communities, you're sure to hear more about these as they pop up all over. Seattle has plans to launch several onto the waters of Lake Washington later this year. These uprooted saunas provide a refuge away and create new ways to use water spaces. Very luxurious!

Noticed any sauna trends you think we should know about? Leave a comment below!

• http://freshome.com/2014/03/10/15-hottest-fresh-bathroom-trends-2014/
• http://www.interiorsigndesign.com/decorations/eleven-hottest-fresh-outdoor-trends-in-2014-you-have-to-see/
• http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/builtin-sauna

photo by Math at hu.wikipedia

Cold and cool water plunges have long been a popular part of using a sauna. Users often  cool off in a shower or pool throughout their sauna session and afterwards. In warm weather, sessions may begin with a cold rinse. Cold plunges are not to be confused with polar plunges--cold plunges are usually kept around 50 to 55 degrees, and polar plunges are usually at freezing temperatures.

Cold Plunges Have Been Around a Long Time

The history of cold plunges go all the way back to the fifth century B.C.  Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks all used cold baths for health reasons. For more than 1000 years, Scandinavians have taken post-sauna plunges and plunge pools have been used as part of treatment in Chinese medicine.

What are the Health Benefits of Cold Plunges?

Cold plunges are used by sauna users and athletes alike for their rejuvenating benefits. It is believed that cold plunges have the following health benefits:

• The cold shock causes the body to release norepinephrine--a stress hormone and neurotransmitter--and epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), which causes a sense of invigoration.
• Going from hot to cold elevates the pulse rate and increases circulation.
• Following a sauna session with a cold shower has been shown to reduce rheumatoid arthritis pain and improve circulation, which reduces vasoconstriction and hypertension.
• Cold immersion improves the body's antioxidant capabilities and increases white blood cells.
• The body's resistance to respiratory infections improves .
• Recovery time from exercise aches and pains is reduced.
• Immersion in cold water causes the release of cytokines and other chemicals that can boost the immune system.
• The cold water activates nerves in the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary muscles like the heart. Repeated use of cold plunges can stabilize blood pressure.

Cold Plunges are not for Everyone

Rapid temperature changes can shock the system, which makes cold plunges potentially dangerous for some individuals. People with cardiac problems and blood-pressure issues, as well as pregnant women, should avoid cold plunges.

• http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/the-wild-file/Cold-Plunge.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna
• http://yoursaunaandsteamroom.co/enjoying/if-youve-been-thinking-about-a-sauna-you-should-take-a-cold-shower/
• http://geoffmorova.hubpages.com/hub/The-Benefits-Of-Cold-Plunge-Pools-And-The-Science-Behind-Them

What better way to get pumped up for a steam in the sauna than by watching some movies with saunas in them? Here's a list of flicks that might get you in the sauna mood.

Sauna in Another World: Spirited Away

In this charming movie, a young girl finds herself in a strange world where she must work at a bathhouse run by a witch. While the clientele in the film soak in big bathtubs, there's plenty of steam and a definite sauna atmosphere.

Sauna in A Foreign Land: Lost in Translation

In one scene, Bill Murray's character spends some time in a sauna with two German-speaking men (they are talking about papayas, by the way). He later leaves the sauna for a cool soak in a tub of water. Aahh!

Sauna in an Unlikely Place: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Another one with Bill Murray! In this Wes Anderson film, Bill Murray's character lives on an improbably submarine, complete with a library and a sauna. It looks more like a steambath to me, but let's not split hairs.

Sauna as Musical Allusion: The Blues Brothers

In one scene, the brothers sit in a sauna together. The scene is an allusion to the Blood Sweat & Tears album "No Sweat" (some tunes for the sauna, perhaps?). The Blues Brothers scene poses the cast identically to the album cover.

For a longer list of movies with saunas in them, check out this list here. Remember: don't take video devices or any other electronics into a sauna unless they have been specifically designed for sauna use. Otherwise, happy viewing!

copyright Kullez via Flickr

Do you wish you could wear your sauna? Or maybe you don't have a sauna yet and you'd like to access some of the benefits of one in a way that lets you run errands at the same time. Is a sauna suit the answer? And do they really work, or do they just look space-tastic?

Britney Spears was recently spotted sporting  a sauna suit while running around town, so there's been some renewed interest in these workout clothes. Let us lay down some knowledge on you about them:

What is a Sauna Suit?

A sauna suit looks like a spacey sweat suit. It's made of waterproof fabric such as PVC or coated nylon cloth. Typically, there's a pullover jacket and drawstring pants, and the waist, neck, wrists, and ankles are all elasticated to keep in heat and moisture.

Why Do People Wear Sauna Suits?

Sauna suits are often worn by professional or competitive athletes who have weigh-ins, such as boxers, MMA fighters, or wrestlers. These athletes often need to fall into specific weight classes, so they need to keep a strict control over their exact weight. Wearing the suits can help them shed a lot of weight very quickly.

However, these suits are becoming increasingly popular outside professional athletics. Many people use them in their workout routines to lose weight fast.

How Do Sauna Suits Work?

Sauna suits prevent sweat from evaporating. This causes your body temperature to elevate and stay elevated, which leads to additional sweating. All that lost water leads to immediate weight loss. However, it is important to note that the lost weight is water, not fat, and it will be regained soon after you rehydrate.

Are Sauna Suits Safe?

While sauna suits certainly lead to weight loss, people who use them run some serious health risks. Because the body sheds so much water, it becomes dehydrated. Dehydration can cause dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, and kidney damage--in extreme cases, it can even cause organ failure. Not allowing the body to cool naturally can also lead to heat stroke. In certain conditions, using sauna suits could even lead to death.

Sauna suits should never be used while doing extreme exercise, in hot conditions, or in a sauna. Individuals with certain medical conditions should also refrain from using them.

So Should I Use a Sauna Suit or Not?

The short answer: no. You shouldn't run the health risks of a sauna suit for the short-term weight loss it provides.

Losing weight and being healthy is not really about the numbers on your scale. A person who weighs 200 pounds but is healthy and has good muscle tone is going to look leaner and stronger than someone who weighs 200 pounds but is eating poorly and has excess body fat. Same weight, different appearance entirely. Losing water weight rapidly is not going to make you look better, feel stronger, or be healthier. It's simply going to dehydrate you, and you will gain it all back quickly.

A much better option is to focus on a healthy diet and an exercise routine that includes cardio and building muscle. Supplement such a lifestyle with weekly or bi-weekly sauna use in an actual sauna to flush toxins out of your system. Drink plenty of water. The results can be very quick with a regular routine, you won't gain it all back, and you'll be healthier.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna_suit
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/303903-do-sauna-suits-burn-fat/

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