Steamroom/Sauna benefits?

diligentjosh
diligentjosh Posts: 274
edited January 2 in Fitness and Exercise
I am kind of new to a consistent workout, but what is the steamroom or sauna designed to do? I see a lot of fit guys that will go into there after a workout, but I do not know the reasons. What is it supposed to do?

Replies

  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    Relaxes muscles, makes you feel good, cleans out your pores, good for the complexion, and if you have cold showers straight after coming out of the sauna or steam room, it is very good for the lymphatic system.
  • leianno
    leianno Posts: 21
    I've been wondering about that myself. Thank you!
  • Dahllywood
    Dahllywood Posts: 642 Member
    It feels good :). No serious health benefits, but it relaxes and cleanses
  • head_in_rainbows
    head_in_rainbows Posts: 290 Member
    Sauna is great. It relaxes the muscles after working out, kills gems, aids imunity, is good for cardioviscular health and so on ... plus it feels good:)

    But it does NOT aid weightloss like some people think ... unfortunately as I love sauna.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    relaxation? Maybe it soothes their muscles or something.
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
    hmm...if it soothes the muscles, I should definitely be in there. My arms did not like the torture I put them through this week. Elbows and triceps are on strike. I should think about this.
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
    I just found this article from Livestrong:

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/339805-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-using-a-steam-room/

    I should check it out. I guess I was just looking for people who use it regularly and how it influences their workout.
  • Tenster
    Tenster Posts: 278 Member
    I went in the sauna for the first tim win months earlier today, I'm not sure of direct health benefits but it certainly made me feel cleaner. The sauna i was in also had a menthol kick which helped out my cold!
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    I use it regularly - I love it. Apparently you're supposed to go into the sauna first, then have a cold shower, then go into the steam room, then have a cold shower, and then repeat all this. I much prefer the steam room, because I find it is also good for the sensory integration issues I have, so I spend more time in the steam room, but I do use both, and I have the cold showers too. The only time I don't use the sauna and steam room is when they are out of action because they're being repaired - and then I find I am more likely to feel stiff and sore after my workout. Sometimes I use the steam room even when I haven't done a workout, because it is so relaxing, and makes me feel clean and fresh, and it also helps me breathe more deeply and generally have a better sense of wellbeing. I'm surprised more people don't use the sauna and steam room - to me they are the most important part of the gym! :-)
  • adlawham
    adlawham Posts: 20
    When I belonged to a gym that had a sauna and steam room, I noticed the steam room helped with my sinuses, headaches and was basically a "cool down" (even though it is hot) and just made me feel better. I was never one for the sauna, though I felt like it making me sweat that much, helped. I guess just a state of mind.
  • bluechip777
    bluechip777 Posts: 160 Member
    so you can feel extra amazing!
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
    Yeah, I had my first dish of the Steamroom today. Definitely a little cooler than the sauna, but it took time to get used to breathing in the steam. It is like the movie "The Abyss" where the helmets get filled with breathable water to counter the pressure. Just takes some getting used to. But it felt super relaxing....Alternated every 5 min for about 30, with shower in between. I think I will be sure to make time for this each day....wow.
  • mrykyldy2
    mrykyldy2 Posts: 96 Member
    I prefer the dry sauna myself. You are not supposed to go in there right after doing cardio but I do. I go in there to stretch out my legs, especially my calves as I do the arc trainer. My daughter has asthma and doesn't like the steam room but loved the dry sauna, she didn't really have a lot of problems going in the dry sauna. My skin is a lot clearer. For me personally, I find that it really helps with water retention. If I have a high sodium meal, I can go into the dry sauna the next day and have all the extra fluid drain off. Yes, I know, I gain most of the water back but it really does help if you go splurge on chinese and need to drain off the sodium.
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